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Vulcan Lake
Directions: From US Highway 101, turn east onto County Road 784 (North Bank Road) immediately north of the Chetco River bridge. Continue past Loeb State Park to a bridge over the South Fork Chetco River. Beyond the narrow turn right onto Road 1909; continue on this for some time. Follow Spur 260 to the end of the road to the Johnson Butte Trailhead.
Length: 1.4 miles
The Hike: The trail takes you to a sparkling blue-green body of water at the foot of Vulcan Peak. This is a great spot for a picnic or camping if you feel up to it.
Dunlop Trail
Directions: From Interstate 5, take exit 14 and drive east on Highway 66 to Dead Indian Memorial Highway. Turn left on to Peak Road (just past Lily Glen Horse Camp). Turn left onto the Shell Peak road and stay to the right at the first fork in the road and you will soon come up to the National Forest Boundary (approximately 1.6 miles since leaving Dead Indian Highway). Once on the National Forest the Shell Peak road is #2500100 follow it another 5 miles to the trailhead on the right.
Length: 1.5 miles
The Hike: The Dunlop Trail takes you past some beautiful meadows, an interesting old homestead site, and some of the oldest Ponderosa Pines you will ever see. The trail ends in the canyon of South Fork of Little Butte Creek.
Azalea Lake
Directions: From Gold Beach go northeast on County Road #595 to Forest Service Road #33 to Forest Service Road #3347, travel one mile on Road #3347 to trailhead.
Length: 1.4 miles
The Hike: This trail is maintained annually. It follows an old harvest area along a logging road. The road is the basis of the trail. There are two short stretches of the trail which are very steep. At the top, the trail reaches Azalea Lake.
Oregon Caves National Monument
Directions: From Cave Junction, turn south on Hwy 46 (Chevron station is on the corner) and follow this road for 20 miles to the monument. All trails are accessible from there.
Length: Varies
The Hike: Hiking through the caves themselves mean paying a fee: $8 for adults, $5.50 for children. There are also a number of hikes to take within the Oregon Caves National Monument: the Big Tree Trail, which begins at the Chalet and is a 3 mile loop which takes hikers through beautiful scenery, mountain meadows, and past the largest Douglas Fir tree in Oregon; No-Name Trail, which has two short branch trails which lead to two waterfalls on No Name creek; and Cliff Nature Trail, from which most of the monument valley can be seen. All are great options for the day.
Diamond Lake
Directions: From Highway 138, follow the signs to Diamond Lake. Once there, look for the Dellenback trailhead—the trail the goes around the lake.
Length: 11.5 mile loop
The Hike: This loop trail is paved and takes you all of the way around Diamond Lake, offering gorgeous views of Mt. Thielsen and Mt. Bailey. You can also choose to rent boats at Diamond Lake Resort, or go swimming in the Lake, or have a picnic on the lakeshore—there are many options.
Four Mile Lake-Squaw Lake Trail
Directions: From Klamath Falls, travel west on Highway 140 toward Lake of the Woods. Turn right (north) onto Fourmile Lake Road (Forest Service Rd. 3661). There is a sign for the lake on the Highway. It is about 6 miles to the lake on an improved dirt (cinder) road which is only passable during the summer and early fall. Bear to the left on the campground road and you’ll reach the trailhead.
Length: 5 miles
The Hike: The hike loops past Four Mile Lake, the smaller Squaw Lake, and gives the hiker a stunning view of Mt. McLoughlin, which was renamed in 1905 in honor of John McLoughlin.
Beaver Dam Trail
Directions: From Interstate 5, take exit 14 and drive east on Highway 66 for 1/2 mile to Dead Indian Highway. Turn left onto Dead Indian Highway and follow for 22 miles to the junction with Forest Road #37 (Big Elk Road). Turn left onto Road #37 and proceed 1.5 miles to Daley Creek Campgrounds. There are two entrances to the campground you can access the trailhead from either driveway.
Length: 2.1 miles
The Hike: The Beaver Dam Trail offers an opportunity to leisurely explore the edge between two different types of habitat; streamside and forest. The setting is the confluence of three small creeks, which drains the southern Dead Indian Plateau. Beaver Dam Creek, Daley Creek and Deadwood Creek flow lazily through an area of grassy banks, false hellebore, and Beaver ponds.
Soda Springs Trail
Directions: From Interstate 5, take exit 14 and drive east on Highway 66 to Dead Indian Memorial highway. Turn left on to Dead Indian Memorial highway and go 13.5 miles to Conde Creek Road (paved). Turn left on to Conde Creek Road and go 11.3 miles to the junction with South Fork Little Butte Creek Road. Turn right and go approx. 3.8 miles to a small turnout on the right just before the entrance to Camp Latgawa. There is parking for 2-3 cars.
Length: 2.5 miles
The Hike: This is a steep climb—only for older kids. A stroll along Dead Indian Creek takes you past several mineral springs and traces of an elaborate rockwork fountain built here ca. 1935.
Pilot Rock
Directions: From I-5 (south of Ashland), get off the freeway at exit 5 (just north of the Oregon/California border). Head towards Mount Ashland, but rather than continuing up the Mount Ashland Road, go under the freeway and continue south on Frontage Road. Turn left up a gravel road about 1 mile from the I-5 overpass. Bear right at every cross road and you will reach the base of Pilot Rock in about 2 miles.
Length:
The Hike: This is definitely a hike for older kids: you must get yourself up a six-foot sheer surface. After that is done, the hike is easy and takes you straight to the top of Pilot Rock, where you can view the Siskiyous, Mt. Ashland, and the greater Rogue River Valley.
Mt. McLoughlin
Directions: From Highway 140, follow the signs to the Mt. McLoughlin trailhead.
Length: 5.5 miles
The Hike: This trails cuts through rocky terrain upwards to the summit of Mt. McLoughlin. Mt. McLoughlin is the highest peak in the Cascade range between Three Sisters and Mt. Shasta, and from the summit you will get a panoramic view of Southern Oregon and Northern California.
Mt. Ashland
Directions: From I-5 (south of Ashland) follow the signs to Mt. Ashland
Length: Varies
The Hike: During the winter, Mt. Ashland functions as a ski resort, but during the summer—once the snow is gone—the hike to the summit can be quite enjoyable as well. From the summit, you get a beautiful view of the surrounding area.
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