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

Rogue River Greenway - Rivers Edge Trail

December 11, 2016

With all the recent rains, fighting illnesses, and Glenn's busy time at work, we haven't got out to hike as often as we would like, but we hit the 300 mile mark for the third year in a row when we hiked the Rogue River Greenway and Rivers Edge Trail at theValley of the Rogue State Park.

Time for another hike!!

We parked in the Valley of the Rogue Rest Area and walked down to the paved Rogue River Greenway to begin our hike.  We hiked along the Greenway towards the State Park till we came to the intersection with the Rivers Edge Trail off to the left..  We have hiked this trail many times and enjoy the fact that you hike along the Rogue River and get treated to many views as well as access trails down to the rivers edge.  On our hike today we were treated to views of three Blue Herons along the shore, but were unable to get a real good picture.

HIking along the Rogue River Greenway

Can you see the Blue Heron across the river?  Rivers edge in front of the second tree acorss the river.

Beavers are still busy this time of year!

After about a mile, the Rivers Edge Trail rejoins the Rogue River Greenway and heads outside the State Park  boundaries and towards the town of Rogue River and Grants Pass.  Today we hiked almost to Rogue River before turning around and retaracing out steps back to the rest stop and our car.

Autumn leaves are gone, but still pretty.

Along the way we were treated to views of the river, some nice foreested sections, and a display of multiple rock cairns alongside the trail.  We did meet a few other hikers out today and some folks bicycling the Greenway despite the cold and cloudy weather.

One the many birdhouses along the Greenway

Scary beaver mile marker!

One of the carins along the Greenway

The hardest part about today's hike was hiking next to the campground at the State Park and smelling the campfires, wishing we could join some folks at their campsite!!  It was great to get out again and as mentioned earlier, to get to the 300 mile mark.

300 MILES written out on the Greenway!!

The fast, high and murky Rogue River

There are still a few weeks left in the year and we are hoping to get out and hike a few more times to add to the mileage total.  Then it will be 2017 and time to start over again on a whole new set of hiking adventures and miles.  We can hardly wait!

Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol