Difference between revisions of "Wild Rogue Loop Hike"

Revision as of 15:43, 25 May 2018

Campsite in upper West Fork Mule Creek (B. Hope)

Hanging Rock (B. Hope)

Meadow and old fruit trees at Thomas homestead (B. Hope)

Rogue River Trail upstream of Clay Hill Creek (B. Hope)

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

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 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. These creek crossings can be very dangerous or impassable during high water! 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.

{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

{8.0} 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.

{8.9} Unsigned junction with the spur trail to Hanging Rock - mileage from here on assumes you visited the Rock

{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)

{12.4} Sign and faint trail going north to Panther Camp Meadow

{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

{17.1} Thomas homestead is on a short use trail to the right. This is also your first source of reliable water since leaving the West Fork Mule Creek. There are two streams visible from trail.

{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; creek water; river access possible

{21.3} Brushy Bar Guard Station; Devils Backbone Trail #1162 sign

{24.1} Paradise Bar & Lodge (cold sodas and beer available for sale)

{25.3} Blossom Bar - excellent campsites with easy river access; creek water

{27.1} Mule Creek Canyon

{29.2} Arrive back at Tucker Flat

Maps

Maps: Hike Finder

Trip Reports

Search Trip Reports for Wild Rogue Loop Hike

Wild Rogue Loop Backpack 20/22-Jun-2017

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)

Page Contributors

VanMarmot (creator)

