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Difference between revisions of "Acorn Woman Peak Hike"

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[[Category:Moderate Hikes]]
 
[[Category:Moderate Hikes]]
 
[[Category:Wildflower Hikes]]
 
[[Category:Wildflower Hikes]]
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[[Category:Lookout Hikes]]
 
[[Category:Viewpoint Hikes]]
 
[[Category:Viewpoint Hikes]]
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[[Category:Hikes]]
  
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[[Image:SQP trail.jpg|thumb|350px|Little Grayback trail climbing toward the ridge ''(B. Hope)'']]
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[[Image:SQP trail.jpg|thumb|260px|The Little Grayback trail climbing towards Hanley Gap ''(B. Hope)'']]
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[[Image:SQP LO.jpg|thumb|350px|The old Squaw Peak lookout ''(B. Hope)'']]
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[[Image:SQP LO.jpg|thumb|250px|The Acorn Woman Peak Lookout ''(B. Hope)'']]
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[[Image:SQP view.jpg|thumb|400px|The view west from the lookout, with Mt. McLoughlin in the distance ''(B. Hope)'']]
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[[Image:SQP view.jpg|thumb|250px|The view west from the lookout, with Mt. McLoughlin in the distance ''(B. Hope)'']]
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[[Image:SQP Map.jpg|thumb|400px|Map of Little Grayback hike ''(B. Hope)'']]
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[[Image:SQP Map.jpg|thumb|400px|Map of the hike to Acorn Woman Peak via the Little Grayback Trail ''(B. Hope)'']]
  
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{{Start point|Little Grayback Trailhead}}  
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{{Start point|Little Grayback Lower Trailhead}}  
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* End point: [[Little Grayback Trailhead]]
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* End point: [[Acorn Woman Peak]]
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* Trail Log:
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* Hike type: Out and back
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* Hike Type: Out-and-Back
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{{Distance|10.7 miles}}
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{{Distance|11 miles}}
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{{Elevation gain|1,800 feet}}
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{{Elevation gain|2,200 feet}}
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* High point: 4,984 feet
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* High Point: 4,984 feet
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{{Difficulty|Moderate}}
 
{{Difficulty|Moderate}}
 
* Seasons: All year
 
* Seasons: All year
 
* Family Friendly: No
 
* Family Friendly: No
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* Backpackable: Yes (water maybe an issue)
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* Backpackable: No
 
* Crowded: No
 
* Crowded: No
 +
{{Hazards|p=y|t=y}}
  
 
=== Hike Description ===
 
=== Hike Description ===
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This is the most readily accessible of the hikes starting in or near the Applegate Valley in Southern Oregon. Barring an unusual snow event, it’s open year-round. In the spring (April - June), there are wildflowers in the south-facing meadows (called "balds") crossed by the trail. In the summer, an early start allows you to climb the arid south-facing balds and twisted oak woodlands in the cool of the morning and then descend among the lush, cool maple and fir forests along Mule Creek Canyon as the day heats up.
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This is one of the more accessible of the hikes starting in or near the Applegate Valley in Southern Oregon. It provides access to [[Acorn Woman Peak]], formerly Squaw Peak, with its old lookout and great views. Barring an unusual snow event, it’s open year-round. In the spring (April - June), there are wildflowers in the south-facing meadows (called "balds") crossed by the trail. In the summer, an early start allows you to climb the arid south-facing balds and twisted oak woodlands in the cool of the morning.
  
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After parking, walk back down the road to the sign and the start of the Mule Mountain (#919) trail. The first 0.3 mile or so is through private land, so please stay on the trail.  You will reach another trail sign once you cross on to USFS land.  About 0.5 mile beyond this second sign, you will come to a trail junction. Turn left here (the trail to the right is Trail #920 and your return route).  After another 3.4 miles, you will reach your high point, a grassy ridge on the side of Baldy Peak and a junction with the Baldy Peak (#918) trail. Here you have the option of turning north for a 0.8 mile round-trip climb up the ridge to the summit of the peak and some views of the Applegate Valley and Mount Ashland.  You can also climb Mule Mountain itself by ascending cross-country from the trail; however, the view from Baldy Peak is better and the ascent easier (no brush!).
+
From the trailhead, the Little Grayback Trail climbs steadily but easily toward Hanley Gap, passing across the southeast slope of Little Grayback Mountain. After four miles, the trail ends at FR 2010-340 and the Little Grayback Upper Trailhead (not accessible all year) about 0.5 miles west of [[Hanley Gap]]. You can end your hike here and just retrace your steps, or you can continue on another 1.5 miles to the old lookout on [[Acorn Woman Peak]] (yes!).  
  
