I have family in Central Point Oregon that I like to visit as often as possible. During my stays there I like to explore the surrounding region. Above the Rogue Valley, where most of the population in southern Oregon resides, there are forestry roads penetrating the high country. One such road is National Forest Road 20, or the Siskiyou Summit Road. This unpaved road traverses the Siskiyou Mountains from Mount Ashland to the Applegate Valley to the west. There are side-roads intersecting USNF-20, some of which dead-end or become impassable, some providing alternate routes leading down to the valley floor, and some that loop back to rejoin USNF-20.
During my explorations, when snow drifts aren’t a factor, I’ve not found any roads that a normal vehicle could not pass if care and caution were your guide. Including all the side roads on a journey here, the possibilities for rewarding encounters with nature as nearly limitless. The habitats this route offers along its way varies from rocky alpine slopes, grassy meadows, tall conifer woodlands, and all things in between.
I’ve made journeys here hoping I’d meet Gray Jays (okay, Canada Jays), but I’ve not found them, though it seems like it would be a good place to find them. While the Jays have eluded me, I’ve enjoyed many other avian encounters along this route. Even if bird-life is not your thing, the scenery from the high ridges can provide rewarding “top-of-the-world” vistas as far as the eye can see in all directions.
I blogged about my past visits. Each of these excursions provided a unique experience. Those stories can be read by following these links:
https://shadetreeimaging.com/2015-06-11-siskiyou-mountains/
- My first visit included a trip to Dutchman’s Peak. I saw Red-Breasted Nuthatches, Yellow-Rumped Warblers, MacGillivray’s Warblers, Green-Tailed Towhees, Lazuli Buntings, Brewer’s Sparrows, Calliope Hummingbirds, Mountain Bluebirds and Golden-Crowned Kinglets
https://shadetreeimaging.com/2016-05-02-monday-on-the-siskiyou-summit-road/
- On my second visit snowpack prevented my crossing from Applegate to Ashland, but I had a nice encounter with Nashville Warblers. Hermit Warblers and other birds stayed high in the canopy, and I didn’t get images of those birds.
https://shadetreeimaging.com/2019-08-07-siskiyou-summit/
- My third trip started in Ashland and I crossed all the way to Applegate. On the Ashland side, the highlights were the Juvenile American Robins I met. I remember missing my chance to capture an Evening Grosbeak, but with Chipping Sparrows, Juncos, Hairy Woodpeckers, House Wrens, Red-Breasted Nuthatches, bees, butterflies and flowers, I was more successful.
Below are some of my images from these excursions.
These meetings along the Siskiyou Summit Road (FS-20) between Ashland and Applegate did not yield as many birds as I’d hoped, but the bugs and flowers were a nice consolation prize.

Alpine Views(n/a) |
Description: Verdant meadow viewed while traversing the Siskiyou Mountains from the Applegate Valley to Mount Ashland Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:11 12:28 |
Location:
Siskiyou Mountains |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 12 mm, f/4.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D2X0821-SiskiyouMountainVistas |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


View From Dutchman Peak(n/a) |
Description: Mount McLoughlin in the center of the horizon, Mount Ashland on the far right. This view is to the east from the fire lookout at the summit of Dutchman Peak while traversing the Siskiyou Mountains from the Applegate Valley to Mount Ashland Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:11 13:09 |
Location:
Siskiyou Mountains |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 24 mm, f/4.0, 1/1500 |
File Name: D2X0851-SiskiyouMountainVistas |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


View From Dutchman Peak(n/a) |
Description: This view to the north of the Rogue River Valley is from the fire lookout at the summit of Dutchman Peak while traversing theSiskiyou Mountains from the Applegate Valley to Mount Ashland Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:11 13:09 |
Location:
Siskiyou Mountains |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 24 mm, f/4.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: D2X0856-SiskiyouMountainVistas |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


View From Dutchman Peak(n/a) |
Description: This view of the Applegate Valley to the west is from the fire lookout at the summit of Dutchman Peak while traversing the Siskiyou Mountains from the Applegate Valley to Mount Ashland Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:11 13:09 |
Location:
Siskiyou Mountains |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 24 mm, f/4.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: D2X0863-SiskiyouMountainVistas |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


View From Dutchman Peak(n/a) |
Description: This view shows the Marble Mountain Wilderness to the southwest from the fire lookout at the summit of Dutchman Peak while traversing the Siskiyou Mountains from the Applegate Valley to Mount Ashland Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:11 13:10 |
Location:
Siskiyou Mountains |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 24 mm, f/4.0, 1/1500 |
File Name: D2X0866-SiskiyouMountainVistas |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


View From Dutchman Peak(n/a) |
Description: This view of Mount Shasta to the southeast is from the fire lookout at the summit of Dutchman Peak while I was traversing the Siskiyou Mountains from the Applegate Valley to Mount Ashland Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:11 13:10 |
Location:
Siskiyou Mountains |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 24 mm, f/4.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: D2X0871-SiskiyouMountainVistas |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Lazuli Bunting(Passerina amoena) |
Description: An encounter I had while traversing the Siskiyou Mountains from the Applegate Valley to Mount Ashland Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:11 13:30 |
Location:
Siskiyou Mountains |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X0029-LazuliBunting |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Brewer's Sparrow(Spizella breweri) |
Description: Met while traversing the Siskiyou Mountains from the Applegate Valley to Mount Ashland Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:11 15:04 |
Location:
Siskiyou Mountains |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/3200 |
File Name: D3X0044-BrewersSparrow |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Calliope Hummingbird(Selasphorus calliope) |
Description: North America's smallest bird viewed while traversing the Siskiyou Mountains from the Applegate Valley to Mount Ashland Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:11 15:11 |
Location:
Siskiyou Mountains |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: D3X0061-CalliopeHummingBird |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Mountain Bluebird(Sialia currucoides) |
Description: I met this nesting bird while traversing the Siskiyou Mountains from the Applegate Valley to Mount Ashland Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:11 15:30 |
Location:
Siskiyou Mountains |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X0104-MountainBlueBird |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Golden-Crowned Kinglet(Regulus satrapa) |
Description: This was one of my favorite meetings in the Siskiyou Mountains. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:11 17:27 |
Location:
Siskiyou Mountains |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/200 |
File Name: D3X0150-GoldenCrownedKinglet |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Golden-Crowned Kinglet(Regulus satrapa) |
Description: This was one of my favorite meetings in the Siskiyou Mountains. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:11 17:28 |
Location:
Siskiyou Mountains |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/400 |
File Name: D3X0159-GoldenCrownedKinglet |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Golden-Crowned Kinglet(Regulus satrapa) |
Description: This was one of my favorite meetings in the Siskiyou Mountains. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:11 17:37 |
Location:
Siskiyou Mountains |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: D3X0165-GoldenCrownedKinglet |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Red-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta canadensis) |
Description: These birds are easily found when crossing the Siskiyou Mountains from the Applegate Valley to Mount Ashland Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:11 10:54 |
Location:
Siskiyou Mountains |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X9767-RedBreastedNuthatch |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Yellow-Rumped Warbler(Setophaga coronata auduboni) |
Description: A commonly sighted bird when crossing the Siskiyou Mountains from the Applegate Valley to Mount Ashland Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:11 11:08 |
Location:
Siskiyou Mountains |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X9785-YellowRumpedWarbler |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


MacGillivray's Warbler(Geothlypis tolmiei) |
Description: This bird provided a nice visit while I was traversing the Siskiyou Mountains from the Applegate Valley to Mount Ashland Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:11 11:58 |
Location:
Siskiyou Mountains |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X9819-MacGillivraysWarbler |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


MacGillivray's Warbler(Geothlypis tolmiei) |
Description: This bird provided a nice visit while I was traversing the Siskiyou Mountains from the Applegate Valley to Mount Ashland Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:11 12:01 |
Location:
Siskiyou Mountains |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X9878-MacGillivraysWarbler |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


MacGillivray's Warbler(Geothlypis tolmiei) |
Description: This bird, caught in mid-leap, provided a nice visit while I was traversing the Siskiyou Mountains from the Applegate Valley to Mount Ashland Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:11 12:05 |
Location:
Siskiyou Mountains |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X9909-MacGillivraysWarbler |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


