Six Rivers National Forest celebrates 75 years

The Six Rivers National Forest is celebrating its 75th anniversary! On June 3, 1947, President Harry S. Truman established the Six Rivers National Forest by Presidential proclamation 2733 creating the youngest forest in California.

The forest has grown in many ways over the past 75 years. For example, the forest now has almost 75,000 more acres than it did when it was established. The Six Rivers’ initial 900,000 acres was a combination of three national forests from two regions: the Siskiyou (now the Rogue River-Siskiyou) from the Pacific Northwest Region, and the Klamath and Trinity (now the Shasta-Trinity) national forests in the Pacific Southwestern Region. Today the forest is comprised of 974,612 acres of mountainous land and iconic rivers that stretches from the Oregon-California border south for approximately 140 miles to Mendocino County.

Not only has the acreage grown but so has the workforce. In 1947 there were only 9 employees on the forest which included rangers and staff. Today the forest employs around 200 people across four districts and the Supervisor’s Office.

Seventy-five years later the Six Rivers National Forest remains committed to connecting people to the land, working in collaboration with our communities and partners, and providing access to resources that promote economic, ecological, and social vitality.