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Hiking Trails Near Galice Resort
Rainie Falls Trail
The Rainie Falls Trail follows the cooler south side of the Rogue River to its destination at Rainie Falls. The falls are a great place to observe migrating salmon and steelhead as they make their way past this major obstacle on their trip.
Directions from Grants Pass: Off of I-5, take exit 61. Drive west on the Merlin-Galice Rd about 22.7 miles to Grave Creek Bridge. The trailhead is located on the south end of the bridge and parking is available along the road. 2.0 miles in length.
There are several other local hiking trails that are deemed “very difficult” by the US Forest Service. We are not listing those trails here.
Additionally, there is a spectacular multi-day hiking (4-days, 3-nights) adventure that runs the entire 47-miles of the wild and scenic Rogue River. Generally, hikers go on this multi-day hiking trip with one of many Rogue River outfitters. You can inquire with the Galice staff as to which Rogue River outfitters are currently offering these trips on the dates that you are interested in hiking the trail (see further explanation of the trail below).
Rogue River Trail
This rolling, 47-mile (42 miles per U.S. Forest Service) national recreation trail journeys alongside 40 miles of the Rogue Wild and Scenic River, a captivating waterway. It travels a former mining trail and passes Zane Grey’s Cabin and two National Historic Places: the Rogue River Ranch and Whisky Creek Cabin. The trail boasts exciting river views of narrow gorges, white water riffles, and yawning passages; crosses scenic creeks with beckoning swimming holes; and offers great wildlife viewing with deer, otter, osprey, blue-tailed skink, salmon, ring-tailed cat, mink, and bear (so exercise proper care with food). Along the north canyon wall, the trail alternately tours high above and right next door to the river, offering various impressions of the Rogue. It traverses steep forested flank, leafy woodland slopes, and river bench and bar. The trail is accommodating to backpackers. Shuttle services for rafters also serve hikers, allowing a one-way tour of the trail without a second vehicle. The river corridor holds plentiful campsites and rest stops, and hikers even have the luxury of buying iced drinks at Paradise Bar Lodge.
Bear Camp Trail
Bear Camp Trail is short and runs along Bear Camp Ridge, the
highest portion of the Galice Ranger District. These trails offer spectacular views, a wide variety of wildflowers and cool summertime hiking. There is parking, picnic tables and restrooms at Bear Camp Overlook.
Directions from Grants Pass: Take I-5 North to the Merlin exit #61 and follow Merlin/Galice Road to the Galice Creek Access Road 34-8-36. Continue up this road approximately 21 miles to the Bear Camp overlook and the trailhead.
Seasonal Information:
Normally Accessible: Spring through Early Fall
Contact: The Galice Ranger Station at 541-471-6500 for more information about this trail.
Elevation: 4,900 Feet (1527.4 Meters)
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 1.5 Miles (2.5 Kilometers)
Usage: Moderate
Big Pine Loop Trail
Big Pine Interpretive Loop Trail is a barrier free trail that consists of four loops, each offering a varying degree of challenge. Creek Loop is 1/6 mile, level, and an easy travel. Big Pine Loop is 1/3 mile, mostly level, and moderately difficult. Sunshine Loop is 1/2 mile with some sloping trail and also moderately difficult. Challenge Loop is a 3/4 mile sloping trail and moderate to difficult travel. Camping is available on these loops and there is an interpretive trail program for the vision impaired. The trail also features the worlds tallest Ponderosa Pine, the Big Pine Tree, and is a nice place for family outings. Leashes are required on the lowland interpretive trail that begins the hike. The Big Pine Loop Trail leads away from the gravel parking area, and turns right, following Briggs Creek through a riparian area that sports native thimbleberry and wild native blackberry, tanoak, and chinquapin. This trail gives you an option of crossing the creek on a bridge and hiking the opposite side of the creek, or continuing on the west side of the creek where a short side trail finds a nice wading pool on Briggs Creek. The west-side trail leads to a second bridge and then turns left across the creek.
There are restrooms, picnic tables and swings at the Big Pine Campground where the trail begins.
Directions from Grants Pass: Take I-5 northwest to exit # 61 (Merlin). Follow Merlin Galice Road, and then turn left on Primary Forest Route 25. Follow 25 south to the Big Pine Campground where the trail begins.
Seasonal Information:
Normally Accessible: Year-round
Elevation: 2,400 Feet (748.1 Meters)
Difficulty: Easy to Difficult The trail is barrier-free and offers four loop opportunities
Usage: Moderate
Briggs Creek Trail
Briggs Creek Trail features some meadows along the way in addition to some good swimming holes in Briggs Creek. At 4.3 miles is Courier Mine Historic Cabin Site set amid Horsetail. There is also a nice campsite with a fire ring at 4.9 miles. Hikers must forge Briggs Creek several times, making summer or early fall the best time to hike the trail.
The trail travels through some old harvest units and some old growth stands. Several smaller creeks, springs and some marshy areas must be crossed along the way as well. The area is rich with mining history as well as many claims that are being worked at the present time. This trail was named for George E. Briggs, a packer who supplied early miners in the area.
