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Oregon

Mountain Biking Maps & Trails that don't suck...check it out!

Maps & Trails
Virtual Crater Lake loop
Oregon National Forests, Campground Overview & Map
A Quick Visit To Crater Lake National Park
Rogue River National Forest: Collings Mtn. Trail #943
Rogue River National Forest:Payette Trail #970

Maps & Trails

• Applegate Lake Trail, (16K)
• Crater Lake NP (Location Map) (27K)
• Crater Lake NP (Park Map) (136K)
• Crater Lake NP (Shaded Topographic Map) 1:62,500 U.S.G.S. (347K)
• Crater Lake NP (Schematic over-view) (134K)
• Crater Lake NP (Regional view) (9K)
• Deschutes County, Deschutes County Road Map, (295K)
• Deschutes County, Mt. Hood Resort Trail Map, (323K)
• Eugene, Upper McKenzie River (19K)
• Portland, Portland City Bikeways, (723K)
• Oregon State Map, (general) '96 (51K)
• Oregon National Forests, Rogue River Camping Overview Map '97 (244K)
• Rogue River, State Forest Map, '97 (17K)
• Wagon Butte Trail Map, '96 (14K)

ROGUE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST
COLLINGS MOUNTAIN TRAIL #943

Uses: Hiker/mountain bike/pack saddle
Length: 7.0 miles (one-way)
Difficulty: Moderate for Hikers, Difficult for Mtn. Bikers and Horses
Season: All Year
Level of Use: Light
Elevation: 2000' at both trailheads, 3040' at top of Collings Mountain
Connecting Trail: Da-ku-be-te-de

Description: Features views of Applegate Lake; Big Foot Trap interpretive site. Named for two brothers who mined in this vicinity during the 1850's and 1860's, the Collings Mountain trail offers a variety of opportunities ranging from historical sites to spectacular vistas.

Beginning at Hart-tish Park picnic area, the trail crosses Upper Applegate Road and drops down to Grouse Creek. An abandoned miner's cabin and inactive Sasquatch (Bigfoot) trap are encountered about 3/4 mile up the trail. Several mine adits (tunnels with one entrance) are found along the trail. Please, do not enter the tunnels!

Leaving Grouse Creek, the trail climbs steeply for one mile to the ridgetop, gaining 1,000' elevation, and begins a long traverse of the western slope of Collings Mountain summit (not if re-route completed).

Excellent panoramic views of the Applegate Lake and surrounding mountains are seen at several locations along the trail. After following the ridgeline for 2 miles, the trail then descends at a remote rate for 3 miles to Watkins Campground. The last 1/2 mile of trail passes through the 62 acre Watkins fire that burned in 1981.

Multi-user Info:

• Access #1 (Hart-tish):
  From Star Ranger Station, travel south on Upper Applegate Road for 9 miles to Hart-tish Park. The trailhead is located at the upper end of the picnic area parking lot.

• Access #2 (Watkins Campground):
  From Hart-tish Park, continue south on Upper Applegate Road for 3 miles to Watkins Campground.

*** Hikers and mountain bikers please use caution around blind corners. When approaching stock, identify yourself so animals know you're there and move to the downhill side of trail.

It is best to carry water on this trip. Poison oak, ticks, and snakes are hazards to be aware of.

ROGUE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST
Applegate Ranger District
6941 Upper Applegate Rd.
Jacksonville, OR 97530
(541-899-1812)

Oregon: Crater Lake National Park

Rim View

Rolling mountains, volcanic peaks, and evergreen forests surround this enormous, high Cascade Range lake, recognized worldwide as a scenic wonder. Crater Lake was established as a national park in 1902 after 17 years of lobbying by William Gladstone Steel. He had learned of Crater Lake as a Kansas schoolboy reading a newspaper used to wrap his lunch. It was named after the small crater at the top of Wizard Island, (the cinder cone in the lake that rises some 760 feet above water). On sunny summer days, neither words nor photographs can capture Crater Lake's remarkable blueness. This intense hue/color is due to the fact that light gets absorbed color by color as it passes through clear water. First the reds, then orange, yellow, and green. Last to be absorbed are the blues. Only the deepest blue gets scattered back to where you see it as the color of the water. The water is of course no more blue, than the sky is blue. But it looks incredible! When the lake is perfectly still, one can see it act as a grand mirror for the sky, and surrounding rim.

