Storm Ranch Trail System

July 17, 2019

While camping at Bullards Beach SP north of Bandon, we headed out one day to a set of trails called the Storm Ranch Trail System.  The BLM has 4 different access points to what is called the New River Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC).  In addition to the Storm Ranch Trail System, there is the Lost Lake trail, Fourmile Creek trail, and the most popular Floras Lake trail.

Our hike begins along the Ridge trail

The always picturesque coastal tree

A Black Twinberry along the Huckleberry Hill trail.

After a short drive south of Bandon and a few miles on Croft Lake Lane, we came to the Storm Ranch Nature Center and parking lot, complete with restrooms.  We did stop and check out the Nature Center after our hike and it was a nice and informative center with folks to talk with and answer any questions you have.  They also had many displays of the flora and fauna life in the area.

The sign says it all.

Don't know what this flower is - any help?

Where the Ridge and Huckleberry Hill trails meet - soft sand!

Our loop hike consisted of 6 trails, but don't let that scare you.  The total mileage was just under 3 miles and can be hiked as fast or slow as you like with different locations providing benches.  We hiked the loop counterclockwise along North, Ridge, Huckleberry Hill,  Oceanview, West Muddy Lake, and East Muddy Lake trails.

New River

A shaded tunnel of trees on the Oceanview trail

Some hiking was in soft sand (tough hiking) while other portions went through deep shaded forested areas.  The highlight though was the wildlife viewing area at Muddy Lake,  While there we got to see 3 Blue Herons flying around the lake.  A couple of them landed on a nearby tree too.  I'll include a fly-by picture of one Blue Heron, but it is hard to see since it flew by so fast.

Muddy Lake

The wildlife viewing area at Muddy Lake

Good luck.  The Blue Heron is about dead center in the picture - best I could do.

There were a couple of short road hikes within the lopp that connected trails and an area near New River with a bathroom and picnic table that offered a nice spot to relax and take in the views.  So if you get up near Bandon and want to stretch your legs on a short hike but see a lot, try the Storm Ranch Trail System or try one of the other ACEC trails located between Port Orford and Bandon.

Trekking Together
Glenn and Carol

River's Edge Trail and Rogue River Greenway

October 29, 2017

As daylight savings time approaches and autumn colors begin to fade, it was time for one more  hike to enjoy the color and sunshine of autumn.

Time for some hiking along the Rogue River at Valley of the Rogue State Park

We drove highway 99 from Medford to Valley of the Rogue State Park so we could enjoy a last autumn drive only to find that most of our drive was in fog.  As a matter of fact, our entire hike on the River's Edge trail and along the Rogue River Greenway to our turnaround at the Depot Street Bridge was in fog and clouds.

Adding a little excitement for our hike.

Despite the fog, the Rogue River is still beautiful with some autumn color added.

Wooden carved dog at the pet waste box at Depot Street Bridge

Our turnaround spot - Depot Street Bridge

On our return hike though, the fog and clouds burned off and the sun and blue sky took over.

Blue sky and autumn yellow!

View along the Rogue River Greenway

We saw lots of autumn yellow, especially on the River's Edge trail through Valley of the Rogue State Park.

Yellow, yellow, yellow!

View of River's Edge trail covered & surrounded by yellow.

It was a very nice 6.8 mile hike and we enjoyed what will probably be our last autumn hike with color.  Hope you got our to enjoy the season with a walk in the neighborhood, at a park or on a trail.

Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol

Jacksonville Woodland Trails

October 17, 2017

"No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace as I have seen in one autumnal face"
--- John Dunne

After hiking Elk Creek on Sunday, we wanted to get back out and experience Autumn again before it is gone.  So after work we made a quick trip to the Jacksonville Woodland Trails and hiked for a few hours.  Lots of yellow color, blue sky and sunshine!  Also saw turkeys, deer and squirrels.  Katie wanted to chase the squirrels or at least climb the trees after them, but was on leash and prohibited.  No need for any commentary on this hike.....just enjoy the pictures.

Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol

Elk Creek Trail

October 15, 2017

Autumn is so beautiful, yet so short.  With sunshine abounding and no rain in the forecast, we got out once more to see the colors and experience Autumn, this time along the Elk Creek Trail just outside of Shady Cove.

Time to hike!  Check out the Autumn blue sky in the background.

Since the trail is really an old road, we usually hike the Elk Creek Trail either in Spring when the wildflowers are blooming or in Autumn to see the changing of colors. Since this is part of the "peak" color time in Southern Oregon, we were looking forward to an Autumn color show.

A look across the first bridges at the start of our hike

Let the color show begin!

We started our hike at the Yellow Rock TH where there are restrooms, picnic tables and plenty of room for parking.  After crossing the first two bridges, we began hiking along the road where we encountered our first of  many cows on the hike.  It is evident that cows roam freely through this area as you have to keep an eye on the trail to avoid the many cow pies along the way.  But this is the first time we have actually had cows along the trail while hiking. Katie was not sure about them, but they posed no problems for us as they either ran away or just stood and stared at us.

The first group of cows we came across....a mother with twins

At one point along our hike, we actually saw a moving cow pie.....wait, a what?  Oh that's right, it was a turtle (not turdle) that was going across the trail and looked like a moving cow pie.

Our "moving cow pie" turtle

The trail at Elk Creek now has mile marker signs along the way which are new since the last time we hiked.  Those markers do not start till 1.5 miles into the hike.  Not sure why, but maybe they figure if you don't hike at least 1.5 miles you don't care about mileage.

New mile marker signs along the trail - every half mile 

Still some apples on the fruit trees along the trail

We turned off that trail around the 3.5 mile mark and hiked over to the Seven Mile Bend area along the creek where we encountered more cows and took a break.

The cows at Seven Mile Bend area

Looking down stream from Seven Mile Bend

Series of cascades at Seven Mile Bend

We then hiked along to rejoin the road trail at the 4 mile marker and hiked backed to the trailhead.  We did see lots of folks/families on our hike back who were out enjoying the Autumn colors along the trail, in the meadows and in the surrounding hills.

Hoping to get out a few more times before this short season is over.  Be sure to get out and enjoy it too!
One last note -- if you prefer biking, the paved trail at Elk Creek is a wonderful option to get out and enjoy the outdoors.

Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol

Cathedral Hills Park - Wild Rose Loop Rock Hunt

October 6, 2017

It's been such a beautiful Autumn week that after work on Friday we made a mad dash with Katie to Cathedral Hills Park in Grants Pass to get a hike in before it got dark.  We have hiked at Cathedral Hills Park many times with many of those visits including the trails to and around the Wild Rose Loop.  But today's hike was a little different and unique as we came across a pumpkin, hiking boots, and even a skull along the trails.

 

Evidently there is a trend to paint small rocks and then bring them out on the trail and leave them for others to see, take or trade.  We saw a total of 9 rocks on the three trails we hiked and it became a game for us to find them and it made our hike go by quickly.  So for this short posting our pictures are some of our favorite rocks from this hike.  Hope you enjoy and if you get out to Cathedral Hills, maybe you will find some fascinating rocks too.

Be sure to comment on this post and let us know your favorite rock.

Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol