Halfway Between Sacramento And Portland Is An Underrated Monument With Mountain Views And Camping

If you've ever roadtripped between Sacramento, California, and Portland, Oregon, you know it's a long drive — 579 miles to be exact — with a lot of 18-wheelers and mountain passes. While not quite as scenic as the California coast's immaculate Highway 1, this stretch of I-5 passes right by the Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument, the meeting point of three imposing mountain ranges: the Siskiyou, the Cascade, and the Klamath. 

The approximately 114,000-acre monument occupies a jigsaw-shaped chunk of land, lying adjacent to the Soda Mountain Wilderness Area. Straddling California and Oregon, the monument is about 17 miles outside Ashland, Oregon's "Broadway of the West Coast." It exists, in part, to protect the region's biological diversity, which includes 700 plant species in pine forests, high-altitude meadows, and oak groves. "Really pay attention when you come to the edge of a forest and a meadow opens up before you," shared Shannon Browne, formerly of Friends of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, with Willow Witt Ranch. "In Cascade-Siskiyou, you're often leaving one ecosystem and entering another."

Discover the mountainous landscape on hikes ranging from short jaunts around Little Hyatt Lake to multi-day backpacking expeditions along the 40 miles of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. Despite its beauty and wealth of activities, ranging from cross-country skiing and snowmobiling to the famed rock climbing at Pilot Rock, the Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument is often overlooked. The monument lies about 300 miles from both Sacramento and Portland, making it an ideal midway point for an overnight stay at Hyatt Lake Campground.

As a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) property, dispersed camping is permitted in non-designated spaces and at one of Hyatt Lake Campground's 70 campsites. Spread out along the shores of Hyatt Lake, the campground is the only developed option in the preserve and features flush toilets, showers with hot water, and a dock for fishing. It's hard to find more scenic views in the park with less effort. From your tent, enjoy Mt. McLoughlin's hulking form reflected across the lake's smooth surface, made all the more serene by the "no wake" policy. This means crafts aren't allowed to exceed 10 mph.

There are three camping loops (A, B, and C) inside the recreation area, plus an equestrian campground and Wildcat Campground. Featuring only 12 sites (all lakefront), Wildcat offers basic facilities, including vault toilets and a place to launch a boat. It's the ideal spot for anglers seeking smallmouth bass and trout or campers who don't mind trading a little comfort for utter peace. The campgrounds close during the snowy winter months, and you must reserve through recreation.gov.  

One thing to note: The campsites are packed rather closely together, and there's not a lot of privacy. In addition, the campsites don't come with water, electricity, or sewer hookups, but there's a dump station. Before heading out, check the water levels in Jackson County. During long dry spells, the water levels go down, and the formerly lakefront campsites require a walk over crusty silt to reach the water. 

The Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument offers several hikes under 3 miles round-trip near Green Springs, a particularly verdant section of the monument named for hundreds of springs that keep the grassy meadows extra lush. The Hobart Bluff Trail is a great, albeit difficult in parts, way to enjoy the mountains. It requires a serious climb towards the end, but, from the bluff, you can see Mt. Shasta, Mt. Ashland, and Mt. McLoughlin, with expanses of pines in the foreground. 

Another way to see these huge mountains is by taking Pilot Rock Trail. Named after the volcanic formation you'll make your way towards, the trail stretches 3 miles out and back and isn't for beginners. The final leg of the hike requires a scramble to the top of the rock, which isn't recommended when there's snow on the ground or muddy snowmelts. 

You don't have to commit to a day of hiking to see the mountain scenery, though. Hope in the car and take Highway 66 Scenic Drive from Ashland and wind for 50 miles through the monument and surrounding land, before reaching Klamath Falls's sun-soaked mountains and wine country. Following the old Applegate Wagon Trail, the highway reveals the kind of mountain views people imagine when they think of Oregon — jagged peaks topped with dense pine coverage, all beneath clear, blue skies. It's an easy way to get a taste of the area without tiring yourself out or sacrificing too much time.