Anderson Camp Trail #1075

Recommended Use:Hiking, horseback riding
Length: 0.8 Miles
Difficulty: Difficult
Season: June through October
Level of Use: Light
Elevation: Begins 4280' (Trailhead) - Ends 5400 (Divide Trail)
Connecting Trail: Rogue-Umpqua Divide Trail

This short trail offers spectacular views of the Rogue-Umpqua river drainages, and such prominent peaks as the Crater Lake Rim, Mt. McLoughlin and Elephant Head. Beginning on Forest Road #6515, the trail begins a steep 3/4 mile climb to the Rogue-Umpqua Divide, passing through a series of small mountain meadows. As the trail nears the top, the tread may be difficult to follow through the large meadows. The trail continues along the east side of a small pond and heads uphill in a northwest direction to Anderson Camp, just below the crest of Anderson Mountain. The trail ends at the junction with the Rogue-Umpqua Divide Trail #1470.

For those wishing to extend this hike for more panoramic views, continue north on the Rogue-Umpqua Divide trail for 2 miles.

Anderson Camp was a popular sheepherders camp at the turn-of-the century. The name Anderson Camp commemorates an early sheepman who used this area, Frank Anderson.

Access: From Prospect Ranger station, travel north on Hwy. 62 for 6 miles to Forest road #68. Turn left and continue for 3 miles to the junction with Forest road 6510. Turn right and continue 5.8 miles to Forest Road #6515. Turn right onto road #6515 and proceed 6.3 miles to the Anderson Camp Trailhead on the left.

Recommended Use:Hiking, mountain biking
Length: 5.5 Miles
Difficulty: Difficult
Season: June through October
Level of Use: Light
Elevation: 2000' (Road 6620-050) - 4200' (Road 6640)

The Bitterlick Trail is a fun hike for a hot summer day. The hiker must wade across the creek at least 7 times during the length of the trail. For this reason, this hike is not recommended for young children, or for the early spring or late fall when there is high water in the creek. Given the steepness of the trail, it is best to hike the trail south from Access #1 to Access #2. Leave a second vehicle at Access #2.

Starting on Forest road #6640, the trail drops steeply for the first mile down to Bitterlick Creek. From here, the trail follows and crisscrosses Bitterlick Creek. Vegetation is lush along the creek. Old-growth Douglas-fir, sugar pine and incense-cedar are found here along with dogwood, hazel, big leaf maple and vine maple.

Bitterlick Creek was named in the late 19th century by Elk Creek ranchers for the presence of a mineral lick found along this stream.

Access #1 (Upper Trailhead): From Prospect, travel south on Hwy. 62 for 19 miles to the Elk Creek road. Turn right, and continue 14 miles to Forest road #66. Turn left and proceed for 4 miles to the end of the pavement. Continue on road #6640 for another 4 miles to the trailhead, located on the left.

Access #2 (Lower Trailhead): From Prospect, travel south on Hwy. 62 for 19 miles to Elk Creek road. Turn right, and continue for 13 miles to the junction with road #6620. Turn left, and go 1.5 miles to the junction with road #6620-050. This road is not recommended for passenger cars. Park at the junction and hike to the trailhead.

Recommended Use:Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding
Length: 2.6 Miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Season: May through October
Level of Use: Light
Elevation: 6200' (Forest Road #6205) - 5940' (At the springs)

The Cold Springs Trail begins by traveling through a logged over area. Beyond that, the trail passes through a series of dry meadows, separated by stands of Shasta red fir. Wildflowers are abundant in early summer, including Indian paintbrush, dwarf lupine, and larkspur. The early morning hiker may see deer grazing in the meadows.

One mile from the trailhead is Paul Bunyon's grave. The grave, located on the north side of the trail, is a large pile of loose rock marked by a porcelain sign.

The trail may be difficult to follow across the meadows. Cairns (piled rocks) mark the way across the meadows, while tree blazes can be found in the forested parts of the trail. We recommend that you carry your own water. The springs are not a reliable water source due to livestock in the area.

Folklore indicates that Red Blanket Creek and Mountain were named in the early 1860's after a white man purchased a large parcel of land from a group of Indians for "one red blanket". The name may have also commemorated a 19th century Klamath chief who was known to the whites as "Red Blanket".

