After a few years, we introduced a new hike to the Monday AHG.

First, how to get there: from Ashland, head up N I-5 to Exit 55, Grant's Pass. The exit through town becomes Highway 199, which you remain on until you're 3 miles past Selma, then take a right at the 8 Dollar Mountain Road and go one mile to a right up to the $8 Mountain Botanical Wayside.

The hike starts here, 60 miles from Ashland, as we leave our backpacks behind to explore the native flowers just down from the raised boardwalk. The wildflowers are all special, having adapted to growing in the harsh serpentine soil.

The stars of the plant show are at the end of the boardwalk, first the fragrant Azaleas, then growing in the fen marsh at the very end are the Darlingtonias, or California Pitcher Plants, or Corba Lilies, whichever name you choose

The level boardwalk is only about half a mile round-trip. Then we drive back down across $8 Road to the parking area for the TH for the Jeffrey Pine Loop Trail. This is also part of the botanical area and eventually our way down to the Illinois River. Note: the serpentine trails are at times rocky, so be sure to bring your hiking poles.

The JPLT descends from parking to about 40 feet above the river with flowers spaced out along the way. After about a mile, you come to a posted sign for the Little Falls Loop Trail. You continue on this trail down to the river for lunch. On the way down, if you're lucky, you might find the shrub for the rare California Lady Slippers blooming in May.

There will be many flowers with similar names to those you find in Jackson County. Still, because these flowers have adapted to growing in nitrogen-lacking serpentine soil, they may be smaller or a different shade of color unique to this region.

By lunch, we had made our way down to view Little Falls, which is a wash similar to Rainie Falls on the Lower Rogue River. Two channels squeeze the river into white-water rapids, spilling over uplifted boulders.

We had our group picture taken with the river in the background, then headed back up to the parking.