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To continue with the loop, turn south on the Baldy Peak trail (not signed but there's a small cairn).  It's faint at first but the tread soon becomes clear as it runs south below the ridge for 1.5 miles to an old forest road (FR 300).  Head straight (south) along the road for about 300' to an obvious trail on the right (west) side. This is the Mule Canyon Trail (#920) that will take you back to that first trail junction you encountered on your way up.  This trail starts off strong and obvious (the sign marking the start of this trail may be missing or vandalized) but has a few faint stretches once it reaches the canyon bottom - but it's not hard to follow if you pay attention.  There are some huge old-growth firs in the upper reaches of this canyon which alone are worth a visit.
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To go to the peak, continue northeast on FR 2010-340 to a four-way intersection at [[Hanley Gap]] and continue east (straight) on the road around the usually locked gate for a steep but short climb up to the lookout. As of 2019, it is available to rent in the summer for $65/night. Views extend east to [[Mount McLoughlin]] and [[Wagner Butte Lookout Site|Wagner Butte]].
  
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After 3.4 miles, the Mule Creek trail starts climbing out of the canyon (simply continuing down the canyon is not possible because of private property) and in 0.7 mile reaches its junction with the Mule Mountain (#919) trail, which you then take back to the trailhead.  
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Although the lookout is no longer in service, the Remote Automated Weather Station (RAWS) next to it is operational, and its data stream is accessible via the web (see link below). It should be noted that the summit's former name of Squaw Peak, considered a pejorative term, was officially changed to [[Acorn Woman Peak]] in 2022.  
 
    
 
    
  
 
=== Maps ===
 
=== Maps ===
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{{Hikemaps|latitude=42.09089|longitude=-123.09666}}
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{{Hikemaps|latitude=42.0691|longitude=-123.0186}}
 +
* [https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd566720.pdf  Little Grayback Trail #921 (USFS)]
 +
* U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: ''Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District''
 +
* U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: ''Rogue River National Forest''
  
 
{{TripReports|{{PAGENAME}}}}
 
{{TripReports|{{PAGENAME}}}}
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* [http://www.oregonhikers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=20674 Mule Mountain Loop 23-Dec-2014]
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* [http://www.oregonhikers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=23065 Squaw Peak 21-Feb-2015]
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* [http://www.oregonhikers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=23065 Mule Mountain 16-Dec-2015]
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* [http://www.oregonhikers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=20772 Little Grayback 08-Jan-2015]
  
 
{{RelatedDiscussions|{{PAGENAME}}}}
 
{{RelatedDiscussions|{{PAGENAME}}}}
  
 
=== Guidebooks that cover this destination ===   
 
=== Guidebooks that cover this destination ===   
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* ''The Siskiyou Crest: Hikes, History & Ecology'' by Luke Ruediger (pages 116-118)
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* ''Where the Trails Are: Ashland - Medford And Beyond'' by Bill Williams
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* ''100 Hikes in Southern Oregon'' by William L. Sullivan (Third Edition, Hike #63)
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* ''The Siskiyou Crest: Hikes, History & Ecology'' by Luke Ruediger (pages 110-113)
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* Rogue River National Forest (Oregon) Location map (very useful for making sense of the forest roads)
+
  
