Applegater Summer 2021
Sturgis Fork straddles
three watersheds
21
Map by Ann Gunter
BY EVELYN ROETHER
Greetings, fellow hikers! It’s time to hit
the high country! Leave these hot valleys
behind and head for them thar hills where
a cool, quiet respite awaits you. We’re so
fortunate to have the Siskiyou Mountains
and more specifically, the Kangaroo
Roadless Area, in our backyards.
Sturgis Fork Trail is one way to access
these wildlands that straddle the ridge crest
delineating the Applegate, Illinois, and
Klamath river valleys. So hop in your four-
wheel drive rig and treat yourself to a hike
up the mountain and do some exploring in
these beautiful wild forests. Enjoy!
Sturgis Fork #903
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 1.6 miles round-trip
Elevation gain: 500 feet
Access: Mid-June - late October
Map: Grayback Mountain USGS quad
Directions
Take Highway 238 to the town of
Applegate. Go south on Thompson Creek
Road for 11.9 miles until the pavement
ends at a four-way intersection at the top
of the hill. Continue straight on Road
1020, paralleling Sturgis Fork Creek. Do
not turn left towards Miller Lake. After
8.1 miles turn right onto the very rugged
Road 1020/600 and commence uphill
for 0.5 mile to the large trailhead parking
and horse camp area on the left. (Note: A
4-WD high-clearance vehicle is necessary
for the last half mile.)
Named for Albert Sturgis, a 20 th century
miner in the area, the Sturgis Fork Trail is
mostly used as an access to the Boundary
Trail #1207, which is only 0.8 mile from
the trailhead. This is also the shortest,
though not easiest, trail route to the
Oregon Caves National Monument and
Preserve from the Applegate watershed.
From the parking area the trail quickly
ascends through stands of old growth
grand fir. Under the towering trees, marshy
meadows soon emerge. In June and early
July expect to see Sitka valerian, poke
knotweed, mountain bluebells, and yellow
violets along with a sprinkling of other
wetland wildflowers along the way. After
crisscrossing the headwaters of Sturgis
Fork Creek several times, the trail winds
its way up to the ridgeline separating the
Applegate and Illinois River watersheds.
At the unsigned ‘T’ junction on the
ridge, the subtler Boundary Trail to the
left (south) leads to:
• Elkhorn Prairie (about a mile)
• Horse Springs (water and camp)
(about 2 miles)
• Sucker Gap (water and camp) (5.7 miles)
• The Red Buttes Wilderness, eventually,
and the Pacific Crest Trail
If you instead turn right (north) on the
Boundary Trail, you can get to:
• Mt. Elijah and/or Bigelow Lakes.
Continue 0.3 mile then turn left (west)
at the intersection and proceed 0.7 mile
uphill to the junction with the Mt.
Elijah Trail #1206. Turn left (south)
and follow the ridgeline 0.3 mile up to
Mt. Elijah. Or go right (north) to get to
Bigelow Lakes, which are visible below.
• Oregon Caves National Monument.
Continue past Mt. Elijah for 3.8 miles,
where the trail ends at the caves.
• Sparlin Camp. Stay right at the
junctions, and continue 0.8 mile along
a subtle trail, through spectacular
subalpine meadows, to the camp,
which is at the top of the Elk Creek
Trail. There is water a few hundred yards
down the Elk Creek Trail at D.
Healy Spring.
• Grayback Mountain. The tallest peak
in Josephine County, Grayback is 4
miles past Sparlin Camp. (See map and
O’Brien Creek Trail description for
guidance.)
• The top of the O’Brien Creek and
Grayback Mountain trails, about 5
miles past Sparlin Camp. The Grayback
Mountain Trail marks the northern
terminus of the Boundary Trail.
Sturgis Fork Trail is mighty fine in its
own right, just a bit short for the amount of
time it takes to drive there. If you continue
■ PRESCRIBED BURN
Continued from page 1
weather forecast is watched closely until an
appropriate weather window is identified.
If the required volunteers and equipment
are available, the controlled burn is
scheduled.
Forty-eight hours before the burn, a
site-specific spot weather forecast from the
National Weather Service assures the burn
boss that the temperature, humidity, and
wind conditions will be safe. The afternoon
before the burn is scheduled, Oregon
Smoke Management gives approval if
the winds will move the majority of the
smoke away from populated areas. On
the day of the burn, weather conditions
are continually measured at the project
site. If all the measurements align with
the prescription, a “test fire,” is ignited to
observe how the fire behaves.
If flame lengths and rate of spread
are as predicted, the controlled burn is
conducted. The burning starts from the
upslope/upwind edge of the burn unit and
proceeds downslope and into the wind.
This allows for a slow-moving, “backing,”
fire to accomplish fuel consumption.
After the burn is completed, “mop-up”
begins: Any materials still burning are
put out using water and hand tools.
This crucial step prevents the fire from
getting outside of the burn unit after
the burn is completed. The landowner
and PBA members then check the burn
unit multiple times over several days to
be certain the fire is completely out and
contained within control lines.
Controlled burning is an involved
and complex process, vital to the health
and safety of our community and forests.
Sharing the knowledge and resources
available within our community, we can
accomplish it safely and effectively. If you
are interested in being informed about
D. --
�POTRACK
KITCHEN EMPORIUM· EST 199e
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140 W California St - Jacksonville
Open Daily 10:30 am-Spm
either way on the Boundary Trail, you’re
in for some spectacular mountaintop
views and wildflower displays. As always,
leave no trace.
To learn about more trails in our area,
check out my book, Hiking Trails of the
Lower Applegate, a trail guide describing
20 trails in the Lower Applegate area.
It’s available at the Williams General
Store and Takubeh Natural Market in
Williams, Provolt Store and Whistling
Duck Farm and Store in Provolt, Rebel
Heart Books in Jacksonville, Oregon
Books and Games in Grants Pass, and
Northwest Nature Shop and Bloomsbury
Books in Ashland. Trail guides can
also be purchased directly from the
author at lowerapplegatetrails@gmail.com.
Happy hiking!
Evelyn Roether
evelynkr@gmail.com
A crew manages a prescribed burn conducted
by RVPBA earlier this year in the Applegate.
Photo: Alexi Lovechio.
future events, hosting a burn, or have any
questions or comments, please email me.
Aaron Krikava • 541-899-3001
aaronkrikava@yahoo.com