Pacific Northwest Natural Areas
 

 

 


 

Saddleback Mountain Research Natural Area

Salem District , BLM

Coast Range Ecoregion

Cell(s):

  • Pacific silver fir-western hemlock forest
  The 61 ha Saddleback Mountain RNA was set aside for old growth Pacific silver fir (Abies amabilis) and western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) forest. The top of Saddlebag Mountain is dominated by noble fir (Abies procera) and Pacific silver fir, which is suspected as a relict population. Most of Saddlebag Mountain is dominated by western hemlock forests, with open, park-like conditions. The main forb in the understory is Oregon woodsorrel (Oxalis oregana). This stand of 200-plus year old trees is located approximately 10 kilometers southwest of Grand Ronde in Lincoln County, Oregon. The climate is maritime, with average annual precipitation of 178 to 190 cm. Saddlebag is located on a ridge top and extends on steep west slopes, with the elevation ranging from 800 to 1000 m. Soil series include Caterl, Laderlyk and Murtip. There was a major natural fire in 1810. The forest is vulnerable to wind damage because the area is located on a high elevation ridge overlooking the Pacific ocean and many adjacent forests have been clearcut. [Historic aside: The name Saddlebag Mountain derived from the early 1900s custom of hanging the mail in a saddlebag on a snag on the saddle between two ridgetops where early residents retrieved it. Apparently the name was replaced on maps sometime during the 1930s or 1940s with the name Saddleback. When the error was brought to the attention of the US Board on Geographic Names, the name was changed back to Saddlebag.

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Access by private lumber company roads that are gated.