Congress recently introduced a bill to protect approximately 30,000 acres of land on Wassen Creek in Oregon’s vast Coastal Range, which is additionally home to the Devil’s Staircase. The area would be designated a protected wilderness and mining would no longer be allowed if the bill becomes law.
The Devil’s Staircase gets its name from the series of cascading waterfalls stepping downward through carved sandstone bedrock. Many of these “stairs” contain huge drop-off pools.
The land includes one of America’s last ancient forests dating from before European colonization. Between the Smith and Umpqua rivers, this is some of the most remote wilderness in the state. Threatened spotted owls, black bears, elk, and river otters live there in the greatest density of any part of the state.
The law is formally known as The Devil’s Staircase Wilderness Act (H.R. 2888) and was introduced by Congressman Peter DeFazio, Sen. Ron Wyden, and Sen. Jeff Merkley. The act aims to preserve one of the last remote wildernesses on the West Coast.
DeFazio hiked to the staircase in 2008. He was so impressed with the areas’ unique beauty that he vowed to protect the land with federal legislation. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee, and on the National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands Subcommittee and the Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee, according to his congressional website. He is the first member of Congress to visit the Devil’s Staircase. In a press release, he said, “Having undertaken the day-long trek to the series of cascading pools that give the area its name, I can personally attest to the rugged nature and extraordinary beauty of Devil’s Staircase.”
Wyden later made the journey. He said, on his official website, “These areas are among Oregon’s most prized possessions, and they deserve protection.”
Additionally, the act will provide protection for more than 14 miles of scenic Wassen Creek land and Franklin Creek land, protecting the delicate fish population in this area, including trout and salmon.
The Oregon Coast Range starts near the Washington border in northern Oregon and continues south. Much of the area is so remote that places like “the Devil’s Staircase” were considered mythical.
Only four decades ago, the staircase was considered just a legend by many Oregon citizens. Others believed in it, but had no idea where in the Coastal Range to start looking. Brave adventurers did eventually find it after several years of searching.
It’s now nearly three decades since the legend has become a reality. However, there is still no comfortable way to reach the stairs, including trails. Hikers need to follow elk or deer trails, and follow the creek, which spills over the staircase, or go overland through dangerously wild terrain.
The Devil’s Staircase gets its name from the series of cascading waterfalls stepping downward through carved sandstone bedrock. Many of these “stairs” contain huge drop-off pools.
The land includes one of America’s last ancient forests dating from before European colonization. Between the Smith and Umpqua rivers, this is some of the most remote wilderness in the state. Threatened spotted owls, black bears, elk, and river otters live there in the greatest density of any part of the state.
The law is formally known as The Devil’s Staircase Wilderness Act (H.R. 2888) and was introduced by Congressman Peter DeFazio, Sen. Ron Wyden, and Sen. Jeff Merkley. The act aims to preserve one of the last remote wildernesses on the West Coast.
DeFazio hiked to the staircase in 2008. He was so impressed with the areas’ unique beauty that he vowed to protect the land with federal legislation. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee, and on the National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands Subcommittee and the Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee, according to his congressional website. He is the first member of Congress to visit the Devil’s Staircase. In a press release, he said, “Having undertaken the day-long trek to the series of cascading pools that give the area its name, I can personally attest to the rugged nature and extraordinary beauty of Devil’s Staircase.”
Wyden later made the journey. He said, on his official website, “These areas are among Oregon’s most prized possessions, and they deserve protection.”
Additionally, the act will provide protection for more than 14 miles of scenic Wassen Creek land and Franklin Creek land, protecting the delicate fish population in this area, including trout and salmon.
The Oregon Coast Range starts near the Washington border in northern Oregon and continues south. Much of the area is so remote that places like “the Devil’s Staircase” were considered mythical.
Only four decades ago, the staircase was considered just a legend by many Oregon citizens. Others believed in it, but had no idea where in the Coastal Range to start looking. Brave adventurers did eventually find it after several years of searching.
It’s now nearly three decades since the legend has become a reality. However, there is still no comfortable way to reach the stairs, including trails. Hikers need to follow elk or deer trails, and follow the creek, which spills over the staircase, or go overland through dangerously wild terrain.