Much of the year, usually October to July at higher elevations, a thick blanket of snow encircles the lake. Snowfall provides most of the park's annual 66 inches of precipitation. Crater Lake rarely freezes over completely; it last did in 1949. Heat from the summer sun stored in the immense body of water retards ice formation throughout the winter. On the earth clock, natural forces only recently constructed this landscape. Lava f lows first formed a high plateau base on which explosive eruptions then built the Cascade volcanoes. Humans probably witnessed the cataclysmic eruption of Mount Mazama about 7,700 years ago.

Shamans in historic time forbade most Indians to view the lake, and Indians said nothing about it to trappers and pioneers, who for 50 years did not find it. Then, in 1853, while searching for the Lost Cabin Gold Mine, some prospectors, including John Wesley Hillman, happened onto Crater Lake.

Soundings with piano wire by a U.S. Geological Survey party in 1886 set the lake's depth at 1,996 feet, close to sonar findings of 1,932 feet officially recorded in 1959. The clean, clear, cold lakewater contained no fish until they were introduced by humans from 1888 to 1941. Today, rainbow trout and kokanee salmon still survive in Crater Lake.

Wildflowers bloom late and disappear early here, thriving in wet, open areas. Birds and other animals often seen are ravens, jays, nutcrackers, deer, ground squirrels, and chipmunks. Present but seldom seen are elk, black bears, foxes, porcupines, pine martens, chickaree squirrels, and pikas.

Go To: Virtual Crater Lake Tour




ROGUE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST
PAYETTE TRAIL, #970

Uses: Hikers/Mountain bike
Length: 9.2 miles (one-way)
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Season: Open all year
Elevation: 2000' - stays on contour of Applegate Lake
Features: Bank fishing when lake is full; viewpoints; hike-in/boat-in camping facilities along trail. Abundant wildlife observation opportunities.
Connecting Trails: Outdoor Study Trails, Viewpoint Trails

Description:
This scenic trail parallels the eastern shoreline of Applegate Lake, contouring just above the reservoir's high-water level. Several connecting trails provide opportunities for alternate loops. Additionally, three walk-in campgrounds are found along the route including Latgawa, Harr Point, and Tipsu Tyee. The camping facilities have restrooms, picnic tables and fire grills.

Water is not available in the campgrounds or on the trail. Poison oak, ticks, and an occasional rattlesnake are hazards to be aware of.

Attractions and Considerations:

Beginning at French Gulch Campground, the trail contours above the French Arm of Applegate Lake. Passing through a mixed conifer and hardwood forest, the trail continues along the shoreline for 3.5 miles to the parking area at Squaw Arm. The trail intersects a fire road. Options for following either the road or trail exist for approximately 2 miles before arriving at the Squaw Arm parking area. From the parking area, follow the stock driveway south for 400 feet to rejoin the Payette Trail on the right. From this location, Harr Point Campground is 0.5 miles, Tipsu Tyee Campground 1.5 miles, and Manzanita Trailhead 5.7 miles.

Good views of Applegate Lake, and Kinney and Collings Mountains are offered on this section of trail, ending at Manzanita Trailhead. Vine maple, black oak, and madrone become the predominant tree species. This would be a good section of trail to view autumn colors!

• Access: #1 (French Gulch Campground):
  From Star Ranger Station, drive south on Upper Applegate Rd. 8 miles to the Applegate Dam and Squaw Lake turnoff. Turn left, crossing the dam and continue 1 mile to French Gulch Campground. Facilities available at the campground include restrooms, drinking water, and overnight camping ($4/night charge).

• Access: #2 (Squaw Creek Arm):
  From French Gulch Campground, continue southeast on Road #1075 2 miles to Forest Road #100. Turn right onto Rd. #100 and proceed 0.5 mile to the large parking area and stock driveway on the left. There are no facilities.

• Access: #3 (Manzanita Trailhead):
  From Star Ranger Station, drive south on Upper Applegate Road 12 miles to the junction with Carberry Creek Road. Turn left and continue 1 mile to Forest Road #1041 (Manzanita Creek Rd.). Turn left and proceed 2 miles to the trailhead. Parking is available in cul-de-sac at end of road next to the gate.

ROGUE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST
Applegate Ranger District
6941 Upper Applegate Rd.
Jacksonville, OR 97530
(541-899-1812)

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