Access: From Prospect, travel east on the Prospect Butte Falls Hwy. for 1 mile and turn left onto Red Blanket road. Travel on Red Blanket road for 0.2 miles to Forest road #6205. Turn left onto road #6205, and proceed 4.5 miles to the junction with road #6205-100. Turn left onto Road 100 and continue 7.7. miles to the trailhead.

Recommended Use:Hiking
Length: 1.1 Miles
Difficulty: Difficult
Season: May through October
Level of Use: Light
Elevation: 4080 ' (Road 3795 - 300) - 3240 ' ( Middle Fork River)

The Geyser Springs Trail was once part of an old Forest Service trail system and telephone line that ran from the Imnaha Guard Station, down the Middle Fork Canyon, up to Bessie Rock Guard Station, and ended at Bessie Rock Lookout. Used for fire watch communications in the 1920's, the telephone line and much of the trail were abandoned in the 1960's.

Beginning on Forest road 300, the trail drops to the Middle Fork of the Rogue River. The springs are located about 1/3 mile from the road, 25 feet below the trail. There is no established trail leading to the springs. However, several small springs and waterfalls can be viewed for those hiking down to the river. Fishing is excellent for native rainbow and brook trout.

Access: From Prospect, drive east on the Prospect-Butte Falls Hwy. for 2.9 miles to the junction with Forest road 37. Turn left onto road 37 and follow for 3.1 miles to Forest road 3795. Continue on road 3795 for 2.7 miles to the junction with Forest road 3795-300. Turn right onto road 300 and go 1.2 miles to the trailhead. This road is gated and closed to vehicles from November 1 -June 15.

Recommended Use:Hiking, horseback riding
Length: 4.3 Miles
Difficulty: Moderate - some steep grades
Season: June through October
Level of Use: Light
Elevation: 3750' (Lower trailhead) - 5350' (Upper trailhead)
Connecting Trail: Rogue-Umpqua Divide Trail

Named in part from the Abbott brothers alleged gold mine in the area, the Golden Stairs Trail traverses the southern ridge of Falcon Butte. The trail passes through several vegetation zones, beginning at the lower end in a mixed conifer and hardwood forest, and ending in a true-fir forest. Before reaching the Rogue-Umpqua Divide, the hiker is offered vistas of the Abbott Creek, Woodruff and Falcon Creek drainages.

Beginning at the lower trailhead, the trail climbs up a rocky ridge for 2.5 miles. Views to the west include Abbott Butte and the rocky face of Elephant Head. The next mile has a gentle uphill grade, passing through open areas that provide vistas of the Crater Lake Rim. The last 1.5 miles wanders through tall timber and rocky openings until it merges with the Rogue-Umpqua Divide Trail. There are no reliable water sources along the trail.

Access #1 (Lower Trailhead): From Prospect Ranger Station, drive north on Hwy. 62 for 6 miles to the junction of Forest road 60. Turn left onto road 68 and continue 5 miles to the junction of Forest road 6800-550. Turn right onto road 550 and follow 3 miles to the trailhead and parking area on the left.

Access #2 (Upper Trailhead): Proceed as above on Hwy. 62. Turn left onto road 68 and travel 2.5 miles to the junction with Forest road 6510, continuing straight ahead, leaving the pavement. Continue 2 miles to Forest road 6510-500. Turn left and follow to the four-way junction of roads 6510-700 and 6510-770. Continue straight ahead on road 700 for 1 mile to Yellow Jacket Camp. Walk south 1 mile on the Rogue-Umpqua Divide Trail to reach the Golden Stairs Trail.

Recommended Use:Hiking, mountain biking
Length: 3.1 Miles
Difficulty: Easy
Season: June through October
Level of Use: Light
Elevation: 3825' (Forest Road #800) - 4400' (Soda Springs)

The Minnehaha Creek crossing was a popular layover site for travelers on the old John Day Trail that passed just north of here at Lake West. Blazed out in the early 1860's by miners and stockmen, this route was used for travel from the Rogue Valley to the newly discovered gold mines in the John Day valley. Reopened in 1910 by the Forest Service, this wagon road became known as the Diamond Lake Road.

