Difference between revisions of "Wild Rogue Loop Hike"
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
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{12.4} Sign and faint trail to Panther Camp Meadow | {12.4} Sign and faint trail to Panther Camp Meadow | ||
| − | {14.5} Junction first with the spur trail to Clay Hill Trailhead and then a well-signed junction with the Clay Hill Trail #1160A | + | {14.5} Junction first with the spur trail to Clay Hill Trailhead and then a well-signed junction with the Clay Hill Trail #1160A |
| − | {17.1} Thomas homestead is on a short spur trail to the right. This is also your first source of reliable water since leaving the West Fork Mule Creek. | + | {17.1} Thomas homestead is on a short spur trail to the right. This is also your first source of reliable water since leaving the West Fork Mule Creek. |
| − | {18.2} Junction with the Rogue River Trail #1160 near Clay Hill Creek - an excellent source of water | + | {18.2} Junction with the Rogue River Trail #1160 near Clay Hill Creek - an excellent source of water |
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| + | {19.0} Tate Creek - reliable water and one small backpacker campsite | ||
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| + | {21.1} Brushy Bar campsites - large, level sites; bear boxes; pit toilets; water | ||
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| + | {21.3} Brushy Bar Guard Station; Devils Backbone Trail #1162 sign | ||
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| + | Paradise Lodge | ||
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| + | Blossom Bar | ||
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| + | Mule Creek Canyon | ||
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| + | {29.2} Tucker Flat | ||
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Revision as of 21:05, 24 June 2017
- 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 { }.
{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 (extension of Forest Road 230)
{5.3} Campsites and reliable water in the upper West Fork Mule Creek.
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.
{5.9} Leave the old road for a trail to the left
{6.5} Trail joins with another old road (BLM Road 32-11-25.1)
{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
{8.9} Unsigned junction with the spur trail to Hanging Rock - mileage from here assumes you visit the Rock
{9.2} Pass a poorly signed junction with the trail (#1113 / #1253-A) coming in from the Hanging Rock Trailhead
{12.4} Sign and faint trail to Panther Camp Meadow
{14.5} Junction first with the spur trail to Clay Hill Trailhead and then a well-signed junction with the Clay Hill Trail #1160A
{17.1} Thomas homestead is on a short spur trail to the right. This is also your first source of reliable water since leaving the West Fork Mule Creek.
{18.2} Junction with the Rogue River Trail #1160 near Clay Hill Creek - an excellent source of water
{19.0} Tate Creek - reliable water and one small backpacker campsite
{21.1} Brushy Bar campsites - large, level sites; bear boxes; pit toilets; water
{21.3} Brushy Bar Guard Station; Devils Backbone Trail #1162 sign
Paradise Lodge
Blossom Bar
Mule Creek Canyon
{29.2} Tucker Flat
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)