Attention: Devil's Staircase has some of the most steep and unpredictable terrain imaginable. There are no trails or signs, and GPS units can not be relied on in the area. We strongly discourage hiking there without a guide who is intimately familiar with the Devil's Staircase area.
NEWS UPDATES
October 28, 2009: Devil's Staircase Clears House Committee.
October 8, 2009: Devil's Staircase Receives Support in Senate and House Hearings.
October 1, 2009: Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands in the House Natural Resources Committee holds hearing on Devil's Staircase Wilderness in Congress.
September 25: Cascadia Wildlands just returned from guiding a two-day outing to Devil's Staircase with Oregon Public Broadcasting's Oregon Field Guide. Watch the show online.
June 16, 2009: Rep. Peter DeFazio and Senator Ron Wyden introduce legislation into Congress to protect the 29,650-acre Devil's Staircase Wilderness. See Cascadia press release.
BACKGROUND
Waterfalls, old-growth rainforest, Pacific giant salamanders, roadless country, solitude… Find them all in the proposed Devil’s Staircase Wilderness — a priceless wild area located in the heart of the central Oregon Coast Range, northeast of Reedsport, Oregon. Very little virgin rainforest remains in the Oregon Coast Range, and the Devil’s Staircase area has one of the greatest concentrations. It is also simply the wildest, most remote country left there. As such, it is an historic gem and one of the last and best remnant reminders of how the Coast Range used to be. The rugged topography and thick rainforest of the area have likely played a role in keeping the chainsaws out. It’s time for the area to receive permanent protection.
Administered by the Coos Bay Bureau of Land Management and the Siuslaw National Forest, the Devil’s Staircase area has long been proposed for Wilderness but has never gotten the protection it deserves. Wasson Creek, the main drainage in the area, features the elusive Devil’s Staircase waterfall within its wildlands. Other nearby drainages with a wild character are also included in the proposed Wilderness. These roadless canyons are home to river otter, spotted owl, marbled murrelet, black bear, cougar, water ouzels, beaver, crayfish, coho salmon and a myriad of other critters.
The support of Oregon's congressional delegation is critical to the passage of legislation that will permanently protect this area. Devil’s Staircase lies in the heart of Representative Peter DeFazio’s district. He, along with Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, need to get letters and calls expressing your enthusiasm for the area.
TAKE ACTION
Personalize and send an auto letter to Senator Wyden encouraging him to advance Devil's Staircase legislation through Congress now!
Send a letter to the Register-Guard (under 250 words), Oregonian (under 150 words), and Eugene Weekly (under 250 words). Here are some talking points for letters to elected officials and letters to the editor.
ARTICLES AND DOCUMENTS
1. Get Wet: Trek to Wasson Creek, Oregon's Old-growth Mecca by James Johnston (Eugene Weekly 11/15/08)
2. Legendary Remote Forest Needs Help by Andy Stahl (Register-Guard 11/12/07)
3. Visit Our Coalition's Devil's Staircase Webpage
4. View Select Photos of the Devil's Staircase Wilderness Proposal Area
5. True Wilderness: Devil's Staircase Proposed for Protection (Register-Guard)
6. Oregon Field Guide Video about Devil's Staircase
7. "Devil's in the Details" (Gabe Flock's Account of First Kayak Descent of Wasson Creek)
8. Rep. DeFazio's Bill to Create the 29,650-acre Devil's Staircase Wilderness
9. Final Devil's Staircase Wilderness Map from 10/28/09 House Mark-up
