Community
Selma
A lake down one road, a wild river up the next.
Quick facts
Selma at a glance
Selma is an unincorporated community in Josephine County, ZIP code 97538, on Highway 199 at the north end of the Illinois Valley. Cave Junction is about 10 minutes south and downtown Grants Pass about 25 minutes north. Lake Selmac sits just off the highway, and the Illinois River Road heads west from town toward the Kalmiopsis Wilderness.
What it's like
Living in Selma
Selma is where the Illinois Valley begins: a crossroads on the Redwood Highway, wooded hills on every side, and quiet that settles in as soon as you turn off 199.
The water is the reason people stay. Lake Selmac has a fishing pier, a boat ramp and no motorboats, so mornings on the water stay calm. Up the Illinois River Road, the river runs clear through steep canyon country on its way into the Kalmiopsis. Closer in, the Eight Dollar Mountain boardwalk trail winds through one of the region's unusual botanical areas.
Groceries and services are in Cave Junction, about ten minutes south. Grants Pass is about twenty-five minutes north for the hospital and bigger errands. Properties here are mostly wooded acreage, from a cabin on a few acres to larger parcels with outbuildings and room to spread out.
Before you buy here
The homework
Selma is unincorporated, so Josephine County handles zoning and permits. Most homes run on a well and septic, so ask for the well log, a flow test and the septic permit. Wooded parcels make fire planning part of ownership: look at defensible space, and get an insurance quote before you write an offer. Many properties sit on private or gravel roads, so ask who maintains them. Check internet service at the exact address, because coverage drops off quickly away from the highway.
Local favorites
Around Selma
outdoors
Eight Dollar Mountain Boardwalk
An eighth-mile, wheelchair-accessible boardwalk through a fen of carnivorous California pitcher plants, about 3½ miles s
outdoors
Illinois River Road
The drive west from Selma into Illinois River canyon country and the trailheads toward the Kalmiopsis.
outdoors
Lake Selmac
A quiet lake off Highway 199 with a fishing pier, boat ramp, playground and campground. No motorboats, which keeps it ca
Questions
Selma FAQ
What is it like to live in Selma, Oregon?
Quiet, wooded and close to the water. Selma sits at the north end of the Illinois Valley on Highway 199, with Lake Selmac nearby, the Illinois River backcountry to the west, and Cave Junction about ten minutes south.
How far is Selma from Grants Pass?
About 25 minutes to downtown Grants Pass via Highway 199.
What is there to do near Selma?
Fishing and paddling on Lake Selmac, the Eight Dollar Mountain boardwalk trail, and the Illinois River Road into the Kalmiopsis backcountry.
What should I check before buying in Selma?
The well and septic records, fire risk and a homeowners insurance quote before you make an offer, the access road and who maintains it, internet service at the exact address, and county zoning.
Talk to Michael
Want the lake and the river as your backyard? Let's look at Selma.
Considering Selma? Ask anything, or get a pricing consult if you own here.