The trail begins on an old road for the first 1/2 mile, then gradually narrows as it enters the Minnehaha drainage. The trail passes several beautiful meadows before climbing briefly over pumice bluffs overlooking Minnehaha Creek, offering great views of small waterfalls below. Eroded pumice bluffs and exposed lava rock are evidence of the glowing avalanches of Mt. Mazama ash that covered this area over 6,800 years ago.

The trail continues through a forest of old-growth Douglas-fir, lodgepole pine, and western white pine. An array of plants carpets the forest floor, including wild strawberries, huckleberries, Oregon grape and vanilla leaf. The trail returns to the river's edge just prior to reaching the Soda Springs Trail junction.

Access: From Union Creek Resort, travel north on Hwy. 62 to the junction with Hwy. 230. Travel north on Hwy. 230 for 12 miles to Forest road #6530. Turn right and go 1 mile to the junction with Forest road 6530-800. Follow road #800 0.1 mile to the signed trailhead on the left. Parking is available in the undeveloped camping area on the right.

Recommended Use:Hiking, horseback riding
Length: 3.9 Miles
Difficulty: Easy
Season: June to October
Level of Use: Light
Elevation: Begins 3825' (Hwy. 230) - Ends 4100' (Road 6560)

Beginning at the confluence of Muir Creek and the Rogue River, this trail traverses the west bank of Muir Creek for 3.9 miles. Passing through a forest of Douglas-fir, Pacific silver fir, western white pine, and western hemlock, the trail offers views of high mountain meadows and thickets of box alder along the meandering creek.

The early morning hiker may spot elk and deer grazing in the river meadows. Tiger lilies, columbine, and scarlet gilia are common in the moist open meadows and along the stream banks.

Besides viewing the abundant wildlife in the area, this trail provides opportunities for picnicking, and fishing for cutthroat trout. Huckleberries, blackberries, and strawberries are found towards the north end of the trail. Listen for Muir Creek Falls, approximately 3 miles north of the trailhead.

Water is plentiful along the trail; however, we recommend that you carry your own water. Cattle frequent the area, and water sources could be contaminated. The Muir Creek Trail ends at the Buck Canyon cut-off trail, 1/2 miles from road #6560.

Access: From Prospect, follow Highway 62 north to the junction of Highway 230. Follow Highway 230 north for approximately 10.4 miles, turning into the parking area on the left, just before crossing the Muir Creek bridge. Horse facilities include an unloading ramp and hitching rails.

Recommended Use:Hiking
Length: 0.4 mile
Difficulty: Moderate
Season: June to October
Elevation: Begins 4000' (Road 6530) - Ends 3760' (at the Falls)

This is an excellent day hike for the whole family! The trail descends through a shaded, mixed conifer forest, ending at the base of National Creek Falls. Fed by springs on the pumice flanks of Mt. Mazama, National Creek flows year-round even in drought years. The falls provide a cool, moist oasis in the hot summer heat.

The National Creek drainage was a popular layover site for travelers on the old John Day Trail that passed just north of here at Lake West. Blazed out in the early 1860's by miners and stockmen, this route was used for travel from the Rogue Valley to the newly discovered gold mines in the John Day valley. Reopened in 1910 by the Forest Service, this wagon road became known as the Diamond Lake Road.

Access: From the Union Creek Resort, travel north on Hwy. 62 to the junction of Hwy. 230. Follow Hwy. 230 for 6 miles to Forest Road #6530. Turn right onto road #6530 and continue 3 miles to the junction with Forest Road #6530/300. Turn right and proceed to the parking area and trailhead at the end of the road.

Recommended Use:Hiking
Length: 3.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Season: June through October
Connecting Trails: Union Creek Trail and Upper Rogue River Trail

A 3.5 mile trail guides the hiker to a spectacular view of the Rogue River cascading through a constricted channel of basalt lava. The gorge was formed by the erosive action of the river. The small cave on the west wall of the gorge is the end of a lava tube.

The trail begins at the Natural Bridge Viewpoint parking lot and travels upriver on the east side of the Rogue River. The Upper Rogue River Trail traverses the west side of the river. You pass by Natural Bridge and Union Creek Campgrounds before arriving at the Rogue Gorge, located just off Hwy. 62 north of the Union Creek Resort.

