Travel Guide section:
Sisters -- "Bronco Billy's Ranch Grill & Saloon" has fortunately been renamed the "Sisters Saloon & Ranch Grill," which is much closer to the original 1912 name, the Sisters Hotel.
Hot Springs -- Terwilliger Hot Springs ("Cougar Hot Springs") has raised its fee from $5 to $6. Also, a landslide on Auferheide Road 19 just south of Cougar Dam has blocked access from the McKenzie Highway 126. The landslide contains enough rock and debris to fill 800 dump trucks. Until the slide is cleared, perhaps by August 2018, the longer, recommended driving route is via Oakridge/Westfir, following Aufderheide Road 19 north instead. This route is not plowed in winter.

-- #1 Ankeny Wildlife Refuge -- Jogging is now banned on the trails here because it disturbs the birds. The Salem chapter of the Audubon Society is planning to build a nature center and educational building on Ankeny Hill Road, a mile or so north of the refuge trailheads, perhaps in 2020.

-- #2 Silver Falls -- If you're driving to Silver Falls from the south, take I-5 exit #253 and drive 5 miles (not 10 miles) east on North Santiam Highway 22 to a sign for Silver Falls Park. Then turn left on Highway 214 to the park.

-- #3 Shellburg Falls -- The Salem Chemeketans built a new section of trail in the summer of 2016 that connects the August Mtn Trail with the Shellburg Falls Trail so you don't have to hike the road for 0.3 mile near the end of the loop. This section bypasses the side trail to the Stassel Falls overlook.

-- #6 Opal Creek -- The "Planned Trail" for 0.6 mile along the north side of Opal Creek upstream from Jawbone Flats was completed in 2014. The Forest Service now encourages hikers to cross the river at the bridge just beyond Sawmill Falls, hike 1.4 miles to Opal Pool, cross Opal Creek, and hike up the creek on the far shore. The old trail upstream from Opal Pool along the southwest shore has been abandoned, and hikers are discouraged to use it. 

-- #13 Browder Ridge -- The sign for the "Heart Lake Trail" near the summit may be missing, but the trail junction is clear enough.

-- #16 House Rock -- The washed-out bridge from House Rock Campground across the South Santiam River was finally replaced in June 2014, so if you like, you can now start your hike at the campground. From there, the loop to the falls and the House Rock cave is only 0.8 mile.

-- #17 Cascadia Park -- Cascadia Cave, on private timberland near Cascadia State Park, is now open to the public, but ONLY if you sign up for guided tours with Sweet Home Nature and Heritage Tours, under the auspices of the USFS Sweet Home Ranger District. For details and the required tickets, check https://www.recreation.gov/tourDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&tourId=319074 .

-- #17 (now #115) Rooster Rock -- Trees have grown up to block most views from the old lookout site, and no boards remain from the cabin itself.

-- #20 South Breitenbush Gorge -- The Forest Service removed the rotten footbridge over Roaring Creek in June 2017. They plan to replace it in the summer of 2018.

-- #21 Jefferson Park -- Nearly all of the Whitewater Trail, from the trailhead to the PCT, burned thoroughly in the Whitewater Fire of August 2017, leaving black snags and improving views. Jefferson Park itself survived the fire intact, mostly because it has so few trees. Two alternative routes to Jefferson Park -- the South Breitenbush Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail from Breitenbush Lake over Park Ridge -- both survived the fire, and offer greener routes to Jefferson Park. The tread of the Whitewater Trail was so damaged that portions will have to be rebuilt. Although this is a shorter route to Jefferson Park, it may not open to hikers until the fall of 2018. The Forest Service has contracted with a trail crew to have it open by August 2018, but we'll see. Beargrass, bracken ferns, and wildflowers are already resprouting. 

In 2016-17, backpacking campsite reservations for the 30 posted legal lakeside campsites in Jeff Park were available online at www.recreation.gov for $9. This system has ended! Now, backpackers do not need reservations, but they must camp in one of the 30 legal sites. Sites that are more than 250 feet from a lakeshore are not affected. On summer weekends, expect that all legal sites will be full, and that you will have to camp far away from a lake. Dogs are banned at Scout Lake, but not elsewhere in the area.

-- #24 Marion Lake -- The trail to Marion Lake is fine, but if you're going to Marion Mountain, expect some blowdown and missing signs. The signs at trail junctions are on trees that have fallen down, and a dozen or more blowdown trees have not yet been cleared on the route, as of July 2013. On the other hand, the Pine Lakes Trail  from Camp Pioneer to Marion Lake may have the richest huckleberry harvest anywhere in the Cascades.

-- #26 Three Fingered Jack -- The difficult 11.7-mile loop via Martin Lake has become much more difficult because of the B&B wildfire, and is no longer recommended for hikers. It is still feasible to bushwhack down from the PCT 0.4 mile to Martin Lake, but the "clear trail" at the far east end of the lake has not been maintained. Fallen burned logs make the 0.5-mile route from Martin Lake to the Booth Lake trail arduous and confusing -- suitable only for adventurers.

-- #29 Black Butte -- The Forest Service claimed that the historic, scenic log cabin near the summit of Black Butte had deteriorated so badly that it had to be removed in 2017, rather than being restored or allowed to deteriorate on its own. Incredible! 

-- #30 Whychus Creek & Canyon -- The "Private" sign on Goodrich Road has been removed. This sign once incorrectly suggested that the public road access to the Deschutes Land Trust's Whychus Canyon Preserve was private. Be aware, however, that private land borders the road on either side, so use this road only to access the approved parking area. Additional trailhead access to the area is planned.

-- #33 Steelhead Falls -- Please do not take side trails that enter private property. This can be a problem if you choose to do the "extra" hike beyond Steelhead Falls that climbs from the Gray Tower up to the plateau. About 1/3 of the way up from the river, do not take a side trail to the right that leads to a private home. Instead continue straight up from the river to the plateau. Once you are on top you can complete a 0.9-mile loop by keeping left at junctions.

-- #34 Smith Rock -- A new trail section now makes it easier to hike a grand 6.9-mile loop around the perimeter of the park, getting the area's best views along the way. From the trailhead, hike 0.4 mile down to the Crooked River, cross the bridge, and turn upstream to the right 1.1 mile up to the Canal. Turn left on the Burma Road 0.7 mile to a pass. Following a pointer for the Summit Trail, take a newly rebuilt path down the ridgecrest 2 miles to the Crooked River at the balancing rocks, and continue upriver 0.3 mile to the trail junction by a house-sized rock below Monkey Face. Then keep right along the river trail 2.1 miles back to the bridge.

-- #35 Shevlin Park -- The road to Fremont Meadow is gated closed from about August to March, so most of the year you will have to park at the park's entrance and hike the longer 4.7-mile loop.

-- #45 Obsidian Trail -- The trails along Glacier Creek at Sunshine meadow were closed in 2014, and new trails have been built avoiding the fragile meadow area. The route of the PCT in this area remains unchanged. If you are hiking the counterclockwise loop to Sunshine described in the book, follow the PCT north from Obsidian Falls 1.4 miles to Sunshine's meadow (where there now is no junction at all). Then turn around, backtrack 0.1 mile south on the PCT, and turn right on a new section of trail that leads down Glacier Creek's valley 0.7 mile to the White Branch meadow and the return route to your car. If you are climbing Middle Sister, do not bushwhack up Glacier Creek on the old, closed trail from Sunshine. Instead take the PCT south 0.4 mile to the top of the plateau, where an obvious climbers' trail heads east toward Middle Sister.

-- #50 Matthieu Lakes -- The 2017 Milli Fire burned over all of the trails in this area, stopping only when it reached lava flows. Some green trees remain, and views are now nearly constant. All trails here are expected to remain closed until they are cleared and repaired, probably by August 2018.

-- #51 Black Crater -- The trailhead and most of the route of this hike burned severely in 2017. The final 0.9 mile to the summit has such sparse trees at timberline that it looks the same as always. The trail will stay closed until it is cleared, perhaps by 2020.

-- #53 Park Meadow -- Near Park Meadow the trail traverses woods burned by a 2012 wildfire.

-- #64 Sahalie and Koosah Falls -- The single-log footbridge pictured in early versions of the book was replaced with a glue-lam bridge in September 2015. The bridge is 0.4 mile above Sahalie Falls and 0.3 mile below the Highway 126 crossing.

-- #67 Horsepasture Mountain -- This trailhead became more difficult to access in June 2013 when a landslide closed Road 1993 on a steep slope part of the way between Horse Creek Road 2638 and the trailhead. The Forest Service has signed an alternate route to the trailhead, but it's 11 miles longer, mostly on gravel. To find it from Highway 126 at McKenzie Bridge, follow Horse Creek Road 2638 for 8.6 miles (including 9 miles of gravel). At a pointer marked "Horse Pasture Trailhead 11", turn right on gravel Road 356 for 5.2 miles uphill to a T-shaped junction. Then turn right on Road 1993 for 7.6 mostly paved miles to the Horsepasture Trailhead on the left. This trail did not burn in 2017, but some of the road access route did.

-- #68 Olallie Mountain -- A 2017 fire overswept the entire route of this hike, although the fire lookout atop the peak survived. Patches of green trees remain. The trail will remain closed until it is cleared, perhaps by the fall of 2018.

-- #71 Castle Rock -- The charming oak sign pictured in the book has been replaced with a nearly identical sign made of ugly plastic, in keeping with Forest Service rules for signs that are not in designated Wilderness. Also, the half mile of trail below Road 480 (the trailhead at elevation 2720') has been rerouted a bit to the west to avoid a brushy old clearcut. The new route is nicer, and just 0.1 mile longer.

-- #72 French Pete Creek -- A 2017 wildfire burned the campground and the south side of French Pete Creek's valley, with the creek itself most serving as the fire break. Parts of the trail are damaged and may be closed until 2019. The driving access is also more difficult. A landslide at Cougar Reservoir has blocked Aufderheide Road 19 there. Until it is cleared, perhaps by August 2018, the only driving access will be from the south, via Oakridge/Westfir.

-- #73 Erma Bell Lakes -- A landslide at Cougar Reservoir has blocked Aufderheide Road 19 just north of Terwilliger Hot Springs. Until it is cleared, perhaps by August 2018, the only driving access will be from the south, via Oakridge/Westfir. The landslide contains enough rock and debris to fill 800 dumptrucks.

-- #74 Spencer Butte -- The trail at the summit of this peak is being upgraded in the summer 2015 so hikers no longer have to scramble, use their hands, or wonder about route-finding.

-- #77 Fall Creek -- A 2017 fire burned Bedrock Campground, and portions of the Fall Creek Trail on either side, a 3-mile stretch from Slick Creek to Jones Creek. The Jones Creek Trail is also in the burn area.

-- #78 Mount June -- The driving route from Eugene described in the book is unchanged, but a less-traveled access route from Cottage Grove temporarily closed in January 2016 when storms washed out Road 1751 at the 5-mile mark. Driving access from Cottage Grove was rerouted west onto neighboring Road 1721 until the washout could be repaired, probably by summer 2016.

