by Vince DiFrancesco
for the Siskiyou Hiker
28 APRIL 2025 | SELMA, OR. -- The 3,975-foot tall Bald Mountain is situated on the Illinois River Trail #1161, a National Recreation Trail that passes through the northernmost part of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness Area. Hikers online report that Bald Mountain is one of the most difficult climbs of the entire trail. If approaching the east, they must endure a long, steep climb along an exposed, sun-baked slope. From the west, a seemingly endless series of switchbacks ascends from the confluence of Silver Creek and the Illinois River.
for the Siskiyou Hiker
28 APRIL 2025 | SELMA, OR. -- The 3,975-foot tall Bald Mountain is situated on the Illinois River Trail #1161, a National Recreation Trail that passes through the northernmost part of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness Area. Hikers online report that Bald Mountain is one of the most difficult climbs of the entire trail. If approaching the east, they must endure a long, steep climb along an exposed, sun-baked slope. From the west, a seemingly endless series of switchbacks ascends from the confluence of Silver Creek and the Illinois River.
My first time at Bald Mountain came during an eventful trip to film our Wilderness Corps Crew on an 8-day hitch. They had hiked all the way from Oak Flat, and I was trudging in from the east to meet them.
Many hold an impression of the Kalmiopsis a “wasteland” that has been repeatedly ravaged by fire. Even as someone who has spent many nights in this Wilderness Area, I, too, find myself dreading the punishing heat on an exposed ridge or the annoyance of a poison oak rash. I worry over my electrolytes, check my body for ticks, and listen for the sound of rattlesnakes.
My hike to Bald Mountain was no different. The heat was already getting to me as I plodded uphill, and I was sure to hydrate generously. I scanned the ground for that dreaded, three-leafed plant. Yet as I toiled (and worried) my way westward, I found, to my surprise, that I had stepped into the shadow of live forest - a rarity in this Wilderness.
As I continued, the air cooled, and I felt ferns graze my legs. The sun cast dappled light over wildflowers, and the ground was soft underfoot, a sharp contrast to the rock-strewn trail I had tackled only moments before. It was a little pocket of paradise, and I couldn't help but sit down and take a rest.
This gem is certainly worth a visit, and can be combined with a short overnight to nearby Pine Flat or Shorty Noble Site.
Want to experience the Illinois River Trail or Bald Mountain for yourself? Pick up the Powers and Gold Beach Ranger District Map (North and South) or our own Kalmiopsis Wilderness Map (North) from our online store, or visit us at 106 Talent Ave in Talent, OR.
Long Live the Backwoods Trails!
-Vincent DiFrancesco, Communications Coordinator.