The Siskiyou Wilderness in Northern California spans parts of the Six Rivers, Klamath, and Rogue River-Siskiyou national forests, protecting 182,802 acres of the Siskiyou Mountains from low river country to Preston Peak. Established in 1984 and enlarged in 2006, it preserves rugged high country noted for exceptional biological richness, including old-growth forest, many endemic plants, and rare conifer species. Its streams and forests support species such as wolverine, northern spotted owl, Roosevelt elk, salmon, and steelhead. The South Fork Smith River and outstanding ophiolite exposures add geological importance, while dense brush, few trails, and remote terrain shape recreation.