Grants Pass Area Siskiyous

Trip

Day Hike - Illinois River Valley Botanical Trails (Oregon)

Spectacular abundant spring wildflowers, many rare/endemic, for naturalist & photography interests. Sightings of birds, butterflies, dragonflies, lizards. Leisurely pace.

  • Easy
  • Mileage: 4.0
  • Elevation Gain: 400 ft

8:30am - Rough & Ready Botanical Wayside/Trail parking area (near Cave Junction)

12:30-1pm - Star Flat trailhead (W of Selma, Illinois River Road).

Local directions to Rough & Ready:  On US199 (Redwood Highway) S of Grants Pass, drive 5.2 miles south of Cave Junction.  Just past Illinois Valley Airport entry is a sign identifying wayside and small fenced parking area on right (west) side of highway.

Local directions to Star Flat:  On US199, N of Cave Junction, travel north to Selma.  At flashing yellow light, turn right (west) on Illinois River Road for 3.6 miles.  Small pull-offs on right (north) or left side of road.  Trail is on left (south) side of road.

Extend your Siskiyou wildflower explorations - adding 1 or more naturalist trip days:  April 15 Upper Table Rock; April 16 Lower Table Rock; April 18 Upper Illinois River Valley roadside stops and trails, Eight Dollar Mtn preserve trail, and Limpy Creek or Waters Creek botanical trail; April 19AM Limpy Creek or Waters Creek botanical trail.

Participants are responsible for arranging own accommodations.  Tent/yurt camping (Valley of the Rogue State Park or Josephine County parks) or motel in Grants Pass/Medford/Selma areas.  Leader is camping at Valley of the Rogue State Park.  If you wish to stay at yurt, reserve ASAP.

Before registering, be aware of drive times.  Approx drive time (mod. traffic), add 1+ hr for possible heavy I-5 traffic:  Seattle to Grants Pass/Medford 8-9 hr, Valley of Rogue SP to Selma/Cave Jct 45/55 min.  Carpooling encouraged.

Wildflower photos of Rough & Ready, Star Flat & nearby sites:  www.pnwflowers/photos/april

For info on  Klamath-Siskiyou Serpentines see:  http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/beauty/serpentines/ .  Outstanding info on serpentine geology, plant adaptations, serpentine endemic plant list for this region, plant photos, and more.    We'll be visiting  premier sites recommended for the Oregon Siskiyous.  "The Klamath-Siskiyou Mountains of northwest California and southwest Oregon are the largest serpentine area in North America. "

Books recommended (leader will bring): Oregon's Best Wildflower Hikes: Southwest Region (Horn) for both hikes, Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest (Turner & Gustafson)

If time, consider exploring one or more other special SW Oregon nature destinations for scenic trails, wildflowers, birds & more wildlife, caves & more! - Agate Desert Presere and Jacksonville Woodlands/Beekman Arboretum trails (nr Medford), Upper Rogue River valley (nr Grants Pass), Oregon Caves Nat Mon (nr Cave Jct), Crater Lake Nat Park (snow travel in spring), S. Oregon coast.

Route/Place

Grants Pass Area Siskiyous


Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

The Ten Essentials

  1. Navigation
  2. Sun protection
  3. Insulation (extra clothing)
  4. Illumination
  5. First aid supplies
  6. Fire
  7. Repair kit and tools, including knife
  8. Nutrition (extra food)
  9. Hydration (extra water)
  10. Emergency shelter
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