-- #80 Patterson Mountain -- The Patterson Mountain trailhead is now marked, but with a large sign that reads "Lawler Trail Trailhead." This is the correct trailhead. The hike to Patterson Mountain follows the Lawler Trail for 0.7 mile. Then the Lawler Trail forks to the right. Keep left on the trail that passes Lone Wolf Shelter en route to Patterson Mountain.

-- #82 Chuckle Springs -- The 2010 fire in this area has left some side trails so full of deadfall that they are unusable, although the main Middle Fork Trail is fine. After hiking 1.1 mile toward Chuckle Springs, turn left at a "Middle Fork Trail" sign and keep left for 0.3 mile to the springs. Return as you came, because the loop path is overgrown. If you add the optional 0.4-mile hike downstream along the Middle Fork Trail to Cliff Springs, you'll be pleased to find that the footbridge over Indigo Creek (and three other nearby footbridges) were replaced in 2016.

-- #89 Lillian Falls -- The access road for Lillian Falls (Road 2421) was blocked with a mud-and-rock slide one mile before the Black Creek Trailhead in March 2015. Two new culverts are needed. Fortunately, the extra mile of hiking is not unpleasant on this shady forest lane in the deep woods. But you should also note that the final 8.2 miles of gravel Road 2421 are now so rough and potholed that it is a slow drive, not recommended for low-clearance vehicles. Brush crowds the road, so this is not a trip for shiny new cars.

-- #93 Rosary Lakes -- The Willamette Pass ski area suspended the operation of its summer gondola in 2016. No word yet on whether it will reopen in future years. In the meantime, plan to hike the PCT to Rosary Lakes and points beyond.

-- #96 Fawn Lake -- The trail to Pretty Lake is still a bit faint in places, but it has been maintained, and the junction with the Fawn Lake Trail is signed.

-- #105 French Creek Ridge -- This trail has become brushy and unmaintained, suitable only for adventurers.

-- #107 Gold Butte Lookout -- A small correction to the driving directions: "From Hwy 22 in Detroit, take Breitenbush Rd 46 for 4.4 mi, fork left on Rd 4696 for 0.7 mi, fork left again on Rd 4697 for 4.7 mi to a saddle, turn right on Rd 451 for 0.1 mi, and park at a junction."

-- #117 Falls Creek. When you turn off Highway 20 at milepost 46, the road you will be traveling is Road 2032, not 2031. Drive Road 2032 for 5 miles to reach the trailhead.

-- #122 Jeff Park via South Breitenbush -- This is the longest route to Jeff Park, so it is the quietest. In 2016 the Forest Service rebuilt and rerouted 4 miles of this 6.2-mile trail. This area did not burn in the 2017 Whitewater Fire.

-- #124 Woodpecker Ridge -- The 2017 Whitewater Fire burned all of this 2-mile trail, but it was on a ridge and now has even better views of Mt. Jefferson. 

-- #124b Bingham Ridge -- OK, this old route into the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness on a ridge between Pamelia Lake and Marion Lake was so rough and faint that I didn't even include it in the book. But in 2014 the Forest Service rebuilt it, adding a switchback at the start the eliminates a steep scramble route and adds a mile in length. The resulting trail is much friendlier and more scenic. although it still leads to a lakeless edge of the Wilderness.

-- #124c Swallow Lake Trail -- Here's another semi-abandoned backwoods route in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness that the Forest Service is planning to reopen and upgrade in 2016. The route climbs from the old Oregon Skyline Trail west of Marion Lake to the Pacific Crest Trail at South Cinder Peak, making possible several nice loop options for backpackers.

-- #128 Maxwell Butte -- Blowdown trees again plagued this trail in August 2016. It remains hikable, and it is likely to be cleared in the future.

-- #131 Patjens Lakes -- The driving directions say to keep left when in doubt, but it's better to keep to the paved road until you find the trailhead sign. Nearly all of this trail was overswept by a 2011 wildfire. Already the woods are looking greener, and the area around the lakes themselves was spared entirely by the fire.

-- #133 Round and Square Lakes -- The driving directions are OK until the end. When you turn left on Road 1210, follow this gravel road for 5.7 miles and then turn right for 0.5 mile to find the poorly marked trailhead.

-- #145 Chush Falls -- A wildfire in September 2012 burned through this area. Because the canyon itself is protected by cliffs and a damp microclimate, many trees near the waterfalls survived. The new trailhead for this hike is one mile along Road 600, where boulders and logs have been placed to barricade the road. From there you hike 1.5 miles to the old trailhead, and continue on the old trail 1 mile to Chush Falls.

-- #154 Substitute Point -- The Foley Ridge Trailhead and the first mile of trail are still green, but a 2017 wildfire burned over the rest of this hike, including Substitute Point. The same fire also burned the Honey Lakes basin and uphill as far the James Creek Shelter (fate unknown) and a 4-mile section of the PCT between Racetrack Meadow and Rock Mesa. 

-- #157 Rebel Creek -- A 2017 wildfire burned all of the area covered by this hike, leaving some of the old-growth trees, but burning large areas. The Rebel Rock Lookout did not survive the fire. With great effort, the Scorpion trail crew has cleared and reopened the trail.

-- #171 Hardesty Mountain, upper trailhead -- A washout on Road 550 limits access to high-clearance vehicles. And note that the summit of this mountain is overgrown, so there are no views.

