Difference between revisions of "Rogue Wolf Loop Hike"

Revision as of 02:32, 18 October 2018

Giant log across the Middle Fork (B. Hope)

Solace Meadow (B. Hope)

Devils Peak and Cliff Lake in late afternoon (B. Hope)

Alta Lake in early morning (B. Hope)

Start point: Middle Fork Trailhead
End point: Middle Fork Trailhead
Trail Log:
Hike Type: Loop
Distance: 27.8 miles
Elevation gain: 4,400 feet
High Point: 6,800 feet
Difficulty: Difficult
Seasons: mid-June to early July and September are best; can be too hot in mid-summer
Family Friendly: No
Backpackable: Yes
Crowded: No

This newly restored loop circles the headwaters of the Middle Fork of the Rogue River through the Seven Lakes Basin on the Middle Fork Trail #978, the Halifax Trail #1088, the McKie Camp Trail #1089 south of Solace Meadow, the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), the Cliff Lake Trail #983, the Seven Lakes Trail #981, and the Alta Lake Trail #979. In the summer of 2016, Siskiyou Mountain Club crews, with a lot of help from the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, the Fremont-Winema National Forest, the High Desert Trail Riders - Back Country Horseman, the Pacific Crest Trail Association, and REI, removed about 5,000 logs from portions of these existing trails that had become impassable after acute wildfire damage and from years of deferred maintenance. They called this collection of existing and newly restored trails the Rogue Wolf Loop.

The loop starts with a stretch along the glacially-carved canyon of the Middle Fork of the Rogue River, then climbs to Solace Meadow near the Cascade Crest, before going south on the PCT into the Seven Lakes Basin. There are options here to visit or camp at Cliff Lake or Grass and Middle Lakes before continuing on to the Alta Lake Trail. That trail is followed down Gopher Ridge, past beautiful Alta Lake (and some excellent campsites), to the upper end of the Middle Fork Trail, which is then followed back to the trailhead to complete the loop.

More work needs to be done on some of the trails in this loop (in addition to ongoing maintenance) so, at the moment, there's some navigating and bushwhacking required. Yet the trails are, overall, in impressively good condition. The passages through the burned areas created in 2008 and 2017 are both strangely compelling and cautionary. This can be done as an overnight backpack but might be even better as a two-nighter (trailhead to Solace Meadow > Seven Lakes Basin > trailhead). The only constraint is that reliable water sources are scarce between Solace Meadow and the Seven Lakes Basin. This might not be the loop for the beginning backpacker, but it could be one for those with a few trail miles on their boots who want to see parts of the Sky Lakes Wilderness few have seen in the last 10 years!

This loop can be done either clockwise or counter-clockwise but it's much easier to go clock-wise and descend the Middle Fork Trail on the way out rather than ascend it on the way in. The mileage log below assumes you're going clockwise starting from the Middle Fork Trailhead. Going this direction - particularly during periods of high water - allows you to see if the crossing of the Middle Fork on the Halifax Trail is possible before you're too far into the loop. Trail miles from the Middle Fork Trailhead are shown below in { }.

{0.0} Middle Fork Trailhead - start of the Middle Fork Trail #978

{3.5} Junction with the Halifax Trail #1088, turn left (east) here

{3.6} Cross the Middle Fork either by wading (PLEASE DON'T TRY THIS AT HIGH WATER) or by finding a convenient log (There was a huge, walkable tree across the entire creek as of early summer 2018.). The trail continues on the far bank approximately 100 feet downstream, across from a brightly colored cliff face.

{6.7} Reach the spring at the head of Solace Meadows. This area was burned in the 2017 Blanket Creek Fire but the spring is still running, the meadow is still green, and there are good tent sites on the flat area around where the old cabin stood (It was lost to fire in 2017). You should get water here in anticipation of a long stretch of dry trail ahead.

{6.8} The Halifax Trail #1088 junctions with the McKie Camp Trail #1089, but the 2017 fire had badly damaged the start of the southbound (rehabilitated) portion of the McKie Camp Trail (The northbound portion has not been restored.). But the southbound McKie crosses the slope above the old cabin site, so just go east upslope until you intersect the faint tread that remains. The further south you go, the easier it is to follow the McKie Camp Trail.

