Southern Oregon Trail Updates

-- #2 Fall Creek Falls -- All of the trails and roads in this area burned in a September 2020 wildfire, but everything has reopened except Swiftwater Park (which may open in 2024).  Expect fresh growth of maple and elderberry beneath the snags of the burned trees. The North Umpqua Trail is open from the Swiftwater Trailhead to Steamboat; the seqment east of Steamboat may reopen in 2024.  In some ways the Fall Creek Falls trail is more interesting without the trees because you are now able to see the lava formations of the canyon much better.  The campsites at Susan Creek Campground are now available by reservation only. 

-- #3  (#104) North Umpqua River -- All of the trails and roads in the area west of Steamboat to the Swiftwater Park Trailhead  burned in a September 2020 wildfire, but everything there has reopened. The 8 miles of the river canyon from Steamboat to the east burned in 2021 and is likely to remain closed until 2024 or 2025.. The community of Idleyld Park was narrowly saved. Some trees have also survived, especially in canyons and near water. A 2017 wildfire also burned a section of the 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.

--#4 Boulder Creek -- All of Pine Bench and the trailhead burned in an August 2024 wildfire, so the area is likely to remain closed until 2026. Pine Bench also burned in 2017, along with  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 missed the trailhead and burned lightly through the rest of the area of this hike. The wildflower meadows are lusher than ever, and most of the large trees survived.  The old shelter at Large Twin survived the fire but the 1995 Little Twin Shelter did not, and was dismantled.

-- #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.

-- #8 Umpqua Hot Springs -- The trailhead and the hot springs reopened in 2022 after a May 2021 closure. A NW Forest Pass is still required for the trailhead parking.  If you are hiking upstream on the south side of the river, you might note that "Surprise Falls" is actually just a gushing spring,  better known as "Surprise Spring." If you continue 0.1 mile beyond Columnar Falls the trail bridges a creek below another worthwhile waterfall, "Bridge Falls."

-- #11 Lemolo Falls -- A much shorter route to this waterfall is now feasible because the roads to the south have been upgraded.  Drive Highway 138 to the Lemolo Lake turnoff between mileposts 72 and 73.  Drive north on Birds Point Road 2610 for 4.3 miles, fork left onto gravel Thorn Prairie Road 3401 for 0.5 mile, and turn right on rutted gravel Road 800 for 1.5 miles to a junction with a "Lemolo Falls" sign. Park here if you are driving a low-clearance vehicle. Otherwise turn right onto deeply rutted dirt Road 840 for 0.2 mile to a parking area at road's end. The trail descends 1.1 mile to the base of Lemolo Falls and the area's best viewpoint. A former 0.3-mile connector trail to a river ford and the North Umpqua Trail has been decommissioned and is no longer hikable. 

-- #11 (#12) Cowhorn Mountain -- A 2022 fire burned 2 miles of the access road, FS 60, just west of the trailhead at Windigo Pass. The road reopened in the summer of 2023. On the hike itself, note that the side trail from the PCT to the summit of Cowhorn Mountain is no longer marked by three small cairns on the left, but rather one large cairn on the right.

-- #14 Thielsen Creek -- A 2020 wildfire lightly burned a 2-mile section of the Howlock Mountain Trail, starting half a mile from the trailhead and extending to Timothy Meadows. The fire did not affect the trailhead itself, the Pacific Crest Trail, or Thielsen Meadows.

--#15 Mt. Thielsen -- An August 2024 fire burned between the highway and the Pacific Crest Trail, so the hike will be closed until 2025.

--#18 Boundary Springs -- The entire area burned again in August 2024, and will remain closed until at least 2025.

-- #20-29 -- Crater Lake National Park. The park's entrance fee is now $30/car for a 7-day pass or $55 for an annual pass.

-- #23 (24) Cleetwood Cove & Wizard Island -- These hikes will be inaccessible 2025-2026 because the Cleetwood Cove Trail is scheduled for major reconstruction. When the trail down to the lakeshore reopens in July 2027, the prices and rules for boat tours may be different. In 2024 the standard Crater Lake boat tour cost $44 per adult and $30 for children age 3-12. Infants under age 3 are not allowed. Half of the available tickets could be booked online in advance at www.travelcraterlake.com under "Things To Do." The other half were held for same-day sales at the Crater Lake Lodge front desk, the Mazama Village camp registration desk, or the Cleetwood Cove trailhead kiosk. A couple of the scheduled daily lake tours included a stopover on Wizard Island; tickets for these trips were $55 per adult and $37 for kids. There were also a few direct Wizard Island shuttles each day that do not include the larger lake tour; tickets for these trips were $28 for adults and $18 for children age 3-12.  

