Upper Rogue Trail: Natural Bridge

July 31, 2016

As July was coming to an end, we decided to squeeze in one more hike before the month of August arrived with it's typical hot temperatures and wildfire smoke.  So off to the Union Creek area we drove about the time the Bybee fire near Crater Lake started. Yup, August is a comin'.

TIme for another hike

The Upper Rogue trail spans 41 miles from Prospect to the Mt Mazama rest stop and for the most part follows the Rogue River through calm and fast waters.  We have hiked serveral portions, but today we wanted to hike the section from the Natural Bridge parking lot towards the Big Bend TH.  It would be a oneway trip of 7 miles, 14 for an out and back.  We decided to try and hike halfway, take a break and then return.  That was our plan.....

One of our first views of the Rogue River....beautiful!

One of the calm water sections 

We began by hiking the Rogue Gorge trail from the parking lot which took us along the outskirts of the Natural Bridge campground.  Since we started early, we could smell the morning campfires and even the hint of bacon being cooked for breakfast.  But we continued on and did not crash anyone's campsite.

Bridge crossing just above the Natural Bridge campground

Eventually we crossed the Rogue River via a bridge and connected with the Upper Rogue trail to continue our hike.  The river was still very full and made for some beautiful small waterfalls and fast water, especially in some of the areas created by collaspsed lava tubes courtesy of Mt Mazama.

One of the collasped lava tube areas

Small waterfall below the lava tube area

Another beautiful cascade on the Rogue River

As we progressed along the trail, the trail itself became "less maintained" shall we say.  We encounted a couple of downed trees, then overgrowth along the trail, followed by a very overgrown meadow where tht trail had only been maintained by the local cow population.  It is a scary thing to step along a trail you cannot see and know that cows have been there too.....it is only a matter of time till you step on what those cows left behind.  Of course the overgrowth on the trail was especially tough on Katie, since she is only a few feet above the ground!  So when the trail disappeared in the overgrowth which was above our heads, we stopped and turned around.  Just take a look and see if  you can find the trail below!

Where oh where did the trail go???

On our return leg we did stop at a spot we had seen earlier where a rocky flat area meets the river.  We got to enjoy great views up and down the river and Katie even took a few quick dips.

Panoramic view of our break area next to the river

When we came to the bridge that we had crossed earlier, we continued on the Upper Rogue trail which took us by the Natural Bridge viewing area and eventually to the parking lot.  The Natural Bridge Falls just below the Natural Bridge area was very full of water and beautiful.

The Rogue River exiting from under the Natural Bridge

The Natural Bridge Falls

We didn't hike as far as we wanted to, but were still treated to great views of the beautiful Rogue River.  And we didn't even notice the smoke from the Bybee fire.  Hopefully that is an omen for hiking in August.

Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol