The call of the wild, as much as the rush for gold, helped bring civilization into the northern mountainous terrain that stretches up to the California-Oregon border. The peaks reach elevations of 5,000, 7,000, and even 9,000 feet, making them a massive natural obstacle to development. That's a good thing for the locals who want to enjoy hiking, camping, and fishing in peace, as well as for visitors who want a real taste of unscathed wilderness — with a few tourist-friendly towns thrown in just in case you get lost along the way.