-- #33 Natural Bridge -- The recommended trails here are fine, but the Upper Rogue River Trail upstream from the footbridge on the Natural Bridge loop (and upstream past the Rogue Gorge) was still blocked by blowdown and brush for half a dozen years after a 2015 storm felled trees here. 

-- #34 Union Creek -- The middle portion of this trail was blocked for several years 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. In a July 2023 visit, I found the trail needed maintenance , but was hikable to Abbott Butte. Expect a few fallen snags across the trail. From Windy Gap to Abbott Butte hike the old roadbed, which is now the only trail. The Abbott Butte lookut tower collapsed in 2020, crushing the cabin that was underneath.  A mile before the lookout ruin there is a sign marking the Rogue-Umpqua Divide Trail's continuation toward Elephanthead Pond, but that route was so overgrown in 2023 that it was unfindable through the meadows. 

-- #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. The final mile of the "steep, rough" Road 530 to the Rogue-Umpqua Divide Trailhead has large waterbars that make it difficult, but not quite impossible, for passenger cars. Beyond that point, the final 0.8 mile of the road to Hershberger Mountain is just as bad, but no worse.

-- #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.

-- #40 Seven Lakes East -- The road mentioned in the driving directions of the 2017 printing as "Road 3100" is actually Road 3300. It's mentioned in the middle of the third paragraph.

-- #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.

-- #49 Mountain Lakes -- The turnoff from Highway 140 for this hike is between mileposts 47 and 48 (not 46 and 47), and there is no longer a large brown pointer here for the Varney Creek Trailhead. Just turn onto Road 3637 for 1.8 miles. Then, at a junction that does have a Varney Creek pointer, turn left onto Road 3664 to its end.

-- #49 (#50) Soda Mountain -- The trailhead under the powerlines is now officially called the Hobart Bluff Trailhead, in part because the 1.2-mile hike north to Hobart Bluff is now the most popular viewpoint destination in this area.  The lookout tower on Soda Mountain is no longer staffed. Instead it has a robotic security camera and several adjacent towers of relay dishes, so it's actually a creepy place to eat lunch. Little Pilot Peak has a quieter vibe with a similar view, but it requires some routefinding ability to locate. When hiking the PCT a mile southwest of Aspen Spring, look for the only place where a slope to the right goes uphill instead of downhill.

-- #58 Siskiyou Gap -- The GPS coordinates for finding the mine are off by several hundred feet. The correct location of the dead tree and cable above the mine is 42.0613 -122.84. The rest of the description in the book for walking to this location is correct.

--#60 Sterling Ditch Tunnel -- Two new connector trails, Upper Bear Gulch and West Bear Gulch, make possible longer loops that extend north of the 4.8-mile loop recommended in the book.

-- #66 (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.

-- #67 (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.

-- #68 (67) Azalea Lake -- a 2017 wildfire burned almost all of the area within a mile of Azalea Lake, but did leave a patch of green on the lakeshore near an inlet creek. Another possible destination for this hike would be Phantom Meadows; a new user trail descends from the pass above the meadow 0.2 mile down to the meadow itself. When driving to the trailhead for this hike, note that there is a final confusing fork in the access road. When you turn right onto "rough, rocky" Road 800, keep left on this rough track for 0.6 mile to the turnaround at road's end. Vandals have destroyed the trailhead sign that once stood here.

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

-- #71 Oregon Caves -- The Chateau hotel closed in 2020 for several years of repairs and renovation.

-- #74 Tanner Lakes -- All of the trails and roads here have been restored and reopened since the September 2020 wildfire, although the last 100  feet of the road to the Tanner Lake trailhead are a little rough. Patches of trees survived near lakeshores, and new green growth is everywhere . Completely spared from the fire was the east side of Tanner Mountain, including the Fehley Gulch Trail and much of the Boundary Trail.

-- #75 Bolan Lake -- A September 2020 wildfire burned all of the trails and roads in this area, including the Bolan Lake Campground and the Bolan Mountain Lookout. The Siskiyou Muntain Club replaced the lookout with a modern replica in 2024, so it should be available for rental again in 2025. The new lookout has cupboards and a 6-foot wraparound porch but no water or bedding. The area's trails have reopened, but are burned and may be brushy. The far, second loop of the Bolan Lake Campground may not yet have been restored so you should expect to park your car near the campground entrance.

-- #76 Polar Bear Gap -- A September 2020 wildfire from the north burned the access road, trailhead, and first 2.5 miles of the Black Butte Trail for this hike. The fire stopped at Polar Bear Gap, leaving Twin Valley, Private Lake, and Youngs Valley intact.

