New trail system open to hikers, horses
From our weekly issue dated March 17, 2010
Hikers meet at the new trailhead and prepare to set off. (Photo provided by Linda Corey-Woodward)
On Sunday, March 14, some 20 people joined a hike led by Greg Walter and Rich Nawa on the new Forks Trail system in Cave Junction.
The guided hike was organized by Siskiyou Project. The hikers were from Grants Pass, Selma, Cave Junction, O“Brien — and New Zealand.
Sue Williams, Forks Trail project manager, was on hand to provide maps and explain the trail system. The trailhead and parking lots are on Westside Road at mile marker 3. The trails lead into Illinois River Forks State Park, covering almost 5 miles of hilly forest. Signs, benches and some additional trails should be completed later this year.
Hikers can follow the newly constructed, well-drained trails to ridge tops for stunning views of peaks such as Grayback and Mt. Elijah. Along the trails, early wildflowers were beginning to bloom, and dogwoods were budding out. Hikers enjoyed being the first hiking group to explore the completed trails on a spring-like, sunny day.
Walter said that the Pacific and Western dogwoods would be blooming in April and May, along with orchids, trillium and many other wildflowers.
The Forks Trails are for hikers and equestrians and are “Leave No Trace“ trails, meaning: You bring it in; you pack it out.
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