-- #172 Gold Point -- This delightful trail was maintained in December 2013. The hike is 0.7 mile longer than listed because the access road has been barricaded. To drive there from the Fall Creek Trailhead (Hike #74), drive 5.8 miles upriver, turn right on Rd 1825 for 2.7 miserably rocky, rutted miles of awful dirt road, and then fork right on Road 1835 for half a mile. Park and walk past a barricade up (unmarked) Road 220 for 0.7 mile to the trail.

-- #176 Deception Butte -- The upper part of this trail closed after the Deception Fire of 2014, which left the danger of landslides and falling snags. The upper trailhead remained closed in 2015, and may stay closed for several years. In 2018 the lower trail was clear as far as the creek bridge, but then becomes sketchy and is blocked by landslides and downed trees.

-- #4 Astoria -- If you choose to drive up to the Astor Column, note that parking is now $5/car/year. 

-- #10 Tillamook Head -- Overnight parking is no longer allowed in Ecola State Park, so the camp shelters on Tillamook Head are for Oregon Coast Trail backpackers only. Firewood gathering is not allowed, but backpackers can buy campfire wood at the site. 

Even Lewis & Clark noted that landslides are a problem on this headland. A slide in 2017 has closed the 1.5-mile section of Oregon Coast Trail between the popular Ecola Point Picnic Area and the Indian Beach Picnic Area. It is possible for adventurers to scramble through, but not safe and not officially allowed. A new trail, higher up from the unstable cliffs, is in the works. In the meantime, Oregon Coast Trail hikers have to walk the road 1.5 miles, which is narrow and dangerous too. A different landslide in 2016 hit the Oregon Coast Trail about 1.5 miles south of Seaside (2.8 miles north of Tillamook's head tip). Fortunately, hikers have beaten out a detour path above this slide. Also, the viewing platform at the Ecola picnic area was destroyed by a landslide in November 2015, but a new platform has been opened nearby.

-- #13 Salmonberry Railroad -- "No Trespassing" signs posted at the trailhead on Lower Nehalem Road in early 2017 have closed this hike. Negotiations are ongoing with the railroad's owner, the Port of Tillamook Bay. The signs are partly a reaction to an incident where a dog fell through a hole in a trestle and died. The POTB fears liability, but "has limited ability to enforce" its signs, so locals still use the route. Until the signs are removed, do not follow that example.

The Port of Tillamook Bay wants a consortioum of private nonprofits and public entities to raise $20 million to buy this rail line and develop it as part of the Rails-To-Trails program. By allowing hikers on the relatively safe, maintained lower 4.8 miles of the route (as described in the book), positive publicity has helped raise $2 million in donations to date. It makes sense for the POTB to ban adventurers from other, dangerous, remote portions of the rail line until they can be improved. But it does not make sense for the POTB to deny hikers the chance to see this relatively safe, maintained portion and get enthused about the entire project.

-- #14 Angora Peak -- At the 2.9-mile mark, when you have passed the cliff viewpoint by half a mile, you won't find an orange cairn. Instead, just 150 feet before the grassy roadbed ends, blue ribbon now marks the deer trail up to the right. Of course the ribbon may also be gone when you get there, but the trail is now more obvious, although it has some small briar vines. After 0.2 mile you will reach the open, grassy saddle. Then turn left on an old roadbed. But be warned that, after just 30 feet, blue flagging now marks a rough, brushy 1-mile route to the left that contours around the hill to a different viewpoint saddle. Ignore this detour and continue up the old roadbed to the right, climbing 0.1 mile to the 4-way junction. The dilapidated rock shelter is still to the left. To the right, the viewpoint is still there, but the board bench has collapsed.

-- #21 Cape Meares -- The landslide continues to shift and erode. If you are hiking from the beach at the town of Cape Meares up toward the cape itself, be aware that the bank is constantly eroding. The rope that helped hikers clamber up this embankment from the beach vanished in early 2017 when more of the bank crumbled. In July 2017  new rope was put on an easier scramble route up from the beach, just 15 feet beyond the creek (instead of 100 feet beyond the creek). To make a loop, some hikers are returning on the closed portion of the paved Three Capes Loop Road. This is allowed, but is very long. 

-- #28 Miller Woods -- A new numbering system has been added to the trail marker posts, so the recommended hike now starts at post #1, and continues to post #14, 13, 12, and so on back to 1. The recommended loop trail around the preserve's perimeter also has two new switchbacks, increasing the loop mileage by 0.2 mile.

-- #31 Whalen Island -- Just a mile southwest of Whalen Island, the new 357-acre Sitka Sedge State Natural Area was purchased by the state in 2014. Once threatened by development as a private golf course, the property includes a mile of ocean beach, dunes, coastal forest, the south sand spit at the mouth of Sand Lake, and a large estuary crossed by a dike. Drive the paved Sand Lake Road (aka Three Capes Loop) south of Whalen Island 1 mile or north of Pacific City 4 miles. A parking area and official trailhead opened in 2018, and 5 miles of trails are hikable.

If you have the 2018 printing of the book, you will find a few short trails have since been built, making a better 2.8-mile loop possible. From the parking loop, follow the graveled dike trail 0.6 mile to the first of a series of forks. To reach the beach, fork first to the left, then again to the left, then to the right, and then to the left. (Left-left-right-left, got it?) When walking along the beach around the tip of Sand Lake's sand spit, be sure to stay on the wet sand near the waves, because the dry sand is closed March 15 to November 15 for snowy plover nesting. For the loop, leave the bayshore at a big signpost and follow a trail inland through the woods -- but after just 0.2 mile you'll reach a fork that is not on the map. Veer left on a new trail that takes you through the woods and past a bayside viewpoint to complete your loop at the dike.

-- #36 Harts Cove -- The bridge is washed out at Chitwood Creek, at the 1.3-mile mark of the hike, so you might get wet feet when crossing it in winter.

-- #44 Valley of the Giants -- This hike is now open only from December 1 to about August 1. The access road to this hike will be closed from the start of state-declared fire season (about August 1) to December 1 each year, beginning in 2017, unless you buy a $250 recreation access permit from the owner of the private timber road, Weyerhaeuser, at www.weyerhaeuser.com/timberlands/recreational-access .

-- #52 Brian Booth Park -- The "Winter Trailhead" access to the trails system off S. Beaver Creek Road reopened in August 2017 after state park officials resolved an easement issue with a neighbor.

-- #55 Yachats & Amanda Trail -- A flood in early 2016 washed out the footbridge beside the Amanda statue, and swept away the concrete statue itself. The footbridge has been replaced, with a pivot so that it is less likely to be swept away. The original Amanda statue is truly lost, but it turns out that the artist had actually made three versions of the statue. The two surviving statues were owned by a pair of sisters in Waldport. They agreed to provide one for the trail, so Amanda is now back in place, in a slightly higher, less flood-prone location with enough space around her for ceremonies and small events.

-- #65 Siuslaw Ridge Trails -- The "River Viewpoint" on the Old Growth Ridge Trail at Whittaker Creek is now so overgrown that it no longer has much of a view.

-- #75 Golden & Silver Falls -- The road to this park was reopened in early 2017, so you no longer need to walk 1.4 miles to the picnic area where the waterfall trails begin. You can drive there.

-- #93 Vulcan Lake -- The Chetco Bar Fire of 2017 burned over the access road, the trailheads, and some of the area for the hikes here, including 2 miles of the Johnson Butte Trail between the Gardner Mine junction and Dry Butte. On the other hand, Salamander Lake, Vulcan Lake, and most of the Vulcan Peak Trail are not in the burn area. The trails are expected to reopen in the summer of 2018.

-- #94 Japanese Bombing Site -- The Chetco Bar Fire of 2017 burned around this area, but firefighters were able to prevent the fire from burning the route of the trail or the redwood seedling in the bomb crater.

-- #97 Damnation Creek -- The big footbridge just before the beach at the end of this hike has rotted so much that it has been closed. In early 2016 a sign was posted where the Damnation Creek Trail crosses the Coastal Trail warning that the lower part of this trail is closed. That is not quite true; the trail itself is fine, and it's not hard to scramble across the creek with the missing bridge to reach the beach.

-- #139 Windy Valley -- The Chetco Bar Fire of 2017 burned the lower trailhead on Road 1376 and the first 3 miles of the trail up to Snow Camp Mountain, but spared Windy Valley itself and the entire summit of the mountain, including the rebuilt lookout.

-- #140 Chetco Gorge -- This area burned in the Chetco Bar Fire of 2017.

-- #141 Tincup Trail -- This area burned in the Chetco Bar Fire of 2017.

-- #142 Upper Chetco River -- This area burned in the Chetco Bar Fire of 2017.

-- #144 South Fork Chetco River. The first 1.5 miles of this hike did not burn in 2017, but the rest did.

-- #3 North Umpqua River -- The hike described here is fine, but you might note that a 2017 wildfire burned the south shore of the river downstream from the Wright Creek Bridge, including a 4-mile section of the North Umpqua Trail, to a point opposite the Susan Creek Campground.

-- #5 Boulder Creek -- The Soda Springs Trailhead and the first 1.5 miles of trail to Pine Bench are fine, but a 2017 fire burned most of Pine Bench itself. The same fire burned a 2-mile stretch of the north shore of the North Umpqua River opposite Boulder Flat Campground, including the North Umpqua Trail there.

-- #6 Twin Lakes -- A 2017 wildfire burned the trailhead and most of the area of this hike, although patches of green remain, especially near the lakes.

-- #7 Fish Lake -- Fish Lake is fine, but a 2017 wildfire burned Highrock Mountain, Highrock Meadow, and the upper 3 miles of the trail from Fish Lake to Highrock Meadow.

-- #34 Union Creek -- The middle portion of this trail is still blocked by blowdown trees from a winter storm in 2015. The upper trailhead and the upper route to Union Creek Falls are clear. The further you hike up from the lower trailhead at the Union Creek Resort, however, the worse the trail becomes, so it's hard to get to the 8-foot falls at the 3.3-mile mark. The trail is high on the list of clearing projects for the Forest Service, however, and should be reopened to easy travel in 2018.

-- #35 Abbott Butte -- A 2017 wildfire burned the trailhead and the first 2.5 miles of this hike, opening up ridgetop views. Abbott Butte, the lookout, and Elephanthead Pond remain as before.

-- #36 Hershberger Mountain -- This peak was at the center of a large 2017 wildfire that burned from the edge of Rabbit Ears to Pup Prairie and Highrock Meadow, but the historic lookout building itself survived intact. Cripple Camp's shelter and meadow are just outside the burned area. Trails in the area will need to be cleared, and may not reopen until the fall of 2018.

-- #37 Muir Creek -- Heavy grazing by a large herd of cattle in late summer has created lots of confusing side trails in the Hummingbird Meadows area. The trail to Buck Meadow is still there, but it takes some route finding. Also note that Google and DeLorme incorrectly show Road 6560 as "2734", although the sign at the Highway 230 turnoff says "6560". Do not trust a GPS navigation system to get you to remote trailheads. People have died following car navigation systems in remote areas of Southern and Eastern Oregon.

-- #44 Sky Lakes via Cold Springs -- A 2017 wildfire burned about 2 miles of the South Rock Creek Trail and a smaller portion of the Cold Springs Trail. The Cold Springs Trailhead and the Heavenly Twin Lakes are on the edge of the burned area.

-- #65 Red Buttes -- A 2017 wildfire burned the trailhead at Cook and Green Pass and the first 2 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail toward Red Buttes, but did not reach Echo Lake or the Lilypad Lake area. The same fire burned over nearly all of the access road from Applegate Lake and the entire Cook and Green Trail.

-- #66 Frog Pond -- The fires of 2017 spared the Frog Pond Loop, but did burn along a 3-mile stretch of the Middle Fork Applegate River upstream of the trailhead on Road 1035 (which also burned). Many large trees survived.

-- #67 Azalea Lake -- a spot fire in 2017 burned a square mile of forest immediately east of Azalea Lake.

-- #69 Grayback Mountain -- The 2017 Creedence Fire burned as far north as O'Brien Creek and Grayback Meadows, but apparently did not reach the Grayback Snow Shelter or most of the trail.

-- #99 Black Butte -- As of August 2017, a rockslide 1.5 miles up the trail has left loose boulders on a steep slope. Adventurous hikers can cross the area, but only at their own risk. It's unclear when the Forest Service might repair the slide damage because it will be expensive and will be prone to similar damage in the future.

-- #108 Illahee Rock -- A 2017 wildfire burned over Illahee Rock, but not Wild Rose Point or Harding Butte.

-- #114 Cougar Butte -- The route of this trail burned in a 2017 wildfire.

-- #129 Stuart Falls -- The entire area around Stuart Falls, Red Blanket Creek, and McKie Meadow burned in 2017, but left patches of green, especially near creeks and falls. If you are hiking in from the Lodgepole Picnic Area, the trail across Pumice Flat is unburned, but the PCT to the south and the trail down to Stuart Falls are in the fire zone.

-- #126 Golden Stairs -- The entire 4.3-mile route of this trail burned in 2017. The tread was in poor condition to begin with and now will require reconstruction. It may not reopen for years.

-- #132 McKie Meadow -- The trailhead and the first 0.8 mile of the trail are fine, but all the rest of the area covered by this large loop hike burned in 2017. 

-- #152 Cook and Green Loop -- The trailhead and the entire area covered by the 15.5-mile trail loop burned in 2017. Some large trees and patches of unburnt forest remain.

-- #165 Chetco River -- The final 1.5 miles of the ancient road-track down to the Chetco River ford burned in 2017, as did everything for miles to the west. This area had also burned in the 2002 Biscuit Fire. In both cases, the fire mostly burned brush, leaving many large older trees intact. 

NEW HIKES:

-- Applegate Ridge Trail -- A 5.6-mile segment of this ambitiously planned route along the ridgecrest between the Rogue River and Applegate valleys has opened to hikers and mountain bikers as of late 2017. Expect meadowed slopes, a rough narrow tread, and panoramic views across relatively dry hills. The BLM has signed the new trail's eastern trailhead. To find it, drive paved Sterling Creek Road south of Jacksonville to the 4-mile marker to the spur on the right. The western trailhead is on Highway 238, halfway between Jacksonville and Ruch. Although it is now open, it isn't expected to have signage and parking until late 2018. The 5.6-mile trail is expected to be improved to allow equestrians by late 2018. Plans for the Applegate Ridge Trail would eventually connect Cathedral Hills Park in Grants Pass with Jacksonville and Ashland. For maps and info, check www.applegatetrails.org. 

-- Introduction -- Finally, there is a hiking club for this corner of Oregon! Founded in 2013, the Friends of the Umpqua Hiking Club  (http://www.friendsoftheumpqua.org/club_info.htm) goes on a hike every other Saturday. Usually they meet at 8am at the Douglas County Courthouse parking lot behind the library in Roseburg's downtown. Dues are $5 a year. Every three months they hold a potluck to plan the coming quarter's hiking schedule. For information, contact the club president Rheo Wheeler at 541-677-0799.

-- #1 North Bank Habitat -- The "West Access" trailhead has been renamed the "West Entrance." It will be reconstructed in June 2017 with a new parking area, landscaping, and a vault toilet.

-- #2 Fall Creek Falls -- The Indian Mounds Trail above Susan Creek Falls has been closed and removed. The "Tioga Trailhead" and all of Swiftwater County Park at the western end of the North Umpqua Trail have been turned over to the BLM, who have fixed things up and renamed it the Swiftwater Trailhead. The new Tioga Footbridge across the North Umpqua River, half a mile west of the Susan Creek Picnic Area, makes access to this section of the North Umpqua Trail much easier. A barrier-free connecting trail from the bridge extends along the north shore of the river east 1.2 miles to the Susan Creek Campground. 

-- #4 Little River Waterfalls -- A bridge washed out on the trail to Wolf Creek Falls in the winter of 2015-16, closing that trail after about a quarter mile. The bridge is scheduled to be replaced by the fall of 2016. In the meantime, all of the other waterfall hikes in his area are open.

