Six Rivers National Forest on the Land Conservation Assistance Network

Six Rivers National Forest
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last updated: October 2020

The Six Rivers National Forest includes 957,590 acres of mountainous land that stretches from the Oregon border south for approximately 140 miles to Mendocino County. The Six Rivers also manages the Klamath National Forest's Ukonom Ranger District, bringing the total land under Six Rivers' management to 1.08 million acres. The Six Rivers’ headquarters is located in Eureka, with district offices (or "ranger districts") in the communities of Gasquet (Gasquet Ranger District, which includes the Smith River National Recreation Area), Orleans (Orleans Ranger District), Willow Creek (Lower Trinity Ranger District), and Mad River (Mad River Ranger District).

Elevations across the Forest range from nearly sea-level to approximately 7,000 feet. As a result, the Six Rivers supports diverse ecosystems and landscapes. The Forest is composed of extensive stands of coniferous forest, with moderate amounts of oak woodland and grassland in the southern part of the Forest. These ecosystems provide habitat for eight federally classified threatened and endangered species, including the bald eagle and the peregrine falcon. In addition, 32 plant, 2 bird, 1 fish, and 2 mammal species found in the Six Rivers are designated as Forest Service sensitive species.

The Six Rivers National Forest is named for the six major rivers that run within its boundaries: the Smith, Klamath, Trinity, Mad, Van Duzen, and Eel. The Smith, Klamath, Trinity, and Eel Rivers comprise over 365 miles of designated Wild and Scenic River. (The Salmon River in the Ukonom Ranger District is also a Wild and Scenic River.) The Smith River is the only major undammed, naturally flowing river remaining in California. The rivers provide many recreational opportunities. While rafting and kayaking are popular water-based recreational activities, the resilient watersheds of the Forest are perhaps best known for providing some of the best anadromous fishing opportunities in California. In addition to river recreation, popular activities in the Six Rivers include camping, hiking, backpacking, picnicking, and motorized vehicle use. The Six Rivers provides multiple facilities for all of these activities. The Six Rivers also has more than 1,500 miles of streams, constituting 9 percent of California's total freshwater runoff.

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