MacGillivray's Warbler(Geothlypis tolmiei) |
Description: This bird captured its prey while I was taking its picture. I was traversing the Siskiyou Mountains from the Applegate Valley to Mount Ashland Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:11 12:06 |
Location:
Siskiyou Mountains |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: D3X9928-MacGillivraysWarbler |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


MacGillivray's Warbler(Geothlypis tolmiei) |
Description: This bird captured its prey while I was taking its picture. I was traversing the Siskiyou Mountains from the Applegate Valley to Mount Ashland Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:11 12:06 |
Location:
Siskiyou Mountains |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X9932-MacGillivraysWarbler |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
Description: A shy bird I met while traversing the Siskiyou Mountains from the Applegate Valley to Mount Ashland Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:11 12:59 |
Location:
Siskiyou Mountains |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: D3X9996-GreenTailedTowhee |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Nashville Warbler(Leiothlypis ruficapilla) |
Description: This bird was found in the company of Yellow-Rumped and Hermit Warblers along the Siskiyou Crest Road (USFS-20) between Ashland and the Applegate Valley in Southern Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2016:05:02 13:31 |
Location:
Siskiyou Crest Road |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D729831-NashvilleWarbler |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Nashville Warbler(Leiothlypis ruficapilla) |
Description: This bird was found in the company of Yellow-Rumped and Hermit Warblers along the Siskiyou Crest Road (USFS-20) between Ashland and the Applegate Valley in Southern Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2016:05:02 13:36 |
Location:
Siskiyou Crest Road |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D729841-NashvilleWarbler |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Nashville Warbler(Leiothlypis ruficapilla) |
Description: This bird was found in the company of Yellow-Rumped and Hermit Warblers along the Siskiyou Crest Road (USFS-20) between Ashland and the Applegate Valley in Southern Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2016:05:02 13:48 |
Location:
Siskiyou Crest Road |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D729854-NashvilleWarbler |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


American Robin(Turdus migratorius) |
Description: There must have been two dozen of these juvenile birds feeding on Huckleberry or Kinnikinnik when I met them along the Siskiyou Summit Road (FS-20) between Ashland and Applegate. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:06 8:50 |
Location:
Siskiyou Summit |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: AmericanRobin_D5X0240-SiskiyouSummit |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


American Robin(Turdus migratorius) |
Description: There must have been two dozen of these juvenile birds feeding on Huckleberry or Kinnikinnik when I met them along the Siskiyou Summit Road (FS-20) between Ashland and Applegate. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:06 8:53 |
Location:
Siskiyou Summit |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: AmericanRobin_D5X0252-SiskiyouSummit |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


American Robin(Turdus migratorius) |
Description: There must have been two dozen of these juvenile birds I met along the Siskiyou Summit Road (FS-20) between Ashland and Applegate. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:06 8:54 |
Location:
Siskiyou Summit |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: AmericanRobin_D5X0277-SiskiyouSummit |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


American Robin(Turdus migratorius) |
Description: There must have been two dozen of these juvenile birds feeding on Huckleberry or Kinnikinnik when I met them along the Siskiyou Summit Road (FS-20) between Ashland and Applegate. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:06 8:54 |
Location:
Siskiyou Summit |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: AmericanRobin_D5X0290-SiskiyouSummit |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Blue Copper Butterfly(Lycaena heteronea) |
Description: These butterflies showed up more for the water they got from the mud than in the flowers along the Siskiyou Summit Road (FS-20) between Ashland and Applegate did not yield as many birds as I'd hoped, but the bugs and flowers were a nice consolation prise. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:06 14:32 |
Location:
Cinnabar Springs (historical) |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/16.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlueCopper-Butterfly_D5X0661-SiskiyouSummit |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