-- #7 Boulder Creek -- The fish ladder construction project at the trailhead is finally completed (spring 2014), so you can once again drive to the Soda Springs Trailhead. The Perry Butte Trail off to the side of the main trail has been abandoned for many years, and is all but unfindable. Likewise, the uppermost 5 miles of the Boulder Creek Trail (from Spring Creek to Rd 3810) have not been maintained since a fire went through there, so that portion of the trail is clogged with logs and all but unfindable.

-- #9 Fish Lake -- Be warned that the longer loop via Rocky Ridge ends with a trail that is so unfindably overgrown that it will be easier to bushwhack until maintenance is done. (Conditions still awful in July 2017.) The fourth edition of the book includes the warning: "

“The final 3.2 miles to your car descends through partially burned woods on a rougher, brushier trail. Be aware that this final portion of the loop is unmaintained and hard to find.”

 

-- #11 Umpqua Hot Springs -- Dogs must be on leash. Camping is banned within 1.5 miles. All night-time use is prohibited. 

-- #12 Toketee and Watson Falls -- Dogs must be on leash.

-- #13 Lemolo Falls -- The trailhead for Warm Springs Falls is now well marked, and the viewpoint of the falls has a nice railed viewing platform. As for the "Other Options" southern access to Lemolo Falls: the access road has been cleared. The footbridge below Lemolo Falls was destroyed by a tree.

-- #19 Diamond Lake -- Waterskiing is not allowed on Diamond Lake.

-- #21-30 Crater Lake National Park -- The national park's entrance fee increased from $10 to $15 per car in 2015. The fee will still be valid for an entire week. The fee is likely to increase to $20 in a few years.

-- #22 Park Headquarters -- Dogs are now allowed on leash the Lady of the Woods Trail, but not the Castle Crest Wildflower Loop.

-- #21 Boundary Springs -- This trail reopened in August 2016 after a 2015 fire burned about half of the trees along the entire route.

-- #26 Wizard Island -- The boat rides have increased sharply in price. Expect to pay $37 for adults and $25 for kids under 12 -- and expect an added $15 fee if you get off at Wizard Island. The only boat that stops at Wizard Island leaves at 9:30am. Hikers may return either at 2:30pm or 5pm. The boat tours run early July to mid-September.

-- #30 Annie Creek & Godfrey Glen. Dogs are now allowed on leash on the Godfrey Glen trail, but are still banned at Annie Creek.

-- #33 Lost Creek Lake -- In "Other Hiking Options" I say that the upper Rogue River Trail peters out 4.7 miles up from Lost Creek Lake. Actually, according to alert hiker Michelle Renfro, the trail now continues up the embankment towards Mill Creek Drive and comes out first on a Pacific Power access road that then leads to Mill Creek Drive. From there you walk past the Pacific Power compound and the trail reappears on the right/river side of the road. The trail then parallels the road until it starts downhill through a rocky area and ties into the Mill Creek Falls trail right at the stunning Barr Creek falls. This trail is heavily used and can be followed to a large paved trailhead. From the trailhead the trail continues to parallel Mill Creek Dr about a half a mile until you reach a bridge over the river. At this point you must cross the road where the trail takes off again along the river through an area logged about 10 years ago. Follow the trail to Hwy 62 at another bridge, at this point you cross the road and find a small parking area on the north side of the river. The trail continues from there up towards the north fork dam, which is at the end of the road referred to in the book as the gravel road beside a canal.

-- #34 Takelma Gorge -- The trailhead at the Woodruff Bridge Picnic Area is now a parking pullout on the left side of Road 68 immediately before the bridge. The picnic area's old loop road is closed, and the picnic area is now a walk-in site. 

-- #37 Abbott Butte -- The trailhead sign is missing at the pass on Road 68. Park at the pullout on the right just after a sign, "Be Careful With Fire." The lookout cabin atop the tower has collapsed, but the tower itself is still there, and so is the cabin underneath the tower.

-- #38 Hershberger Mountain -- The lookout building is no longer open to the public. It is locked when it is not in use by fire lookout staff.

-- #40 Muir Creek -- The main hike's description is fine, but if you tackle the 15.5-mile backpacking loop in the "Other Options" section, note that logging Road 760 is abandoned and no longer hikable for the section between Roads 700 and 900. Instead, when you reach Road 700, follow it left. Near road's end, turn right on OHV Road 21, which descends 1.3 miles to Road 900. From there you can bushwhack downhill 0.3 mile to the Muir Creek Trail to complete the loop.

-- #42 Upper Rogue River -- One mile of trail from Rough Rider Falls to the west remains clogged with fallen trees from a 2015 wildfire. The Forest Service hopes to clear this final section in 2017 or 2018, but until then, the Upper Rogue Trail is essentially impassable here. The start of the hiking trail is confused by a much larger and more obvious trail for motorized vehicles. The hiking trail branches off to the right of the OHV route. 

-- #42 Stuart Falls -- The trail to Red Blanket Falls from this trailhead is STILL closed by a landslide in a burned area, after several years. Adventurous souls could cross the slide, but it is not recommended, and the trail has become so blocked with blowdown logs that it is abandoned. The Forest Service recommends starting this hike in the national park on the Pumice Flat Trail from the Lodgepole Picnic Area, and so do I. The first 3 miles of that route to Stuart Falls are boring, but the final 3 have been rerouted along a fairly scenic ridge.