{9.8} Reach a signed junction with the PCT just west of Maude Mountain. Go south on the PCT.

{12.0} Pass a signed junction for the Middle Fork Basin Trail, which leads to Ranger Spring, one of the only reliable (perennial) water sources between here and the Seven Lakes Basin. Visiting the spring will add 1.6 miles to your trip.

{12.1} Pass a signed junction with the Sevenmile Marsh Trail #3703 which goes about 2 miles to the Sevenmile Marsh Trailhead on the east side of the wilderness.

{14.3} Cross Honeymoon Creek, a possible source of water and campsite along this stretch of the PCT.

{14.9} Reach signed junction with the northern end of the Seven Lakes Trail #981. You have the option here of continuing on the PCT (up to the left) or following the #981 right and down to Grass and Middle Lakes (popular weekend destinations).

{15.7} If you elect to stay on the PCT, you'll reach a signed junction with the Cliff Lake Trail #983. Turn right (south) here.

{16.0} A junction with the southern end of the Seven Lakes Trail #981. Continue on the #981 past Cliff Lake (some excellent campsites here).

{16.4} South Lake (some excellent campsites here).

{17.4} Signed junction with the Alta Lake Trail #979. Turn right (north) here and follow the trail past Alta Lake (good campsites on Violet Hill) and on down Gopher Ridge.

(19.0} Pass Boulder Pond (may be complelely dry by late summer).

{19.9} Pass a signed junction with the King Spruce Trail #980.

{20.4} Reach a signed junction with the upper (southern) end of the Middle Fork Trail #978. Turn right (east) and descend this trail. You will lose almost 2,000 vertical feet in a long series of switchbacks, interspersed with few, very few, level spots. The first half of the journey down is on excellent trail, while the lower half is on rocky but otherwise good trail.

{21.8} Reach the canyon bottom and start descending along (but not near) the Middle Fork. Some navigation will be required to follow the #978 from here back to its junction with the Halifax Trail. The trail may first be obscured by low-growing vegetation and sometimes crossed by trees felled by winter. Then there will be a delightfully open stretch under the forest canopy, and then the trail becomes vague again as it enters the area of the 2008 fire. Navigate through this section largely by looking for the cut ends of logs that marked where trail work had been performed.

{24.4} Arrive back at the junction with the Halifax Trail.

{27.8} Arrive back at the Middle Fork Trailhead.

Maps

Maps: Hike Finder

Trip Reports

Search Trip Reports for Rogue Wolf Loop Hike

Rogue Wolf Loop Backpack 14/15-Jun-2018

Related Discussions / Q&A

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Guidebooks that cover this destination

100 Hikes / Travel Guide: Southern Oregon & Northern California by William L. Sullivan (Fourth Edition (2017), Hikes #132, #133, #134)

Page Contributors

VanMarmot (creator)

