A LOOP HIKE ON THE UPPER RYE SPUR TRAIL WHICH OFFERS GREAT VIEWS

This loop hike is on the new rye spur trail located north of Lake of the Woods and east of Mt McLaughlin which is located 30 miles to the west of Klamath Falls. This loop hike is rated as a moderate hike due to its 4.7-mile length and 400 ft elevation gain and loss and some cross-country hiking on a downhill sloped trail. Most of the hike is gentle, however some is moderate up and down in elevation gain. Our trail head will be at the horse camp quarry next to the bathroom. We will be hiking the loop in a clockwise direction, starting our hike on an abandoned road to where the road ends and then hiking the existing cross country sometime steep trail, downhill to the existing rye spur trail. We turn right and hike on this good trail for 1.2-mi to our viewpoint and have lunch. This trail section has forested shaded areas. There is lots of downed trees along both sides of our trail but only one on our trail. After lunch we continue going downhill on the spur trail for .7 miles to a trail intersection. Make note that at the intersection there is a sign on the tree and the trail splits. Turn right and continue slightly uphill on this pretty shaded new trail for .4-mi. It ends at a large parking area where the road becomes our trail. After a short break in the shade, we continue on this rather comfortable slightly downhill, seldom used road which has lots of tree vegetation on both sides. After 1.4 miles of relaxed hiking, we take a break to see pretty Mt Mclaughlin, just off the left side of the road. After that we continue on the road for a very short distance to a sign where we turn right on the last section of the rye spur trail. We will continue on this trail for .5-mi and will be back at our trail head.

PLEASE NOTE: Our Sundays weather looks very good with our temps in the low 80s, sunny and a light breeze. Since this hike is pretty much at a 6000 ft elevation there is very little if any smoke.

DIRECTIONS: Klamath County hikers will meet up at the Moore Park Marina across from the entrance to Moore Park in the parking lot next to the marina with the bathrooms. At 8:30 AM we will carpool to the Great Meadows Snow Park our second meetup location located on the south side of Rt 140 a half mile after the long uphill double lane section. The trip from Moore Park to the Great Meadows is 30 miles and 40 minutes. There is no construction on Rt 140 on Sunday but there is a traffic light, since the two-way travel is restricted to one lane. We will arrive at 9:10 AM.
You may also wish to meet us at the Great Meadows at 9:10 AM directly and skip the Moore Park meet up. The Great Meadows Snow Park is a large open paved area and is located on the south side of the highway near mile post 37. Those coming from Ashland can take the Dead Indian Memorial Highway to RT 140, turn left and after a couple of hundred yards turn left again. into the Great Meadows. If you leave Ashland by 8:00 AM, you should have adequate time. Those coming from Medford can take Rt 140 to the Great Meadows. If you left at 8:00 AM , you would have adequate time to arrive at our meet up location.

At 9:15 AM we all caravan to our trail head. We will turn left and head west on RT 140 for 1.5 miles, turn right on gravel road 3661 towards four-mile lake. After 3.7 miles of this dusty gravel road, we turn right on gravel road 360 which we continue on for 1.2 miles to a large parking area called the Rye Spur Horse Camp, our trail head.

DO BRING ON OUR HIKE: Sturdy Hiking Boots, Hiking Poles, Long Sleeve Shirt, Long Pants, Hat, Water, Lunch, Cell phone/camera, sunscreen, mosquito repellant, and lots of WATER.

IMPORTANT NOTES: Since this is a multiuse trail, they are not allowing dogs on this hike .