-- #78 Babyfoot Lake -- The Babyfoot Lake area did not burn in the 2018 Klondike Fire, but the access road was the boundary of the fire zone, so it is likely to remain closed until the summer of 2019.

-- #79 Eight Dollar Mountain -- This area did not burn in the 2018 Klondike Fire, but the access road was closed in the summer of 2018, and may remain closed until the spring of 2019.

-- #80 Illinois River Beaches -- The Kerby Flat and Star Flat areas did not burn in the 2018 Klondike Fire, but the other areas on the lower Illinois River did. The access road to the entire area was closed for two years. Although the road is now open, it is in poor condition and the area has been damaged by illegal campers. 

-- #81 Illinois River Trail --  This entire area burned in the 2018 fire, and most of it had burned in the 2002 fire as well. The access road and the trail have  since been completely reopened, and the footbridge at the Briggs Creek Trailhead has been replanked, but be warned that the access road is so awful that high-clearance vehicles have been known to do wheelies over ruts.

-- #82 Illinois River Beaches --  The suspension footbridge over the Illinois River is closed until October 31, 2023. Until then you can still hike to Illinoir River Falls by crossing the river on the adjacent car ford.

-- #83 (82) Grants Pass Nature Trails -- The Limpy Creek area was on the edge of the 2018 burn but has reopened.  The Waters Creek area, Cathedral Hills, and Dollar Mountain were not affected by the fire and are open.

-- #83 Taylor Creek -- All of the Taylor Creek area burned in 2018, but the area has been reopened. Only Big Pine Campground and the nature trails at Big Pine remained closed in 2021 due to hazard trees. Big Pine itself was among the trees killed by the fire .

-- #84 Rogue River East -- A 2022 wildfire burned the Rand Visitor Center and the south side of the Rogue River from Grave Creek west for 4 miles.  The Grave Creek boat launch and the Rogue River Trail remain open. The 2.1-mile path to Rainie Falls on the south side of the Rogue River, however, is likely to remain closed for repair until 2024.

--#85 Rogue River West -- a landslide in April 2023 closed the trail to through hikers, but the path should be reopened by July 2023. Hikers violating the closure  during that time may be fined.

-- #97 Castle Lake -- The 0.5-mile side trail to Heart Lake used to be a confusion of user paths that crossed private property and caused erosion. After the Wilderness Land Trust bought the land for the public the Mt. Shasta Trail Association built an official tread in 2020. Please stay on the new path.

-- #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.

-- #104 (#3) North Umpqua River -- All of the trails and roads in the area west of Steamboat to the Swiftwater Park Trailhead  burned in a September 2020 wildfire, but everything there has reopened. The 8 miles of the river canyon from Steamboat to the east burned in 2021 and is likely to remain closed until 2024 or 2025.. The community of Idleyld Park was narrowly saved. Some trees have also survived, especially in canyons and near water. A 2017 wildfire also burned a section of the 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.

-- #104 Cougar Shelter -- All of this trail (and probably the shelter)  burned in a September 2020 wildfire. 

--#105 Bullpup Lake -- The entire area at Bullpup Lake and Bulldog Mountain burned in August 2024, and is likely to remain closed until at least 2026.

-- #108 Illahee Rock -- A 2021 wildfire burned lightly over Illahee Rock and Wild Rose Point, but left the lookout buildings intact. The 1925 cupola lookout is unlocked, but full of repair materials and rats.  The rickety staircase up the 1958 lookout tower is open, and although the trap door at the top is locked, someone has sawed a hole in it.  Despite wildfires in 2021 and 2017,  the hike to Illahee Rock was surprisingly green and pleasant during a July 2023 visit. The trail to Wild Rose Point, however, had become quite brushy. When driving to the trailhead, follow  gravel Illahee Road 4760 for 7.8 miles to a fork. Veer right onto rough gravel Road 100 for 1.3 miles (driving slowly due to rocks) to another fork. Here, the final spur to the left on Road 104 to the Illahee Rock Trailhead was so rough and brushy in 2023 that it's best to walk the final 0.2 mile of road up to the old trailhead.  Because Road 100 is narrow, the best parking area is 0.1 mile further along the road, at a large junction.  If you are interested in hiking (or clearing) the brushy trail to Wild Rose Point, walk left at this junction on an overgrown road for 100 feet to a brown post on the right.

-- #109 Medicine Creek Rock Art -- The 0.2-mile trail to this ancient rock shelter is so well graded that it would be possible for an ambitious wheelchair user to negotiate. To find the trailhead, drive Hwy 138 to milepost 55, turn north on Medicine Creek Road 4775, and go straight for 1.3 miles to a large pullout on the right signed "Medicine Creek Rock Shelter".  The shelter is actually a house-sized boulder that leans to one side. 

