Mud Springs Trail

Rough and Ready Creek Canyon, Cave Junction, Oregon The Mud Springs Trail takes you into the wild and scenic Rough and Ready Creek Canyon and through the "red rock rainforest" to the Narrow Gauge Trail near the boundary of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. This region is almost entirely made up of mantle rock, which erodes and produces the gravels and cobbles that feed and build the Rough and Ready alluvial fan, perhaps the largest mantle-based alluvial fan in the United States. It is this unusual source of rock that prompted the establishment of the Rough and Ready Forest State Park in 1937 (see Garden Club story). The Mud Springs Trail follows Rough and Ready Creek toward the Kalmiopsis Wilderness.

Directions to the trailhead

Drive on Highway 199 to the O'Brien Store about seven miles south of Cave Junction. Turn west on to Lone Pine Road and follow this for 0.8 miles to Nauie Way. TURN RIGHT and drive 1.1 miles to where it ends on Rough and Ready Canyon Road. TURN LEFT and drive slowly past residences for 1 mile to the gate. Parking is limited and it may be necessary to find a place to park up to a quarter of a mile before the gate. Do not park on the road.

Walk around the gate and follow the road going straight ahead at junctions. At one point where the road is covered with a reddish soil, the road splits into a "Y". Take the fork to the left. Look to the left for the trail just before the road begins to drop down to Rough and Ready Creek.

Trail Description

Mud Springs Trail, Cave Junction, Oregon The trail climbs for a short distance above the canyon with views up the creek toward the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. It then drops down to the level of the river again where it turns left and follows an old road. The road crosses the South Fork of Rough and Ready Creek before climbing up the side of the mountain. At the end of the road, the trail continues up the mountain.

The grade of the trail is steadily upward but not steep.

The entire length of the trail is within the region burned in the 2002 Biscuit Fire. Many of the The "redrock rainforest" of southern Oregon. Mud Springs Trail, Kalmiopsis Wilderness, Cave Junction, Oregon trees that were killed in the fire have fallen but there are still others that may fall across the trail and create an obstacle. Generally, the trees are fairly small and relatively easy to go over or around.

Near the top of the ridge, the trail enters into rocky outcrops of mantle rock that have been stained to a rusty-red color by years of weathering and erosion.

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Disclaimer: All information in Highway199.org is accurate to the best knowledge of the author. However, conditions in outdoor settings can change dramatically after storms or fires. For this reason, travelers are advised to check current road conditions before traveling through the area, drive responsibly and take measures to understand safety issues in the region. When participating in outdoor activities, always plan and prepare for safe hiking, swimming or any other activities mentioned in the Highway 199 website. More on disclaimer and copyright...