Welcome back to National Parks and other public lands with T!
The Rogue River–Siskiyou National Forest was originally two separate forest units covering parts of Oregon and California. They were combined into one unit in 2004. The Rogue River is a US Wild and Scenic River, also managed by the US Forest Service.
We stopped at the Natural Bridge Interpretive Trail on our way from Crater Lake to Grants Pass. There are restrooms in the parking lot and it’s just off the main road.
A short trail leads to a raging section of the Rogue River, which shoots through some lava tubes and comes out the other end as a waterfall…a natural wonder.
We felt exhausted from a full day of hiking and exploring in Crater Lake National Park. This stop nicely broke up our two-hour drive back to the hotel.
We enjoyed an easy 1/4 mile walk to the natural land bridge from the parking lot. It is a level, wide path, with benches and interpretive displays along the way. It was just enough for us to stretch our legs, take some photos and move on to the next stop. Interested in a more in-depth exploration of the area? The interpretive trail connects to the Rogue Gorge Trail and Upper Rogue River Trail to extend your hike.
Location: 9 miles North of Prospect, OR
Designation: National Forest, Wild and Scenic River
Date designated/established: 2004
Date of my visit: August 25, 2016