-- #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. The upper part of the trail has been abandoned and the lower part has been converted to OHV Trail #23.

-- #130 Upper Rogue River Trail -- Fire, wind, and snow have blocked much of this trail with fallen trees. Trail crews have reopened some of the route, but the 2.2-mile section between No Name Falls and Rough Rider Falls was still blocked by a lot of logs in August 2020, and the next 3.2 miles upriver (to the junction with the Boundary Springs Trail) was also awful. Here's hoping the Forest Service and the Siskiyou Mountain Club can get this important and beautiful section of the trail open before too long! 

-- #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.

-- #135 South Fork Rogue River -- Lack of maintenance has often been a problem here. In June 2020 there were a hundred trees down across the trail, and the path was crowded with huckleberry bushes. It is still hikable, but requires a bit more gumption. Big Ben Campground appears to have been removed, and the spur trail leading to it is gone. 

-- #145 Split Rock --  The Split Rock Trail in the McDonald Botanic Area is open to pedestrians only. To find the trailhead for this excellent new trail, drive to the Mt. Ashland Ski Area. At the far end of the paved parking lot, continue straight on gravel Road 20 for 3.3 roughish miles (beyond Grouse Gap 1.4 miles) to a tiny dirt pullout by a sagebrush slope to the right (GPS location 42.076 -122.7483). To spot this rough, dirt pullout (with room for just 3 cars!), watch carefully for a small wooden sign up to the right.  There is no other practical parking for a mile. The trail climbs through glorious meadows with glorious views for 0.6 mile to McDonald Peak, a possible turnaround point for a quick hike. Next the path descends steeply to a lovely ridge and follows it 0.8 mile to Split Rock, a lesser viewpoint with some granite boulders. This is another possible turnaround point, because the trail beyond this descends steeply again, going up and down along a ridge for 1.6 miles to a 4-way junction at Wagner Glade Gap, a sagebrush meadow with limited views. 

-- #146 Roxy Ann Peak -- Trail upgrades at Prescott Park make a 3.8-mile loop hike at this sparsely wooded butte overlooking Medford more attractive, and road improvements simplify access. From Medford exit #30 of Interstate 5, heed Biddle Road signs to follow Biddle Road south alongside the freeway 0.8 mile. Turn left on E. McAndrews Road for 5.2 miles, keeping straight when the road changes names to Hillcrest Road. At a sign for Prescott Park turn left on Roxy Ann Road for 0.2 mile of pavement and another 1.1 mile of gravel to a long parking pullout on the right just before the park's second gate (which is locked each evening). Walk past the gate up the road 0.2 mile and turn right on the Madrone Trail 0.3 mile to a fork. For the recommended loop, turn left on the Oak Trail for 0.5 mile, and turn right on the Ponderosa Trail 1 mile to the summit of Roxy Ann Peak (also accessible by car on a rough steep road). Then walk down the road 300 feet and turn right on the Manzanita Trail for 1.3 miles to return to the Madrone Trail connector down to your car.

-- #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.

-- #153 Butte Fork Trail -- This trail did not burn in a 2020 wildfire, but the fire burned up to the creek itself, so some damage may be visible from the trail for the first 4 miles. If you are hiking the longer 24.5-mile loop, note that the fire burned a 2-mile section of the Boundary Trail at Rattlesnake Mountain.  

-- #157 East Fork Illinois River -- All 9.7 miles of this trail burned in  a 2020 wildfire, including the trailhead and access road. The fire stopped near the trail's junction with the Black Butte Trail at the head of the valley. The trail is unlikely to reopen until 2022 or later.

-- #158 Sanger Peak --  A September 2020 wildfire burned very close to this peak, but did not burn the trail to the top. The abandoned lookout building there has been removed.

-- #164 Illinois River Trail -- Although this trail burned in 2002 and 2018 it has been completely reopened, and the footbridge at the Briggs Creek Trailhead has been replanked.

-- #165 Chetco River -- The access road, trailhead, and 5.1-mile road/trail up to Chetco Pass all burned in a 2018 fire. The rest of the trail -- 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. The entire area had also burned in the 2002 Biscuit Fire. The three fires did not burn every tree, leaving some large older trees intact.

-- #166 Pearsoll Peak Lookout -- The access road to this trail burned in 2018 and may be closed until 2020. The trail from Chetco Pass up to the lookout was the border of the 2018 fire, so it saw some damage as well. The fire lookout itself survived, but remains closed to the public. The lookout had just been restored by the Sand Mountain Society in 2017.

