Lower Williamson Gorge is a canyon on the Williamson River in southern Oregon’s Winema National Forest, formed as the river cut through an escarpment into the Klamath Basin. A 1990 forest management plan judged this reach exceptional for scenery, praising its river corridor, sheer rock walls, and visual diversity, and found part of it eligible for Wild and Scenic Rivers Act designation because of its outstanding scenic value. Even so, it has not received that protection. Though close to U.S. Highway 97, the gorge remains little visited because access is limited to primitive roads. It also supports varied wildlife, plant life, and striking seasonal changes in the river’s appearance.