California Tortoiseshell Butterfly(Nymphalis californica) |
Description: These butterflies showed up more for the water they got from the mud than in the flowers along the Siskiyou Summit Road (FS-20) between Ashland and Applegate did not yield as many birds as I'd hoped, but the bugs and flowers were a nice consolation prise. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:06 14:39 |
Location:
Cinnabar Springs (historical) |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/16.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CaliforniaTortoiseshell-Butterfly_D5X0720-SiskiyouSummit |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Lorquin's Admiral Butterfly(Limenitis lorquini) |
Description: These meetings took place along the Siskiyou Summit Road (FS-20) between Ashland and Applegate did not yield as many birds as I'd hoped, but the bugs and flowers were a nice consolation prise. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:06 14:42 |
Location:
Cinnabar Springs (historical) |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/16.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LorquinsAdmiral-Butterfly_D5X0745-SiskiyouSummit |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Chipping Sparrow(Spizella passerina) |
Description: My meeting with this sparrow was all too brief. Along the Siskiyou Summit Road (FS-20) between Ashland and Applegate. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:06 11:49 |
Location:
Siskiyou Summit |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/800 |
File Name: ChippingSparrow_D5X0348-SiskiyouSummit |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Dark-Eyed Junco(Junco hyemalis) |
Description: This much food in the birds mouth would indicate a nest nearby with a hungry brood. Along the Siskiyou Summit Road (FS-20) between Ashland and Applegate. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:06 11:47 |
Location:
Siskiyou Summit |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/800 |
File Name: DarkEyedJunco_D5X0342-SiskiyouSummit |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Hairy Woodpecker(Leuconotopicus villosus) |
Description: One of the meetings I had travelling along the Siskiyou Summit Road (FS-20) between Ashland and Applegate. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:06 11:32 |
Location:
Siskiyou Summit |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/400 |
File Name: HairyWoodpecker_D5X0314-SiskiyouSummit |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


House Wren(Troglodytes aedon) |
Description: Meetings along the Siskiyou Summit Road (FS-20) between Ashland and Applegate. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:06 9:07 |
Location:
Siskiyou Summit |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: HouseWren_D5X0306-SiskiyouSummit |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Red-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta canadensis) |
Description: The toy-horn calls of these birds were heard all along the road on the Siskiyou Summit Road (FS-20) between Ashland and Applegate. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:06 11:38 |
Location:
Siskiyou Summit |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/640 |
File Name: RedBreastedNuthatch_D5X0320-SiskiyouSummit |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Toothed Owl's-Clover(Orthocarpus cuspidatus) |
Description: The flowers along the Siskiyou Summit Road (FS-20) between Ashland and Applegate were beautiful, but these ones fascinated me. The drive did not yield as many birds as I'd hoped, but the bugs and flowers were a nice consolation prize. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:06 14:18 |
Location:
Cinnabar Springs (historical) |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/16.0, 1/800 |
File Name: ToothedOwlsClover_D5X0547-SiskiyouSummit |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Yellow-Faced Bumblebee(Bombus vosnesenskii) |
Description: These meetings along the Siskiyou Summit Road (FS-20) between Ashland and Applegate did not yield as many birds as I'd hoped, but the bugs and flowers were a nice consolation prize. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:06 13:59 |
Location:
Cinnabar Springs (historical) |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 |
File Name: YellowFacedBumblebee-on-Flower_D5X0377-SiskiyouSummit |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Yellow-Faced Bumblebee(Bombus vosnesenskii) |
Description: These meetings along the Siskiyou Summit Road (FS-20) between Ashland and Applegate did not yield as many birds as I'd hoped, but the bugs and flowers were a nice consolation prize. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:06 14:16 |
Location:
Cinnabar Springs (historical) |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/16.0, 1/800 |
File Name: YellowFacedBumblebee-on-Flower_D5X0527-SiskiyouSummit |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Yellow-Faced Bumblebee(Bombus vosnesenskii) |
Description: These meetings along the Siskiyou Summit Road (FS-20) between Ashland and Applegate did not yield as many birds as I'd hoped, but the bugs and flowers were a nice consolation prize. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:06 14:29 |
Location:
Cinnabar Springs (historical) |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/16.0, 1/800 |
File Name: YellowFacedBumblebee-on-Flower_D5X0622-SiskiyouSummit |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


My Winnebago Travato(n/a) |
Description: Parked on a side road along the Siskiyou Summit Road. This was before I added the roof rack and MacGyvered all the storage up there. |
Date Taken: 2016:05:02 12:39 |
Location:
Siskiyou Crest Road |
Camera Information: XT1575, 4.67 mm, f/2.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: IMG_20160502_123941981-Travato-RoadsideScenery |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |

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