National Landscape Conservation System

Pilot Rock in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. Photo by Frank Lane.

The National Landscape Conservation System serves as an umbrella for the many specially designated BLM lands.

These special designations include National Monuments, National Scenic and Historical Trails, Wild and Scenic Rivers, Wilderness, Wilderness Study Areas, Cooperative Management and Protection Areas, Forest Reserves, National Conservation Areas, National Recreation Areas and Outstanding Natural Areas.

The National Landscape Conservation System program focuses on the opportunities and management needs of these national treasures.

In Oregon and Washington there is one National Monument, 24 miles of National Historic Trails, 42 miles of National Scenic Trails, 23 Wild and Scenic Rivers totaling 811 miles, five Wilderness Areas totaling 193,863 acres, Wilderness Study Areas totaling 2,701,190 acres, one Outstanding Natural Area totaling 100 acres, and one Cooperative Management and Protection Area totaling 425,550 acres.

Special Areas designated under the National Landscape Conservation System

Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument

The Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument is the nation's first monument designated in recognition of an area's biological diversity.

Steens Mountain Cooperative Management Protection Area

Approximately 900,000 acres of federal land in southeastern Oregon is protected for its extraordinary landscape - volcanic uplifts, deep glacial carved gorges, stunning scenery, wilderness, wild rivers, and a rich diversity of plant and animal species - and a way of life for all who live there. For more details, visit the Burns district Steens Mountain recreation page.

National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center

An outdoor trail system provides four miles of hiking to see scenic vistas of the Blue Mountains, the Wallowa Mountains, and the Baker Valley and Virtue Flat, where the original route of the Oregon Trail can be clearly seen from atop Flagstaff Hill. Visitors may take one of the hiking trails down to the Oregon Trail and walk in the actual ruts made by the pioneers.

Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area

Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area is located on a narrow point of land jutting due west into the Pacific Ocean at the north end of Newport, Oregon. This headland provides visitors with one of the most accessible wildlife and ocean viewing locations on the Pacific Coast.

Wild and Scenic Rivers

The BLM is responsible for portions of 38 Wild and Scenic Rivers for a combined total of over 2,000 miles. Wild and Scenic Rivers are designated under the authority of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 to protect outstanding scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural, or other values and to preserve the river in its free-flowing condition. There are three classes of protected rivers: Wild, Scenic, and Recreational.

BLM Wilderness Study Areas

These areas are geologically and botanically unique, provide habitat for hundreds of wildlife species, and offer a variety of primitive recreation opportunities.