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 [[Category:Wild Rogue Wilderness]]
 [[Category:Moderate Hikes]]
-[[Category:River Hikes]]
+[[Category:Creek Hikes]]
-[[Category:Oregon History]]
+[[Category:Historic Sites]]
 [[Category:Wilderness Hikes]]
 [[Category:Hikes]]
-[[Image:BL blue lake.JPG|thumb|400px|Blue Lake ''(B. Hope)'']]
+[[Image:Camp 1.JPG|thumb|400px|Campsite in upper West Fork Mule Creek ''(B. Hope)'']]
-[[Image:BL waldo.JPG|thumb|400px|Judge Waldo Tree at Island Lake'' (B. Hope)'']]
+[[Image:Hanging Rock.JPG|thumb|500px|Hanging Rock'' (B. Hope)'']]
-[[Image:BL island lake.JPG|thumb|400px|Island Lake ''(B. Hope)'']]
+[[Image:Thomas Homestead.JPG|thumb|300px|Meadow and old fruit trees at Thomas homestead ''(B. Hope)'']]
-[[Image:BL map.JPG|thumb|400px|Map of the Waldo Tree hike ''(B. Hope)'']]
+[[Image:Rogue River.JPG|thumb|300px|Rogue River Trail upstream of Clay Hill Creek ''(B. Hope)'']]
-{{Start point|Blue Canyon Trailhead}}
+{{Start point|Mule Creek South Trailhead}}
-* End point: [[Blue Canyon Trailhead]]
+* End point: [[Mule Creek South Trailhead]]
 * Trail Log:
 * Hike Type: Loop
 {{Distance|29.2 miles}}
-{{Elevation gain|1,500 feet}}
+{{Elevation gain|3,700 feet}}
-* High Point: 6,388 feet
+* High Point: 3,800 feet
 {{Difficulty|Moderate}}
-* Seasons: Summer, Fall
+* Seasons: Spring & Fall are best; can be too hot in summer
-* Family Friendly: Yes
+* Family Friendly: No
 * Backpackable: Yes
 * Crowded: No
 === Hike Description ===
-Congress designated the Sky Lakes Wilderness in 1984 and it now covers 113,849 acres. It stretches along the crest of the volcanic Cascade Mountains from the border of Crater Lake National Park on the north to State Highway 140 in the south, and includes three major lake (former glacial) basins: Seven Lakes, Sky Lakes, and Blue Canyon. From the rugged summit of Mount McLoughlin (9,495’) in at its southern end, this wilderness extends northward into an area of broad plateau-like ridges, dotted with many lakes. With its numerous lakes, easy to moderate elevation changes, generally good trails, and plethora of campsites, this wilderness is an ideal backpacking and dayhiking destination.
+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 hike takes you on a tour of the Blue Lake (or Canyon) Basin.  '''Caution: While the trails themselves are generally very easy to follow, their naming and numbering schemes can be a bit confusing - so trust the trail and your map, not necessarily the numbers.'''
+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.
-From the trailhead, descend the Blue Canyon trail (#976 on the USFS website, #982 on the map) past Round, Blue, Horseshoe, and Pear Lakes to its junction with the Red Lake trail (#987).  About 0.4 miles before this junction, there is an unsigned trail to the left (toward the lake) leading to the Judge Waldo Tree.
+{0.0} Tucker Flat – Mule Creek Trail #1159 Trailhead
-Judge J.B. Waldo was an early voice for conservation of the Cascade forests. In 1888, during an extended journey along the Cascades, the Judge carved an inscription in a tree on the shores of Island Lake - one of several trees he inscribed in the Cascades. The tree is located on the south shore of the lake and is accessible via a short unsigned use trail (now covered by several fallen trees) off of the Blue Canyon trail. The inscribed tree is surrounded by a fence and is obvious once you get within about 50 feet of it.
+{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.
+<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>
+{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
+{8.0} 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.
+{8.9} Unsigned junction with the spur trail to Hanging Rock - mileage from here on assumes you visited the Rock
+{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)
+{12.4} Sign and faint trail going north to Panther Camp Meadow
+{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
+{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.
+{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; creek water; river access possible
+{21.3} Brushy Bar Guard Station; Devils Backbone Trail #1162 sign
+{24.1} Paradise Bar & Lodge (cold sodas and beer available for sale)
+{25.3} Blossom Bar - excellent campsites with easy river access; creek water
+{27.1} Mule Creek Canyon
+{29.2} Arrive back at Tucker Flat
-After viewing the tree, continue to the Red Lake trail and follow it south for 0.2 miles to a junction with the PCT and the Long Lake / Badger Lake trail (#3758).  Then go south on the PCT for 2.1 miles to its junction with the Cathill Way trail (#992) and follow that trail uphill (northwest) back to the trailhead in 3.5 miles.  About 1.5 miles from the PCT, you'll come to a poorly signed junction with the Meadow Lake trail (also numbered #976) heading downhill.  Don't go down - the Cathill Way trail stays on or near the ridgeline all the way back to the trailhead.
 === Maps ===
-{{Hikemaps|latitude=42.52938|longitude=-122.29718}}
+{{Hikemaps|latitude=42.725893|longitude=-123.875141}}
 {{TripReports|{{PAGENAME}}}}
-* [http://www.oregonhikers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=22263  Judge Walso Tree Loop 22-Jul-2015]
+* [https://vanmarmot.org/2017/06/22/wild-rogue-loop-backpack-2022-jun-2017/  Wild Rogue Loop Backpack 20/22-Jun-2017]
-* [http://www.oregonhikers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=22632  Sky Lakes Wilderness Recap 14-Sep-2015]
 {{RelatedDiscussions|{{PAGENAME}}}}
 === Guidebooks that cover this destination ===
-* ''Hiking Southern Oregon'' by Art Bernstein and Zach Urness (2014 Edition, Hike #45)
-* ''100 Hikes in Southern Oregon'' by William L. Sullivan (Third Edition, Hike #46)
+* ''100 Hikes / Travel Guide: Southern Oregon & Northern California'' by William L. Sullivan (Fourth Edition (2017), Hike #84)
 === More Links ===
-* [http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recreation/recarea/?recid=69680 USFS #976 Blue Canyon Trail]
+* [http://www.siskiyoumountainclub.org/wilderness/wild-rogue/ Siskiyou Mountain Club]
-* [http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recarea/?recid=69424 USFS Meadow Lake Trail]
+* [https://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/files/brochures/Grave_Creek_to_Marial_BCB.pdf Directions to Tucker Flat from Galice]
-* [http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recarea/?recid=69436 USFS #987 Red Lake Trail]
+* [https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recreation/recarea/?recid=69552 Mule Creek South Trailhead]
-* [http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recarea/?recid=69402 USFS #992 Cat Hill Way Trail]
+* [https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recarea/?recid=69548 Mule Creek Trail #1159 (BLM)]
-* [http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/fremont-winema/recarea/?recid=60105 USFS #3709 South Rock Creek Trail]
+* [https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recreation/recarea/?recid=70080 Buck Point Trailhead]
-* [http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/fremont-winema/recarea/?recid=60003 USFS #3759 Badger Lake Trail]
+* [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 "Wild Rogue Loop Hike"

Difference between revisions of "Wild Rogue Loop Hike"

From Oregon Hikers Field Guide

Revision as of 15:43, 25 May 2018

Contents

Hike Description

Maps

Trip Reports

Related Discussions / Q&A

Guidebooks that cover this destination

More Links

Page Contributors