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]]
@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 [[Image:Camp 1.JPG|thumb|400px|Campsite in upper West Fork Mule Creek ''(B. Hope)'']]
-[[Image:Hanging Rock.JPG|thumb|400px|Hanging Rock'' (B. Hope)'']]
+[[Image:Hanging Rock.JPG|thumb|500px|Hanging Rock'' (B. Hope)'']]
 [[Image:Thomas Homestead.JPG|thumb|300px|Meadow and old fruit trees at Thomas homestead ''(B. Hope)'']]
-[[Image:Rogue River.JPG|thumb|300px|Rogue River upstream of Clay Hill Creek ''(B. Hope)'']]
+[[Image:Rogue River.JPG|thumb|300px|Rogue River Trail upstream of Clay Hill Creek ''(B. Hope)'']]
 {{Start point|Mule Creek South Trailhead}}
@@ 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 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 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.
-The Mule Creek Trail crosses a bridge(42.725893,-123.875141) and winds back down to a wet creek crossing that in high water could be a deal breaker (42.727990,-123.877346). Here the West Fork of Mule Creek braids through a narrow gorge, its crystal waters pool up into long trenches, and spill out over little waterfalls into deep gravel beds.
+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 trail goes up and down again to a second creek crossing, then assumes an ascent through mixed forests, along cliffs and scree slopes, eventually opening up into an old road bed with perennial water around five miles from Tucker Flat, a great campsite.
+{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.
+<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
-Eventually the trail opened to an old road bed (42.752842,-123.901405) and reaches perennial water around five miles from Tucker Flat (42.767147,-123.912778), a great campsite.
-Start hiking up the old road and reach the Buck Point Trailhead (42.755899,-123.931961). From there ascend on Panther Ridge Trail 1253 through untouched forests and take a side hike to Hanging Rock (42.740677,-123.930244). After a quick break at Hanging Rock, continue southwest on 1253, which roller coasters its way through more primeval forests to the Clay Hill Trail 1160A, which is well marked.
 === Maps ===
@@ Line 42: / Line 86: @@
 {{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