There is parking, picnic tables and restrooms at Sam Brown Campground where the trail begins.
Directions from Grants Pass: Take I-5 northwest to exit # 61 (Merlin). Follow Merlin Galice Road, and then turn left on Primary Forest Route 25. Follow 25 south to Forest Service Road 2512. Follow 2512 west to the Sam Brown Campground where the trail begins.
Seasonal Information:
Normally Accessible: Year-round
High Point: 2,200 Feet (685.8 Meters)
Low Point: 1,600 Feet (498.8 Meters)
Length: 9.5 Miles (15.83 Kilometers)
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Usage: Moderate
Burned Timber Interpretive Loop
Burned Timber is an interpretive loop trail with signs describing the various aspects of ecology and forest management. A short spur Trail connects it to the Taylor Creek trail #1142. This is a good family hike as it is a short loop trail with mild slopes. The Burned Timber Creek Falls is a historic point of interest. Fall is a good time to hike this trail because the Bigleaf and Vine Maple provide a spectacular show of color.
CAUTION: Poison Oak is abundant along this trail.
Directions from Grants Pass: Take I-5 northwest to exit # 61 (Merlin). Follow Merlin Galice Road, and then turn left on Primary Forest Route 25. Then, turn left on road #2500-35 across the concrete bridge just past the five mile marker. Proceed approximately .75 miles to the parking area and trailhead.
Seasonal Information:
Normally Accessible: Year-round
High Point: 2,000 Feet (623.4 Meters)
Length: 2.0 Miles (3.33 Kilometers)
Difficulty: Easy
Usage: Moderate
China Creek Trail
The south end of the China Creek Trail leads you up China Creek,
over Taylor Ridge and down to the South Fork of Galice Creek. There are some steep grades on the Galice Creek side. China Creek trail traverses through past and present mining activities as well as through some reforested units.
Directions from Grants Pass: Take I-5 northwest to exit # 61 (Merlin). Follow Merlin Galice Road, and then turn left on Primary Forest Route 25. Follow 25 for approximately seven miles to the trailhead.
Seasonal Information:
Normally Accessible: Year-round
High Point: 2,000 Feet (623.4 Meters)
Low Point: 1,500 Feet (467.6 Meters)
Length: 5.9 Miles (9.83 Kilometers)
Usage: Light
Difficulty: Moderate
Fish Hook Trail
Fish Hook Trail follows the ridge top of Fish Hook Pear with many splendid views of the Indigo Drainage and the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. Wildlife, such as elk, deer, bear and cougar is abundant along this trail. In addition, portions of the Silver Fire burn of 1987 are still visible. The mosaic of the fire can be seen with the pattern showing how some portions of the land were lightly torched, while others were ravaged by the burn.
Directions from Grants Pass: Travel north on I-5 to exit #61 (Merlin). Proceed west on the Merlin-Galice road for approximately 13 miles. Turn left onto the BLM Rd. #34-8-36 and follow it to Forest Service Road 23. Follow 23 northwest to Forest Service Road #2308 at Bear Camp. Follow #2308 southwest to Forest Service Road 076. Proceed on 076 south to the trailhead.
Seasonal Information:
Normally Accessible: Summer through Fall
High Point: 4,910 Feet (1530.5 Meters)
Low Point: 4,595 Feet (1432.4 Meters)
Length: 1.5 Miles (2.5 Kilometers)
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Usage: Moderate
Onion Way Trail
This trail provides access to the Briggs Valley from Secret Creek Campground. Along this trail you will encounter large mature trees, evidence of recent harvest activity and an established 30 year-old plantation. Keep an eye out for elk, they're often seen in this area.
Directions from Grants Pass: Take I-5 to exit 61 (Merlin). Take Merlin Galice road, turn left on Forest Service Road #2500 (Taylor Creek Road) to Secret Creek Campground.
Elevation: 2200 feet
Length: 2.1 Miles
Normally Accesible: Year Round
Usage: Light
Red Dog Trail
Red Dog Trail is scenic with overnight camping spots available. The grade is gentle, and water is abundant most of the way. The trail travels down Red Dog Creek to a point where it joins Briggs Creek Trail #1132. The trail fords Briggs Creek, so caution should be used in times of high water. Although the trail is open year round. low water periods are best for fording the creek.
Directions from Grants Pass: Follow I-5 north to exit #61 (Merlin). Follow the Merlin-Galice Road west until approximately half a mile past Indian Mary Park. Turn left onto Primary Forest Route #25 and follow southwest it to Forest Service Road #2512. Follow Road #2512 south to Forest Service Road #2512-068 and follow this road south to the trailhead.
Seasonal Information:
Normally Accessible: Year-round
High Point: 2,600 Feet (810.5 Meters)
Low Point: 1,600 Feet (498.8 Meters)
Length: 2.5 Miles (4.17 Kilometers)
Difficulty: Moderate
Usage: Light
Trail Number: 1143
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