Woodruff Bridge to River Bridge

Smoke from the California wildfires had us scrambling for a safe place to hike Monday morning. Our original hike in California from Kangaroo Lake to Bull Lake on the PCT was ruled out Saturday after trips into CA found smoke not good for viewing or breathing. So then we moved up our next hike and announced we’d be going up to Anderson Ridge in Jackson county. But come Sunday night the view of Wagner Butte was covered in a shroud of smoke, so that meant that Anderson Ridge would also have to be tabled until the smoke cleared.

So then early Monday morning we considered the Enchanted Forest out by Woolridge Winery. It had a better air quality index rating than Ashland but still unhealthy for some hikers. Finally Upper Rogue river was suggested, and with an AQI of 49 at 8 am that became a go for Monday’s hike.

As it turned our, our fourth choice was our best choice! We all arrived at Woodruff Bridge to partly sunny skies with temps that would reach into the 70s with only a trace of smoke up above but not on the trail.
We headed south towards Takelma Gorge and beyond to our lunch spot past River Bridge. The Rogue was at times quiet, almost still, and then would suddenly change into white water rapids when the river narrowed or took a dip.

The air was calm and the trail was green offering cool shade in forests and then canopies of Dogwoods, Vine Maples and Alders.

As we approached Takelma Gorge we had to step around and over volcanic rock in the trail. Bob H. explained that all the rocks and topography we’re a result of volcanic eruptions from 80,000 years ago. The Gorge was breathtaking as always, with the roar of the river, the view of giant logs that had been tossed like so many toothpicks, and the majestic cliffs rising from the gorge.

After our stop at the Gorge we continued on to our lunch spot along the Rogue which was also a favorite spot for fishermen fishing for trout. One guy caught his limit of four in just one hour. After a relaxed lunch we headed back up river.

We made it back to the cars by 2:45 and had hiked 9.5 miles out and back.

Our party of eight stopped at Phil’s Frosty in Shady Cove on our way back.

Hike Leader: Rich Stickle

Photos By: Jerry