Wild Rogue Loop Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Mule Creek South Trailhead
- End point: Mule Creek South Trailhead
- Trail Log:
- Hike Type: Loop
- Distance: 29.2 miles
- Elevation gain: 3,700 feet
- High Point: 3,800 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Seasons: Spring & Fall are best; can be too hot in summer
- Family Friendly: No
- Backpackable: Yes
- Crowded: No
Contents |
Hike Description
This newly restored loop connects the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest’s Mule Creek Trail #1159, Panther Ridge Trail #1253, Clay Hill Trail #1160A, and the Rogue River Trail #1160. Before the summer of 2015, many trail miles had been been seriously eroded by time and lack of maintenance, while other trail sections were brushed in and full of downed logs killed by the 2005 Blossom Fire. The Siskiyou Mountain Club crews restored the entire loop in 2015, and maintained the Rogue River Trail from Marial to Foster Bar. This 29-mile backpacking loop has five trailheads, offering a number of day hikes as well, like to a massive outcrop called Hanging Rock that looms over the wilderness. The route features the pristine gorges of Mule Creek, old growth havens of Panther Ridge, oak and pine savanna of Clay Hill, and, of course, the Rogue River itself. One trailhead is near the historic Rogue River Ranch, another is at Foster Bar near Agness, Oregon and three others are accessed from Eden Valley, accessible from either of Agness and Powers, Oregon.
This loop through the northeast quadrant of the Wild Rogue Wilderness can be done either clockwise or counter-clockwise or as a lollipop from Foster Bar or Grave Creek, but the description below assumes you're going counter-clockwise starting from Tucker Flat. Going this direction - particularly during periods of high water - allows you to see if the two crossings of Mule Creek are possible before you're too far into the loop. These creek crossings can be very dangerous or impassable during high water! Going this direction you hike down, not up, the Clay Hill Trail, which seems to be the less arduous option.
Here is a mileage log assuming you start at Tucker Flat and hike counter-clockwise. Trail miles are shown in { }. Note that there are no reliable (perennial) water sources between the upper West Fork Mule Creek and the Thomas homestead. Be prepared to carry water if you plan to camp along Panther Ridge.
{0.0} Tucker Flat – Mule Creek Trail #1159 Trailhead
{0.3} Bridge over Mule Creek
{1.2} First crossing of West Fork Mule Creek
{1.7} Second crossing of West Fork Mule Creek 4.2 Old mine road starts (FR 230) Old Red Mine (1950s?) / Golden Economy (1930) / Golden Bullet Mine (1974) 5.3 Camp 1 – Upper West Mule Creek 5.9 Leave FR 230 / old mine road for new trail 6.5 Join old road – BLM 32-11-25.1 7.4 Buck Point TH / Start Panther Ridge Trail #1253 8.9 Unsigned junction with trail to Hanging Rock Hanging Rock LO: 40’ wooden L-4 tower (1939), abandoned 1950s, removed 9.2 Junction with #1113 / #1253-A 12.4 Sign and faint trail to Panther Camp / to FR 080? Panther Camp Meadow, which is located on a side trail about halfway along Panther Ridge
14.5 Clay Hill Trail #1160A 17.1 Thomas homestead 18.2 Junction with #1160 19.0 Tate Creek 21.1 Camp 2 – Brushy Bar 21.3 Devils Backbone Trail sign 29.2 Tucker Flat Day 1: Tucker Flat to Upper West Mule Creek: 5.2 mi/2300’ Day 2: Mule Creek to Brushy Bar: 15.8 mi/1100’ Day 3: Brushy Bar to Tucker Flat: 8.1 mi/300’ 29.1 mi / 3700’
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Wild Rogue Loop Hike
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Wild Rogue Loop Hike
Guidebooks that cover this destination
- 100 Hikes / Travel Guide: Southern Oregon & Northern California by William L. Sullivan (Fourth Edition (2017), Hike #84)
More Links
- Directions to Tucker Flat from Galice
- Mule Creek South Trailhead
- Mule Creek Trail #1159 (BLM)
- Buck Point Trailhead
- Panther Ridge Trail #1253
- Hanging Rock Trailhead
- Clay Hill Trailhead
- Clay Hill Trail #1160A
- Rogue River Trail #1160
- Devils Backbone Trail #1162
Page Contributors
- VanMarmot (creator)