On Monday, we gathered at the Boundary Springs TH off Highway 230 at 10:20 for our hike to the source of the Rouge River.

There was an ODOT fire truck at the TH. The three young crew members were checking trail conditions for downed trees and any possible fire starts. after the 2024 Middle Fork fire.

The first part of the hike took us through the remnants of a fire from 7 or 8 years ago. Although the branches were burnt off the mature Lodge Pole Pines, thousands of young saplings have sprung up.

The trail then meanders with the River, down to a creek crossing and up the other side, then down to an auto bridge and back up.

As we neared Bounday Springs, we found a split waterfall roaring down the Rouge. And the near-total devastation from the 2024 Middle Fork fire.

Blackened, branchless pines were everywhere on the surrounding landscape, including our lunch spot where the Springs delivers the fully formed Rouge River beneath our feet.

The intense fire burnt out much of the vegetation, but pink Fireweed grew up between downed trees, and our Nature Photographer found other floral colors.

After the short hike to Boundary Springs, we drove 12 miles down Highway 230 and 4 miles to the left to view National Creek Falls. Just 1 and 1/2 miles down to the Falls. Always spectacular, this roaring split falls was giving off a refreshing, cooling mist in a shaded canyon.

Next Monday, we'll travel to Mt. Eddy and the Deadfall Lakes at 8:00 am from Ashland. The current hike forecast calls for a slight chance of rain with a high of 59 degrees.