Celebrate Biodiversity at Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, Oregon

The Trip

The Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument is situated where the Klamath, Siskiyou, and Cascade Mountain ranges converge, setting the stage for a unique mixing of diverse habitats in a small area. This tremendously varied landscape led to the first monument set aside solely for the preservation of biodiversity. It is home to a spectacular variety of rare plants and animals, including one of the highest diversities of butterfly species in the United States. Join us and local experts as we explore the ecological wonders of this Southern Oregon Monument.

Each day we will hike trails in and around the Monument, including sections of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. In the evenings, we will relax and enjoy our cozy retreat center at the edge of the Monument. After-dinner activities will include local guest speakers, fun group games, and the warm camaraderie of kindred spirits.

Day 1: You will be picked up at your local accommodations at 10:00 a.m. We will drive to the beautiful town of Ashland for lunch and a stop at a store for you to get additional beverages, snacks, etc. If all goes well we should have enough time to unpack and hike one of the trails near the inn before dinner. 

Day 2: After a hearty breakfast we’ll pack lunches and drive to the trailhead. Today’s hike is the scenic Green Springs Mountain Trail and a section of the Pacific Crest Trail. Old-growth forest, mountain springs, and large meadows are some of the sights we can expect today. The hike is about 5.8 miles. Most of this hike is above 5,000 feet. We’ll see how folks are doing with the elevation and choose our route accordingly. Most of our trailheads are fairly high in elevation so we will be hiking on ridge lines or mostly following the contour. Which means very little steep uphill hiking. (Isn’t that nice!?)

Day 3: After breakfast and packing lunches we will drive to another section of the Pacific Crest Trail. Today’s hike is to Hobart Bluff. We can count on seeing a variety of wildflowers, butterflies, and warblers on this trail as well as “big sky” vistas to the east and west.

Day 4: After breakfast and packing lunches we will drive to the Pilot Rock Trailhead. Pilot Rock is a spectacular plug dome volcano that has served as landmark for wagon trains, gold miners, and airplane pilots. This is a great hike on an especially scenic section of the Pacific Crest Trail. This is an out and back hike so the group can decide how far we want to hike.

Day 5: After breakfast and packing lunches we will drive to the Grizzly Peak trailhead for about a 5-mile hike. We could have an early dinner and drive to the charming town of Ashland for a performance of a contemporary or Shakespearean play at the Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Once our group has formed, we will discuss this and other options for this day.

Day 6: After breakfast we will pack up and drive to the Medford airport. If you are staying in the area, we will drive you to your hotel or rental car reservation.

Note: The leaders will make every reasonable effort to meet the goals outlined in the itinerary. Please keep in mind that weather or other conditions beyond our control may cause us to modify the itinerary in order to ensure the safety and well-being of the group.

Getting There

Transportation to Medford will be on your own. All transportation to trailheads and other activities during the trip is provided. Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

The trip includes five nights' lodging and all breakfasts, snacks, lunches, and dinners. We will be staying at a lovely retreat center at the edge of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. Register early to get your choice of accommodations.

Those with dietary restrictions should let the leaders know before the trip.

Trip Difficulty

While we will have ample time to relax and enjoy our cozy retreat center, the focus of this trip is experiencing the natural history of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument through moderate day hikes. You will only have to carry what you need for the day in your daypacks. A program of physical conditioning will assure you'll be able to enjoy all the planned hikes. Recommendations for hiking preparation will be detailed in a future bulletin. You should arrive ready to hike and open to the wonders of nature.

Bring rain gear and layers of warm clothes for cool nights and mornings. June weather in the mountains of western North America is unpredictable. Mornings can be freezing, afternoons can be over 80; or it could be in the 40s all afternoon with periods of rain. Mosquitos and other bothersome insects may be present.

Equipment and Clothing

You will receive a basic equipment list once you are accepted on the trip. Your boots should be well broken in and comfortable. Trekking poles are helpful on rocky trails, steep downhills, and stream crossings. Your daypack should be large enough to carry your rain gear, a warm layer of clothing, plenty of food, and two liters of water.

References

• Friends of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument: http://www.cascadesiskiyou.org

Conservation

The Trump Administration has threatened to reduce the size of the Cascade-Siskiyou Monument. No U.S. President has ever withdrawn public land from a Monument or National Park. What is the issue?

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.