 
=== More Links ===
 
=== More Links ===
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* [http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recreation/recarea/?recid=70152 USFS #918 Charlie Buck / Baldy Peak Trail]
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* [http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recarea/?recid=70258  Little Grayback Trail #921 (USFS)]
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* [http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recreation/recarea/?recid=70292&actid=24 USFS #919 Mule Mountain Trail]
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* [http://www.richardhikes.com/2014/04/little-grayback-mountain-trail.html  Little Grayback Mountain Trail (Richard Hikes)]
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* [http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recreation/recarea/?recid=70288 USFS #920 Mule Creek Trail]
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* [http://ashlandtrails.com/hiking/little-greyback-trail-to-squaw-peak/  Little Grayback Trail to Squaw Peak (Ashland Trails)]
 +
* [https://www.ashlandhiking.org/Assets/Hike%20Pics/Mountains%20&%20Summits/SquawPeak/SquawPeak_5-26-21/page1.html  Little Grayback to Squaw Peak 5-26-21 (Ashland Hiking)]
 +
* [https://vanmarmot.org/2015/02/21/squaw-peak-applegate-lake-oregon-21-feb-2015/ Squaw Peak (Applegate Lake, Oregon) 21-Feb-2015 (Boots on the Trail)]
 +
* [https://vanmarmot.org/2017/04/28/charlie-buck-to-squaw-peak-28-apr-2017/  Hiking to Squaw Peak (Southern Oregon) 28-Apr-2017 (Boots on the Trail)]
 +
* [http://cherylhill.net/blog/2019/07/16/little-grayback-mountain/  Little Grayback Mountain (Just Peachy)]
 +
* [http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recarea/?recid=70362  Acorn Woman Peak Lookout (USFS)]
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* [https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/251546  Acorn Woman Peak Lookout (Recreation.gov)]
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* [http://raws.dri.edu/cgi-bin/rawMAIN.pl?orOSQU  Acorn Woman Peak (Squaw Peak) Oregon (Western Regional Climate Center)]
 +
 
  
 
=== Page Contributors ===
 
=== Page Contributors ===
 
* [[User:VanMarmot|VanMarmot]] (creator)
 
* [[User:VanMarmot|VanMarmot]] (creator)

Latest revision as of 21:41, 2 April 2023

The Little Grayback trail climbing towards Hanley Gap (B. Hope)
The Acorn Woman Peak Lookout (B. Hope)
The view west from the lookout, with Mt. McLoughlin in the distance (B. Hope)
Map of the hike to Acorn Woman Peak via the Little Grayback Trail (B. Hope)
  • Start point: Little Grayback Lower TrailheadRoad.JPG
  • End point: Acorn Woman Peak
  • Hike type: Out and back
  • Distance: 10.7 miles
  • Elevation gain: 1,800 feet
  • High point: 4,984 feet
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Seasons: All year
  • Family Friendly: No
  • Backpackable: No
  • Crowded: No
Poison-Oak
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Contents

Hike Description

This is one of the more accessible of the hikes starting in or near the Applegate Valley in Southern Oregon. It provides access to Acorn Woman Peak, formerly Squaw Peak, with its old lookout and great views. Barring an unusual snow event, it’s open year-round. In the spring (April - June), there are wildflowers in the south-facing meadows (called "balds") crossed by the trail. In the summer, an early start allows you to climb the arid south-facing balds and twisted oak woodlands in the cool of the morning.

From the trailhead, the Little Grayback Trail climbs steadily but easily toward Hanley Gap, passing across the southeast slope of Little Grayback Mountain. After four miles, the trail ends at FR 2010-340 and the Little Grayback Upper Trailhead (not accessible all year) about 0.5 miles west of Hanley Gap. You can end your hike here and just retrace your steps, or you can continue on another 1.5 miles to the old lookout on Acorn Woman Peak (yes!).

To go to the peak, continue northeast on FR 2010-340 to a four-way intersection at Hanley Gap and continue east (straight) on the road around the usually locked gate for a steep but short climb up to the lookout. As of 2019, it is available to rent in the summer for $65/night. Views extend east to Mount McLoughlin and Wagner Butte.

Although the lookout is no longer in service, the Remote Automated Weather Station (RAWS) next to it is operational, and its data stream is accessible via the web (see link below). It should be noted that the summit's former name of Squaw Peak, considered a pejorative term, was officially changed to Acorn Woman Peak in 2022.


Maps

Trip Reports

Related Discussions / Q&A

Guidebooks that cover this destination

  • Where the Trails Are: Ashland - Medford And Beyond by Bill Williams
  • The Siskiyou Crest: Hikes, History & Ecology by Luke Ruediger (pages 110-113)

More Links


Page Contributors

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Oregon Hikers Field Guide is built as a collaborative effort by its user community. While we make every effort to fact-check, information found here should be considered anecdotal. You should cross-check against other references before planning a hike. Trail routing and conditions are subject to change. Please contact us if you notice errors on this page.

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