Leave from the Rite Aid parking lot on Ashland Street at 9:00 AM unless otherwise indicated. Bring water, lunch, hat, sunscreen and rain gear as appropriate. TH = trailhead; EDT = estimated drive time; PCT = Pacific Crest Trail; DIM = Dead Indian Memorial Highway. 100 Hikes = 100 Hikes in Southern Oregon, Second Edition
April 4: Castle Crags to Indian Springs via the Flume Trail ( p. 214 in 100 Hikes) Leave at 8:00 AM
TH: South on I-5 to Exit 724, Castella. Right on Castle Creek Road to the state park entrance. Entrance fee is $7 per car for seniors. Park in the lot across from the entrance station behind the island. EDT: 75 minutes. We are going to take the Flume Trail up to the PCT and then the Crags Trail to the Indian Springs vista point below Castle Dome. After lunch we will go back down the Crags Trail to Bob's trail back to the cars. Distance: 9 miles; elevation gain about 2,000' Weather Forecast. RT mileage: 180 miles
April 11: Grizzly Peak
TH: Drive Dead Indian Memorial Highway 7 miles; turn left on Shale City Road and follow Grizzly Peak Trail signs: 3 miles on pavement, 2 miles on dirt. EDT: 30 min
Description: spring flowers should be in full bloom; great views over the Rogue Valley.
Distance: 5 miles; elev. gain: 1,200 feet. Plus an extra: if the weather holds, Frrancie has promised to show us Lost Falls. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 30 mi
April 18: Lower Rogue River Trail: Grave Creek to Alder Creek (p. 189 in 101 Hikes)
TH: Take I-5 north to Merlin (Exit 61); drive thru Merlin and follow Galice Road 19 miles to the far side of the Grave Creek bridge; turn left downhill to boat ramp and TH; EDT: 90 minutes. Description: Follow north rim of Rogue River canyon past Rainie Falls to Alder Creek and back; spectacular scenery, but trail is a little rough in places. You may find poles useful on this hike for both the occasional side stream crossings as well as the rocky up and down trail. Distance: 10 miles; About 2,500' of up on this one; lots of little ups and downs that add up to a good workout. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 150 miles.
April 25: Black Butte (p. 216 in 100 Hikes)
TH: Take the first Mt. Shasta Exit (740). East on Mt. Shasta Boulevard for about 3/4 mile to the first left and then a quick right on Ski Village Drive over to Everitt Memorial Highway. Left on Everitt for 1.6 miles to a left at the Black Butte Trail sign. From there, basically follow the best road at each intersection which is 41N18 (for a map to the TH click HERE). From the turn off of Everitt go 400' to a right. Continue 1 mile to a left for 0.4 miles to a right for 0.9 miles to a final left for 1 mile to the TH. EDT: 90 minutes. Description: switchback your way to the top for spectacular views all the way from the Sacramento Valley to Oregon including Mt. Shasta, Mt. Eddy, Mt. Lassen, Castle Crags, Mt. McLoughlin and the Klamath range. Distance: 5.2 miles RT; 1,925 feet of climbing. Weather Forecast. RT mileage 160 miles.