Like a lot of the smaller and less well know wilderness areas, some spots (Abbott Butte, Fish Lake) are very popular while the rest only rarely feel the hiker's boot. We began exploring this wilderness earlier this year with hikes along Muir Ck in the north (Muir Ck TR) and to Abbott Butte in the south (Abbott Butte TR). Unfortunately, the National Creek Complex fire poured heavy smoke into this area and, for a time, closed Hwy 230 and access to THs from the E. With the fire now contained (but still burning within that containment), the road open, and the smoke mostly cleared, it seemed like good time to visit the Hershberger Mtn LO (LO) and some of the trails north of there. These are Hikes #9 and #30 in Sullivan's Southern Oregon guide (3rd edition). The last 8 mi or so of the access road are rough, rocky, and high centered - slow and serious work for any low-slung sedan - which probably accounts for the pristine condition of the LO. I parked at the TH and walked up the last bit of road to the LO.
Despite the early morning cloud deck, I had a view to the S of Union Pk (U), Rabbit Ears (R), Mt. McLoughlin (M), and Mt. Shasta (S),
and to the E of Mt. Thielsen and the still-burning (arrow) National Creek fire (looks like that one will linger until we get some rain
).
After taking in these views, I walked back down the road to the start of this section of the Rogue-Umpqua Divide trail (USFS #1470) which runs generally along the divide between Huckleberry Gap in the S and Three Lakes in the N. From what little of it I've been able to hike so far, the tread quality of the 1470 ranges from very good to nearly nonexistant - so doing the whole trail as a backpack could be an adventure.
After a short hike on the 1470 through fall colors,
I came to its junction with the Rocky Rim trail (USFS #1572), the full length of which does not appear on most topo maps of this area. Turning N on the 1572,
I soon crossed one of the meadows that characterize this wilderness,
and got a great view of Highrock Mtn to the W. By now the morning clouds had dissipated and the usual full bluebird day was fully on.
About 2.5 mi from the TH, the trail makes its way around the E side of Standoff Point, through some truly spectacular basalt/ash cliffs, along a line of weakness below a solid band of basalt (reminded me just a little of the traverse to Mt. Whittier near Mt. St. Helens).
The trail then passed through a brief stretch of cool, N-facing forest,
before emerging on the narrow Rocky Ridge,
with a view W down to Fish Lake,
E to Bailey (B) and Thielsen (T),
and N to Diamond (D).
After lunch atop Pt 6075 (from here the 1572 trail starts its descent to the Beaver Swamp TH), I re-traced my steps along the 1572, catching a few more fall colors along the way.
On the drive out, I caught a glimpse of the gigantic volcanic plugs that form the Rabbit Ears.
A short (10 mi RT, 1000' EG) but pretty interesting hike, what with the pillars at Standoff Point and the views from Rocky Ridge. And, of course, the charmingly well-preserved LO. The downside is the challenging road access - which likely helps protect the LO on one hand but lessens enthusiasm for a short trail like the 1572 on the other. It's possible to do this as a loop from Beaver Swamp TH (Sullivan's Hike #9) - something we'll have to look into on a future hike.
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