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 [[Category:Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest]]
 [[Category:Sky Lakes Wilderness]]
-[[Category:Moderate Hikes]]
+[[Category:Difficult Hikes]]
 [[Category:Creek Hikes]]
 [[Category:Historic Sites]]
@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
-[[Image:Camp 1.JPG|thumb|400px|Campsite in upper West Fork Mule Creek ''(B. Hope)'']]
+[[Image:Middle_Fork_Log.jpeg|thumb|500px|Giant log across the Middle Fork ''(B. Hope)'']]
-[[Image:Hanging Rock.JPG|thumb|500px|Hanging Rock'' (B. Hope)'']]
+[[Image:Solace_Meadow.jpeg|thumb|500px|Solace Meadow'' (B. Hope)'']]
-[[Image:Thomas Homestead.JPG|thumb|300px|Meadow and old fruit trees at Thomas homestead ''(B. Hope)'']]
+[[Image:Cliff_Lake.jpeg|thumb|500px|Devils Peak and Cliff Lake in late afternoon ''(B. Hope)'']]
-[[Image:Rogue River.JPG|thumb|300px|Rogue River Trail upstream of Clay Hill Creek ''(B. Hope)'']]
+[[Image:Alta_Lake.jpeg|thumb|500px|Alta Lake in early morning ''(B. Hope)'']]
-{{Start point|Mule Creek South Trailhead}}
+{{Start point|Middle Fork Trailhead}}
-* End point: [[Mule Creek South Trailhead]]
+* End point: [[Middle Fork Trailhead]]
 * Trail Log:
 * Hike Type: Loop
-{{Distance|29.2 miles}}
+{{Distance|27.8 miles}}
-{{Elevation gain|3,700 feet}}
+{{Elevation gain|4,400 feet}}
-* High Point: 3,800 feet
+* High Point: 6,800 feet
-{{Difficulty|Moderate}}
+{{Difficulty|Difficult}}
-* Seasons: Spring & Fall are best; can be too hot in summer
+* Seasons: mid-June to early July and September are best; can be too hot in mid-summer
 * Family Friendly: No
 * Backpackable: Yes
@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 === 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 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. 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 and offers access to many outstanding natural features, not the least of which is the 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 Agness or Powers, Oregon.
+This newly restored loop circles the headwaters of the Middle Fork of the Rogue River through the Seven Lakes Basin on the Middle Fork Trail #978, the Halifax Trail #1088, the McKie Camp Trail #1089 south of Solace Meadow, the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), the Cliff Lake Trail #983, the Seven Lakes Trail #981, and the Alta Lake Trail #979. In the summer of 2016, Siskiyou Mountain Club crews, with a lot of help from the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, the Fremont-Winema National Forest, the High Desert Trail Riders - Back Country Horseman, the Pacific Crest Trail Association, and REI, removed about 5,000 logs from portions of these existing trails that had become impassable after acute wildfire damage and from years of deferred maintenance.  They called this collection of existing and newly restored trails the Rogue Wolf Loop.
-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 mileage log 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.  <b>These creek crossings can be very dangerous or impassable during high water!</b>  Going this direction you also hike down, not up, the Clay Hill Trail, which seems to be the less arduous option.  Trail miles from Tucker Flat are shown below in { }; mileages assume you visit Hanging Rock.
+The loop starts with a stretch along the glacially-carved canyon of the Middle Fork of the Rogue River, then climbs to Solace Meadow near the Cascade Crest, before going south on the PCT into the Seven Lakes Basin. There are options here to visit or camp at Cliff Lake or Grass and Middle Lakes before continuing on to the Alta Lake Trail. That trail is followed down Gopher Ridge, past beautiful Alta Lake (and some excellent campsites), to the upper end of the Middle Fork Trail, which is then followed back to the trailhead to complete the loop.
-{0.0} Tucker Flat – Mule Creek Trail #1159 Trailhead
+More work needs to be done on some of the trails in this loop (in addition to ongoing maintenance) so, at the moment, there's some navigating and bushwhacking required. Yet the trails are, overall, in impressively good condition.  The passages through the burned areas created in 2008 and 2017 are both strangely compelling and cautionary.  This can be done as an overnight backpack but might be even better as a two-nighter (trailhead to Solace Meadow > Seven Lakes Basin > trailhead).  The only constraint is that reliable water sources are scarce between Solace Meadow and the Seven Lakes Basin.  This might not be the loop for the beginning backpacker, but it could be one for those with a few trail miles on their boots who want to see parts of the Sky Lakes Wilderness few have seen in the last 10 years!
-{0.3} Bridge over Mule Creek
