A hike after the rain on Lower Table Rock!

We'll meet at 10:15am for those wanting to carpool from the Albertsons in Central Point.

Otherwise, feel free to meet up at 10:45am at the Lower Table Rock Trailhead. There are restrooms at the trailhead.

No dogs are allowed on the Table Rocks because the Table Rocks are managed by the Nature Conservancy.

This hike is about 4.5 miles with 800 feet of elevation gain. Additional exploration (optional) will add about 1 mile (about 5.5 miles total).

The first 1.5 miles has all of the 800 foot elevation gain. Walking poles might be helpful, especially on the way back down.

We'll take our time on the way up. Take breaks when necessary. There are benches to rest along the way. Much of path traverses Oak Forest. There are some Ponderosa Pine, and a Madrone Forest almost at the top.

Once the trees give way, the wide open expanse on the top of Lower Table Rock will be before us.

We'll stay on the main trail. Expect puddles and some mud on the top of Lower Table Rock. Cross a plank bridge across wetlands, and continue on the main trail which becomes as straight as a runway (because it once was!).

Keep walking (over 0.5 miles) until we've crossed Lower Table Rock and the expanse of the Rogue Valley, below the basalt cliffs, comes into view.

To take it all in, we'll take a lunch and snack break here.

In the distance are the Siskiyou Mountains. Mt. Mcloughlin is to our left, the highest peak to the east.

After lunch, we have the choice of going back the way we came or continue on two optional hikes that add about 1 mile of walking.

The first option is a trail that takes us to the southernmost point of Lower Table Rock (about a 10 minute walk one-way).

The second option is a trail that heads east from the "runway" toward Mt. McLoughlin. The trail is easy to miss. Walk past the vernal pools, then begin looking for a trail on the right.

Once on the trail, we walk through an Oak Forest on top of Lower Table Rock.
We'll come out above shear basalt cliffs that drop straight down. Upper Table Rock is in the foreground. Behind and directly ahead is Mt. McLoughlin.

We'll walk a short distance along the edge of Lower Table Rock before traversing back to the main trail.

Turn right, walk across the plank walkway, and then down 800 feet of elevation (walking poles may be helpful here) back to the trailhead.

For those who want to go but can't make it please let me know so I can schedule Lower Table Rock again on another day.

Feel free to contact Chris by Meetup message or by text at (541) 261-8167.