Salmon making their way to Illinois River
From our weekly issue dated October 22, 2008
On Saturday, Oct. 18, naturalist Rich Nawa, of Siskiyiou Project, led a group of some 25 people from various Oregon locales on a hike to Rainie Falls near Merlin.
Rich Nawa leads hikers along the trail to Rainie Falls.
The trailhead is 8 miles past Indian Mary Park, and the trail skirts above the middle section of the Rogue River. Hikers enjoyed the fall foliage and watched rafts and fishermen in float boats as they made their way about 3 miles downriver to the falls. The falls are more a giant, boulder-strewn rapid than a high waterfall. Below, Chinook salmon battle strong currents and violent whitewater to leap up the falls on their journey to the spawning grounds. Hiking and rafting falls-watchers were rewarded with sightings of many leaping salmon.
Those on shore were entertained by watching rafters and kayakers negotiate the shallower, safer side-route on the north side of the river. Two professional raft-outfitters each made a dramatic solo float over Rainie Falls. The riverbank crowd cheered their skill and safe “landing” in the calmer water well past the falls. This hike is rated “moderate” since there are no steep or overtly dangerous sections. However, much of the path is like a goat trail, with difficult footing on sharp rocks, narrow sharp turns above a steep slope, ending in huge boulders or the swift river. There are some rock slides and tricky sections to get around.
Anyone who takes a fall hike to Rainie Falls, rather than a raft or float boat outing, should wear sturdy hiking boots and take a walking stick, water, snacks and a jacket. Allow four to five hours for the round-trip, depending on how long you linger at the falls to watch salmon and boaters.
Hikers view spawning salmon along the Rogue River.
For a cool, sunny fall day, there are few greater joys than a hike along the mountainous Rogue River to see salmon leaping in the falls. Soon the salmon will arrive in Illinois River and its forks to spawn in the shallow gravel streams. Some already have been spotted at “Forks” Park.
Chinook salmon are swimming from the Rogue to the Illinois in schools. With some patience, you can see them during late October to early November, Nawa said.
He also reports that salmon can be seen spawning in the Rogue between Josephine County Fairgrounds and the All Sports Park. Take Ringuette Street beside the fairgrounds to the bike path and walk a short way to see the Rogue River. For information about hikes and salmon watching, contact Nawa at 592-4459.
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