+This loop can be done either clockwise or counter-clockwise but it's much easier to go clock-wise and descend the Middle Fork Trail on the way out rather than ascend it on the way in. The mileage log below assumes you're going clockwise starting from the Middle Fork Trailhead. Going this direction - particularly during periods of high water - allows you to see if the crossing of the Middle Fork on the Halifax Trail is possible before you're too far into the loop. Trail miles from the Middle Fork Trailhead are shown below in { }.
-{1.2} First crossing of West Fork Mule Creek
+{0.0} Middle Fork Trailhead - start of the Middle Fork Trail #978
-{1.7} Second crossing of West Fork Mule Creek
+{3.5} Junction with the Halifax Trail #1088, turn left (east) here
-{4.2} Old mine road starts (extension of Forest Road 230)
+{3.6} Cross the Middle Fork either by wading (<b>PLEASE DON'T TRY THIS AT HIGH WATER</b>) or by finding a convenient log (There was a huge, walkable tree across the entire creek as of early summer 2018.). The trail continues on the far bank approximately 100 feet downstream, across from a brightly colored cliff face.
-{5.3} Campsites and reliable water in the upper West Fork Mule Creek.
+{6.7} Reach the spring at the head of Solace Meadows. This area was burned in the 2017 Blanket Creek Fire but the spring is still running, the meadow is still green, and there are good tent sites on the flat area around where the old cabin stood (It was lost to fire in 2017). You should get water here in anticipation of a long stretch of dry trail ahead.
-<b>NOTE: There are no reliable (perennial) water sources between here and the Thomas homestead.  Be prepared to carry water if you plan to camp along Panther Ridge.</b>
+{6.8} The Halifax Trail #1088 junctions with the McKie Camp Trail #1089, but the 2017 fire had badly damaged the start of the southbound (rehabilitated) portion of the McKie Camp Trail (The northbound portion has not been restored.).  But the southbound McKie crosses the slope above the old cabin site, so just go east upslope until you intersect the faint tread that remains.  The further south you go, the easier it is to follow the McKie Camp Trail.
-{5.9} Leave the old road for a trail to the left
+{9.8} Reach a signed junction with the PCT just west of Maude Mountain. Go south on the PCT.
-{6.5} Trail joins with another old road (BLM Road 32-11-25.1)
+{12.0} Pass a signed junction for the Middle Fork Basin Trail, which leads to Ranger Spring, one of the only reliable (perennial) water sources between here and the Seven Lakes Basin.  Visiting the spring will add 1.6 miles to your trip.
-{7.2} Arrive at gravel FR 230; go left on the road for several hundred feet to the Buck Point Trailhead and the unsigned start of the Panther Ridge Trail #1253
+{12.1} Pass a signed junction with the Sevenmile Marsh Trail #3703 which goes about 2 miles to the Sevenmile Marsh Trailhead on the east side of the wilderness.
-{8.0} Panther Creek Camp, stream that probably dries up sometime in the spring.  If this stream is dry, go back to mile 7.3, then down the road which goes along Buck Creek which has water later in the season.
+{14.3} Cross Honeymoon Creek, a possible source of water and campsite along this stretch of the PCT.
-{8.9} Unsigned junction with the spur trail to Hanging Rock - mileage from here on assumes you visited the Rock
+{14.9} Reach signed junction with the northern end of the Seven Lakes Trail #981. You have the option here of continuing on the PCT (up to the left) or following the #981 right and down to Grass and Middle Lakes (popular weekend destinations).
-{9.2} Pass a poorly signed junction with a side trail (#1113 or #1253-A) coming in from the Hanging Rock Trailhead; continue straight-ahead (west)
+{15.7} If you elect to stay on the PCT, you'll reach a signed junction with the Cliff Lake Trail #983. Turn right (south) here.
-{12.4} Sign and faint trail going north to Panther Camp Meadow
+{16.0} A junction with the southern end of the Seven Lakes Trail #981. Continue on the #981 past Cliff Lake (some excellent campsites here).
-{14.5} Junction with the spur trail to Clay Hill Trailhead and then soon thereafter a well-signed junction with the Clay Hill Trail #1160A
+{16.4} South Lake (some excellent campsites here).
-{17.1} Thomas homestead is on a short use trail to the right.  <b>This is also your first source of reliable water since leaving the West Fork Mule Creek.</b>  There are two streams visible from trail.
+{17.4} Signed junction with the Alta Lake Trail #979. Turn right (north) here and follow the trail past Alta Lake (good campsites on Violet Hill) and on down Gopher Ridge.
-{18.2} Junction with the Rogue River Trail #1160 near Clay Hill Creek - an excellent source of water