-- #44 Seven Lakes East -- A missing bridge over a creek between Nicholson Road and Road 3334 has closed the traditional access route from Fort Klamath. If you are coming from that direction, here's the detour: Take Nicholson Road west from Fort Klamath 2.5 miles, turn left on Hackler Road for 2.6 miles, turn right on Sevenmile Road 2 miles, and turn right on gravel Road 3100 for 2.9 miles to a confusing 4-way junction. Swerve around to the left on Road 3134, following signs for "Sevenmile Trailhead" for 6 miles. IF you are coming from Ashland/Medford, it is easier to drive Highway 140 east past Lake of the Woods 7 miles. Between mileposts 43 and 44, turn north on Westside Road 17 paved miles. Where the road turns right to become Sevenmile Road, go straight on gravel Road 3100 for 2.9 miles to a confusing 4-way junction. Swerve around to the left on Road 3134, following signs for "Sevenmile Trailhead" for 6 miles.

-- #55 Pilot Rock -- The old road that you had to walk for 0.8 mile at the start of this hike has been deconstructed and converted to a trail. 

-- #58 Mike Uhtoff Trail -- The Uhtoff Trail has been extended from the Looking Glass Loop another half mile uphill, so hikers can now climb at a better grade on a route that parallels the bicycle-used White Rabbit Trail toward Road 2060.

-- #60 Wagner Butte -- The trailhead sign is missing, so you now have to keep a sharp eye out for the trailhead post. However, an addition 3.9 miles of the access road has been oiled so well that it is essentially paved. Once you reach Wagner Creek Road at the junction in Talent, follow it for 4.6 miles of 2-lane pavement, cross a bridge, and continue uphill on 3.9 miles of narrow pavement to Wagner Gap. Then continue another 2 miles on good gravel to the trailhead on the right.

-- #62 Sterling Ditch Tunnel -- Plans are afoot to complete a "Jack-Ash Trail" along the ridgeline between Jacksonville and Wagner Butte near Ashland. The first section of this trail, scheduled to open in the spring of 2017, would connect with either end of the Sterling Ditch Trail (or nearly connect, with some roads), making possible a 35-mile loop that will be of interest chiefly to equestrians.

-- #63 Mule Mountain -- This trailhead is closed. The first 0.3 mile of the route crosses private land. The Forest Service is negotiating with the new owner to continue the historic access. In the meantime, access this area from the top, at Charlie Buck/Baldy Peak Trailhead on Road 940, off of Little Applegate Road.

-- #66 Stein Butte -- Access to the recommended trailhead at Seattle Bar is still open. If you are interested in reaching the upper trailhead described under "Other Options", however, note that Road 1050 has been gated closed above Seattle Bar because of a private inholding. Road 1050 is still open to hikers, horses, and bikes.

-- #68 Frog Pond -- The missing footbridge over the Middle Fork Applegate River (1.2 miles from the Rd 1035 trailhead) is scheduled to be replaced in 2017 or 2018. 

-- #72 Oregon Caves -- Congress added 4000 acres to the 488-acre national monument here in December 2014. The new administration reopened the Cave Creek Campground, added new signage to the trails to Mt. Elijah and the Bigelow Lakes (Hike #161). The new legislation also designated the caves' underground stream, the River Styx, as a Wild and Scenic River, and the Caves Chateau as one of the Historic Hotels of America.

-- #75 Bolan Mountain -- The trail now begins on the second of the campground's two one-way loops. When you start driving up on the second loop, watch for a small trailhead sign on the left after 200 feet. Parking is tight, along the road another 100 feet ahead. Also note that Bolan Lake has a lovely 0.7-mile path around the lake, passing a wet wildflower slope.

-- #81 Illinois River Trail -- The last mile's drive to the Briggs Creek Trailhead has become so rough that even Subaru Outbacks can do wheelies on the ruts. The Illinois River Trail is cleared OK to Pine Flats, but the Florence Creek cutoff to Bald Mountain was unmaintained in 2017, with so many downed logs that the route was all but unusable. The Illinois River Trail to Bald Mountain also had downed logs, but was findable in 2017. 

-- #84 Taylor Creek -- The winter of 2013-14 destroyed four footbridges along this creek, fouling up the hike for those who are not prepared to scramble on broken bridges or get their feet wet. If you start at the Taylor Creek Trailhead (3.1 miles up Briggs Valley Road), the first missing bridge is at the half-mile mark. Likewise, bridges are missing across Taylor Creek from the old Tin Can Campground and the trailhead at an old gravel pit, near the start of the China Creek Trail. Who knows when these bridges will be replaced?

-- #96 Caribou Lake -- A wildfire in 2014 affected this and several other trails in the Coffee Creek area of the Trinity Alps. The Forest Service plans to reopen the trails in 2015. And yes, the book's overview map of Northern California shows the locations of Hikes 95 and 96 as reversed.

-- #111 Acker Rock Lookout -- This trail will be closed from January 1 to July 31 each year to protect nesting raptors. The lookout cabin is no longer staffed, but instead will be available for rental at recreation.gov from August 1 to November 15.

-- #126 Sugarpine Creek -- Not maintained for more than a decade, this trail has been dropped from the Forest Service roster.

-- #127 Bitterlick Creek -- Not maintained for more than a decade, this trail has been dropped from the Forest Service roster.

-- #151 Gin Lin Gold Mine -- The Flumet Flat Campground has reopened year-round as a group site, reservable for $50 a month at recreation.gov. 

-- #161 Mt. Elijah -- This area was added to the Oregon Caves National Monument in 2014 as a preserve. The "New Trail" shown on the map on page 258 is faint and hard to find. Instead, hike the final 1.4 miles of Road 070, which has been deconstructed and rebuilt as a trail.

-- #170 Pearsoll Peak -- The fire lookout was still being restored by the Sand Mountain Society in 2017. Until the restoration is complete, the building is closed to the public.