Siskiyou National Forest Trekking and Backpacking Overview

Crater Lake, Siskiyou National Forest (Paul Souders/Digital Vision/Getty)

Trekking and Backpacking Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Travel Tips

The 48-mile-long Upper Rogue National Recreation Trail parallels the river along its course through the park. In the fall, brilliant reds and golds of vine maple, dogwood, and alder contrast beautifully with the green conifers.
At Rogue Gorge the river carves its way through a 20-foot-wide chasm. Short interpretive trails at both Rouge Gorge and Natural Bridge provide views of the river's unique geology and hydrology.
For huckleberry picking, the peak season is usually early to mid-September. The Robinson Butte area is one of the more popular berry-picking locations. Look for huckleberries on south-southeast slopes in fairly open areas.

The Forest contains over 600 miles of trails that are designed to accommodate a variety of trail use ranging from hikers to horse riders. The elevation changes range from 60 feet near Lobster Creek Campground to 7,022 feet at Grayback Mountain near the Oregon Caves National Monument.

Two trails to note are the Upper Rogue River Trail and the Illinois Trail. The 42-mile Upper Rogue River Trail follows the scenic Rogue River, offering the hiker many picturesque vistas and wildlife viewing opportunities. The 27-mile Illinois River Trail is a wildflower lover's paradise from mid-spring into the summer months. The trail also offers outstanding scenic qualities.

Please check with the nearest Ranger District office to verify current trail conditions. They can also tell you which trails can accommodate mountain bikes and areas to avoid that may contain downed trees or other trail debris.

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Last Updated: 11 Oct 2011
Published: 29 Apr 2002
The details, dates, and prices mentioned in this article were accurate at the time of publication.