+(19.0} Pass Boulder Pond (may be complelely dry by late summer).
-{19.0} Tate Creek - reliable water and one small backpacker campsite
+{19.9} Pass a signed junction with the King Spruce Trail #980.
-{21.1} Brushy Bar campsites - large, level sites; bear boxes; pit toilets; creek water; river access possible
+{20.4} Reach a signed junction with the upper (southern) end of the Middle Fork Trail #978. Turn right (east) and descend this trail. You will lose almost 2,000 vertical feet in a long series of switchbacks, interspersed with few, very few, level spots.  The first half of the journey down is on excellent trail, while the lower half is on rocky but otherwise good trail.
-{21.3} Brushy Bar Guard Station; Devils Backbone Trail #1162 sign
+{21.8} Reach the canyon bottom and start descending along (but not near) the Middle Fork. Some navigation will be required to follow the #978 from here back to its junction with the Halifax Trail. The trail may first be obscured by low-growing vegetation and sometimes crossed by trees felled by winter. Then there will be a delightfully open stretch under the forest canopy, and then the trail becomes vague again as it enters the area of the 2008 fire. Navigate through this section largely by looking for the cut ends of logs that marked where trail work had been performed.
-{24.1} Paradise Bar & Lodge (cold sodas and beer available for sale)
+{24.4} Arrive back at the junction with the Halifax Trail.
-{25.3} Blossom Bar - excellent campsites with easy river access; creek water
-{27.1} Mule Creek Canyon
-{29.2} Arrive back at Tucker Flat
+{27.8} Arrive back at the Middle Fork Trailhead.
 === Maps ===
-{{Hikemaps|latitude=42.725893|longitude=-123.875141}}
+{{Hikemaps|latitude=42.7249|longitude=-122.3022}}
 {{TripReports|{{PAGENAME}}}}
-* [https://vanmarmot.org/2017/06/22/wild-rogue-loop-backpack-2022-jun-2017/  Wild Rogue Loop Backpack 20/22-Jun-2017]
+* [https://vanmarmot.org/2018/06/16/rogue-wolf-loop-sky-lakes-wilderness-14-15-jun-2018/  Rogue Wolf Loop Backpack 14/15-Jun-2018]
 {{RelatedDiscussions|{{PAGENAME}}}}
 === Guidebooks that cover this destination ===
+* ''100 Hikes / Travel Guide: Southern Oregon & Northern California'' by William L. Sullivan (Fourth Edition (2017), Hikes #132, #133, #134)
-* ''100 Hikes / Travel Guide: Southern Oregon & Northern California'' by William L. Sullivan (Fourth Edition (2017), Hike #84)
 === More Links ===
+* [http://www.siskiyoumountainclub.org/ Siskiyou Mountain Club]
-* [http://www.siskiyoumountainclub.org/wilderness/wild-rogue/ Siskiyou Mountain Club]
+* [https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recreation/recarea/?recid=69802 Middle Fork Trail #978]
-* [https://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/files/brochures/Grave_Creek_to_Marial_BCB.pdf Directions to Tucker Flat from Galice]
+* [https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recreation/recarea/?recid=69662 Alta Lake Trail #979]
-* [https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recreation/recarea/?recid=69552 Mule Creek South Trailhead]
+* [https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recreation/recarea/?recid=69874 Seven Lakes Trail #981]
-* [https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recarea/?recid=69548 Mule Creek Trail #1159 (BLM)]
+* [https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recarea/?recid=69426 Middle Fork Basin Trail #1077 - to Ranger Spring]
-* [https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recreation/recarea/?recid=70080 Buck Point Trailhead]
+* [https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recarea/?recid=69422 McKie Camp Trail #1089]
-* [https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recarea/?recid=70076 Panther Ridge Trail #1253]
-* [https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recarea/?recid=70084 Hanging Rock Trailhead]
-* [https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recreation/recarea/?recid=70082 Clay Hill Trailhead]
-* [https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recarea/?recid=69474 Clay Hill Trail #1160A]
-* [https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recreation/recarea/?recid=69636 Rogue River Trail #1160]
-* [https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recreation/recarea/?recid=69476 Devils Backbone Trail #1162]
 === Page Contributors ===
 * [[User:VanMarmot|VanMarmot]] (creator)

Difference between revisions of "Rogue Wolf Loop Hike"

Difference between revisions of "Rogue Wolf Loop Hike"

From Oregon Hikers Field Guide

Revision as of 02:32, 18 October 2018

Contents

Hike Description

Maps

Trip Reports

Related Discussions / Q&A

Guidebooks that cover this destination

More Links

Page Contributors