-- #167-171 Shan Creek, Briggs Creek, Dutchy Creek, York Butte, and Indian Mary Park -- all of this area burned in a 2018 fire. Indian Mary Park  and Taylor Creek have been reopened. All the bridges on Taylor Creek are repaired or replaced. The giant ponderosa pine at Big Pine is now dead, and the short trail loops past it are abandoned. Shan Creek, Briggs Creek, and York Butte are likely to remain closed until 2021.

NEW HIKES:

-- East Applegate Ridge Trail --  South of Jacksonville, this 5-mile trail meanders along a ridge with meadows, views, and forest. For an easy hike, start at the east trailhead and climb gradually 1.2 miles to a meadowed slope with a view across the fields of Ruch to the snowy Siskiyous. Drive Interstate 5 to exit 30 for Medford/Crater Lake, go west on Highway 238 for 5.6 miles to Jacksonville, turn right to continue on Highway 238 another 2.9 miles to a pass, turn left on Cady Road for 0.5 mile, and turn right on Sterling Creek Road for 4.1 miles. Then turn right on one-lane gravel BLM Road 38-2-29.1 for 0.6 mile to its end at a large gravel parking lot. Ignore a "Route End" post and instead start at a "Trail" post by the parking lot entrances. Bikes and horses are allowed, but no motor vehicles. If you continue beyond the viewpoint at the 1.2-mile mark, you might opt to hike the entire 5-mile trail one way -- because the next part of the trail loses 1320 feet of elevation. To find the western trailhead, drive back to Highway 238. From the pass where Cady Road joins this highway, drive Highway 238 south toward Ruch 2.3 miles to a sign for the "East Applegate Ridge Trail" and turn left to a large gravel parking lot. 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 or https://www.blm.gov/visit/east-applegate-ridge-trail .

-- Tallowbox Mountain -- Overlooking the upper Applegate Valley, a 1.5-mile trail climbs through wildflower meadows and woods to a lookout site with a 360-degree view. Drive Highway 238 south of Jacksonville (or east of Murphy). A mile west of the community of Ruch, between mileposts 24 and 25, , turn south on Hamilton Road for one mile. Turn right across a one-lane concrete bridge onto Cantrall Road, ignore a campground to the left, and continue on a one-lane road for 5.1 miles of pavement and another 1.9 miles of gravel to a saddle with a small parking area to the left and a small "Tallowbox Trail" sign. Hike past a "Trail" post and a berm on an old roadbed that has become a trail. After a mile you'll reach a signed junction with an old road. The Tallowbox Trail continues straight, losing 2000 feet of elevation in 3 miles to a lower trailhead, but for the recommended hike to the lookout site, turn uphill to the right on the gravel road.  Keep left at junctions for 0.5 mile to Tallowbox Mountain's summit, with a 100-foot telecommunication tower and a great view.   . 

-- Fish Hatchery Nature Loop -- An easy 1.5-mile loop from a Josephine County Park picnic area on the Applegate River visits sites with wildflowers and history. Expect a $5-per-car parking fee. From downtown Grants Pass, drive south across the Rogue River bridge and go straight onto Highway 238, following signs for Murphy. After 1.5 miles turn right on New Hope Road. In another 3.1 miles, turn right on Fish Hatchery Road. After 1.8 miles turn right on Wetherbee Drive. If you miss this turn you'll cross the Applegate River on a bridge. After 0.7 mile on Wetherbee Drive, turn downhill to the left to a parking area for the county park's riverside picnic area. A fee box at the entrance to teh parking area has envelopes for paying the $5-per-car parking fee here. At the far right-hand end of the parking area, walk past a yellow gate to a signboard where the nature trail begins. Start to the right and follow signs for 1.5 miles to return.

-- Bolt Mountain Trail -- This 3.2-mile non-motorized trail climb gains 1040 feet to a viewpoint overlooking Grants Pass and the Applegate River Valley. Start by driving to the Fish Hatchery Nature Loop described above. The two trails do not connect, so park at the Bolt Mount Trailhead where Wetherbee Road ends, just before the entrance road leads down to the Fish Hatchery Park picnic area. The trail starts on an old road bed, passes an abandoned mine, and climbs through Jeffrey pine woods to the summit. An unofficial trail continues to Stringer Gap, where concrete barricades block motor vehicles from the trail.

100 Hikes/Travel Guide: Southern Oregon, 3rd Edition (c)2015, 2014. (All of these changes have been incorporated in the Fourth edition)

        -- Crater Lake Trail Plan 2015

-- 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.