The gorge area offers an interesting display of pothole formations. These smooth depressions were sculpted into solid rock by the continuous spinning of small rocks churned by the swift river currents. They are especially obvious in a section of dry riverbed above the gorge.

A short loop hike is possible by crossing the Rogue River at the Natural Bridge Viewpoint footbridge and following the Upper Rogue River Trail to the Natural Bridge Campground, returning on the Rogue Gorge Trail to Natural Bridge Viewpoint.

Recommended Use:Hiking
Length: 3.1 Miles
Difficulty: Easy (numerous creek crossings)
Season: June through October
Level of Use: Light
Elevation: 2000' (Road 6610); 2400' (Coalmine Creek)

The Sugar Pine Trail is a nice summer hike or an excellent autumn hike to view the changing colors. This hike is not recommended for early spring or late fall when high waterflows make it difficult to cross the creek safely. This hike is not recommended for young children.

The trail follows Sugar Pine Creek for 3.1 miles to its confluence with Coalmine Creek. Vegetation along the trail is lush. Dogwoods and rhododendrons offer brilliant displays of flowers in the early summer. Old-growth Douglas-fir, western hemlock, Pacific yew, and vine maple provide shade in the hot summer days. Sugar Pine Creek pools in many places, providing cool refreshment for your bare feet.

Access: From Prospect, travel south on Hwy. 62 for 19 miles to the Elk Creek road. Turn right and continue northeast for 11.1 miles to the junction with Sugar Pine road. Turn left and continue 2 miles to the junction with Forest road #6610. Turn right onto road #6610, and follow for one mile to road #6610-050. We recommend that you leave your vehicle at this junction since road #6610-050 is not passable for passenger cars. The trailhead is 1/4 mile down this road.

Recommended Use:Hiking
Length: 4.4 Miles
Difficulty: Gentle uphill trend
Season: June through October
Connecting Trail: Rogue Gorge Trail, #1034A

The charm of this trail lies in the diverse beauty of Union Creek and the Douglas-fir forest through which it flows. This 4.4 mile route will appeal to both fishermen and hikers.

Beginning at the footbridge crossing Union Creek at its confluence with the Rogue, the trail runs east through Union Creek Campground, paralleling Union Creek, crosses Hwy. 62 at the resort, and continues on the north bank just past the resort area.

Upstream from the highway, the creek winds along an ever changing channel. Some sections have become dry due to diversion of water caused by the numerous logjams in the creek bed. Log jams can result from timber harvesting, beaver dams, windthrow, and undercutting of tree roots by the stream.

Majestic examples of old-growth Douglas-fir and an abundant variety of flowering herbs and shrubs line the trail. Further upstream, the creek bank is well defined by moss-covered volcanic rock. About 3 miles from the highway, the trail offers a beautiful view of Union Falls just before turning north for a 0.5 mile trek in the forest to the upper trailhead. The trail ends on Forest Road #700, 0.5 mile from its junction with Highway 62.

Recommended Use:Hiking, mountain biking
Length: 3.1 Miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Season: June through October
Level of Use: Light
Elevation: Begins 3600' - Ends 5400'

The Varmint Camp Trail is a pleasant hike or bike ride for a hot summer's day. The trail pass through a thick deciduous forest lined with big-leaf maple, and ends in an old-growth forest of Shasta red fir.

Beginning on Forest Road #6205, the trail climbs gradually for the first 1 mile, traversing Varmint Creek. After crossing the creek, the trail climbs steeply for 1.5 miles through a dense conifer forest. The trail crosses a mountain meadow lined with wild onion. A good display of wildflowers may be seen in this area in mid-summer.

Caution should be exercised if using a motorcycle on this trail. The tread is narrow and rocky in places. The trail ends on Forest Road #830.

Access: From Prospect, follow the Butte Falls-Prospect Hwy. 1 mile to Red Blanket Road Turn left onto Red Blanket Road and go 0.3 mile to Forest Road #6205. Turn left onto Road #6205 and continue 10.5 miles to the trailhead sign. Parking is available for 1-2 vehicles in a turnout directly across from the trailhead.

Move on to Trail Finder: Rogue River National Forest