The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Why You Should Visit    

Covered with forest, grasslands and bogs, Eight Dollar Mountain supports the heaviest concentrations of rare plants in Oregon and outstanding examples of several serpentine soil communities.

Of the 3,370 plant species known to Oregon, nearly half are found in the Klamath and Siskiyou Mountain region. The prevalence of heavily mineralized, magnesium-rich soils helps account for the evolution of this region's extraordinary plant life.

Location

Near Selma in Southwest Oregon

Size

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing

In addition to the Conservancy's property, public land holdings on Eight Dollar Mountain include the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and Oregon Division of State Lands — 4,400 acres in all. The entire mountain ecosystem is managed cooperatively by the Conservancy and those agencies to protect its exceptional natural values. Ecologists monitor the populations of rare plants.

Things To Do

What to See: Plants

The varied elevations and aspects of Eight Dollar Mountain support an outstanding diversity of rare plants including Waldo gentian, large-flowered rush-lily, western senecio, Oregon willow-herb and Howell's mariposa-lily. The preserve also contains western azalea thickets, chaparral and Jeffery pine forest, as well as bogs dominated by the carnivorous California pitcher plant and a tufted hairgrass wet meadow.

Plan Your Visit

For wildflower displays, the best times to visit the preserve are May through July. There are no signs or official trails.

Please observe the following guidelines while hiking:

• Stay on the trail. Don't collect plants, insects or other species or disturb soil, rocks, artifacts or scientific research markers.
• No dogs. Preserves harbor ground-nesting birds and other wildlife that are extremely sensitive to disturbance.
• No bicycles or motorized vehicles. Native plants and research sites are easily trampled.
• No hunting, camping or campfires.
• For groups of 10 or more, please contact us before visiting a preserve (a volunteer naturalist guide may be available).
• Please bring a bag and carry out any trash you find.
• Please report to us any problems you observe (e.g., camping, plant removal, hunting, off-road vehicle damage, etc).

Directions

• Take Highway 199 S from Grants Pass to Selma. The BLM and USFS lands on the south side of Eight Dollar Mountain can be accessed off Eight Dollar Mountain Road, four miles from Selma.
• The Conservancy's preserve on the east side of the mountain can be accessed by turning west onto Gold Canyon Drive, about 2.5 miles south of Selma off Highway 199. 
• Follow the road for .3 mile.
• At the "T" intersection, park at the bottom of the old driveway directly across the intersection.
• Follow the old driveway up the hill to access serpentine Jeffrey pine savanna and fens.

Discussion

Have you been to this preserve? Are you thinking of visiting? See what others are saying about their experiences and add your comments below.

Add Your Comments

Time for you to join the discussion. Tell us about your experience at this preserve. What plants and animals did you see? When did you go? You can help others plan their visit when you share your thoughts. And thank you for visiting one of our nature preserves!

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