Day Three - East Creek to Foster Bar
Picture perfect weather greeted us again on the morning of the third day. Having
gone to sleep so early meant that I was up before seven o’clock and the cool morning
air felt great. We were camped directly across the river from Brushy Bar, a large
campsite with an outhouse and Forest Service guard station. I ferried across the river
to use the outhouse, and enjoyed a quick walk afterwards. Large meadows and open
woods made for a perfect setting at the guard station, but I wanted to climb one of the
hills back near camp so I didn’t spend much time here.
Back on our side of the river I scrambled up a faint path leading to a prominent point
on the ridge above our camp. At first I thought I was following a game trail, but the
narrow path switch backed and was marked with surveyor’s flagging in a few places.
This was obviously a footpath and after hiking around for a few minutes I came to a
junction of these paths. Following one up it maintained a surprisingly well graded
angle and switchback to another junction. At this point I scrambled up to a small peak
for a bird’s eye view of the river and the area around camp. Back I camp we chatted
about who and why these trails were made. They were much to small and faint to
have ever been part of an official hiking route. Most likely they were created by the
generals who lived at the site for some years, but they also could have been native
trails, hunting paths, or routes used by prospectors. Whatever the reason, we
enjoyed hiking around for a while as temperatures warmed up this morning.
gone to sleep so early meant that I was up before seven o’clock and the cool morning
air felt great. We were camped directly across the river from Brushy Bar, a large
campsite with an outhouse and Forest Service guard station. I ferried across the river
to use the outhouse, and enjoyed a quick walk afterwards. Large meadows and open
woods made for a perfect setting at the guard station, but I wanted to climb one of the
hills back near camp so I didn’t spend much time here.
Back on our side of the river I scrambled up a faint path leading to a prominent point
on the ridge above our camp. At first I thought I was following a game trail, but the
narrow path switch backed and was marked with surveyor’s flagging in a few places.
This was obviously a footpath and after hiking around for a few minutes I came to a
junction of these paths. Following one up it maintained a surprisingly well graded
angle and switchback to another junction. At this point I scrambled up to a small peak
for a bird’s eye view of the river and the area around camp. Back I camp we chatted
about who and why these trails were made. They were much to small and faint to
have ever been part of an official hiking route. Most likely they were created by the
generals who lived at the site for some years, but they also could have been native
trails, hunting paths, or routes used by prospectors. Whatever the reason, we
enjoyed hiking around for a while as temperatures warmed up this morning.
The paddling remained enjoyable, with quick current, swifts, and several larger rapids. It
was also along this lower stretch that we encountered out first jet boats of the trip. The
United States Postal Service traditionally carried mailto lodges on the river throughout
much of the twentieth century. It is this antiquated tradition that has allowed motorized
boats to travel upstream as far as Blossom Bar. For their part, the jet boats were quite
polite and waited to run up rapids while we paddled through and searched for cover. At
full speed some of these larger boats shot water twenty feet into the air and produced a
wake that would easily swamp and capsize a canoe. Since it was a late season Monday
we only saw several of these boats. Many more and the encounters would have been a
nuisance.
Eventually the river valley opened more and the slack water between rapids grew longer
and longer. Luckily, we had no headwinds to contend with and making progress through
the flatwater was not difficult. By noon we had reached the take out at Foster Bar and I
was surprised by how many vehicles were parked here compared o how few people we
had seen along the river. While there were plenty of other groups out on the water, we
rarely found crowds and never had to pass up on any of the campsites that we wanted.
Largely this good luck with camps probably had to do with the fact that we has picked
smaller, out of the way sites.
At the take out we enjoyed a few beers while unloading gear and strapping canoes to the
roof. The temperature on the large cobble bar was now well above ninety and we all
took a quick swim before starting the log and circuitous drive home. It is a fact. There is
no good way to travel from the take out of the Rogue River to Eugene. All routes involve
an hour or more of winding along narrow one lane roads through the rugged coast range
before getting to better pavement. We finally made it back to Eugene around 5:30, tired
yet relaxed from another great river trip.
was also along this lower stretch that we encountered out first jet boats of the trip. The
United States Postal Service traditionally carried mailto lodges on the river throughout
much of the twentieth century. It is this antiquated tradition that has allowed motorized
boats to travel upstream as far as Blossom Bar. For their part, the jet boats were quite
polite and waited to run up rapids while we paddled through and searched for cover. At
full speed some of these larger boats shot water twenty feet into the air and produced a
wake that would easily swamp and capsize a canoe. Since it was a late season Monday
we only saw several of these boats. Many more and the encounters would have been a
nuisance.
Eventually the river valley opened more and the slack water between rapids grew longer
and longer. Luckily, we had no headwinds to contend with and making progress through
the flatwater was not difficult. By noon we had reached the take out at Foster Bar and I
was surprised by how many vehicles were parked here compared o how few people we
had seen along the river. While there were plenty of other groups out on the water, we
rarely found crowds and never had to pass up on any of the campsites that we wanted.
Largely this good luck with camps probably had to do with the fact that we has picked
smaller, out of the way sites.
At the take out we enjoyed a few beers while unloading gear and strapping canoes to the
roof. The temperature on the large cobble bar was now well above ninety and we all
took a quick swim before starting the log and circuitous drive home. It is a fact. There is
no good way to travel from the take out of the Rogue River to Eugene. All routes involve
an hour or more of winding along narrow one lane roads through the rugged coast range
before getting to better pavement. We finally made it back to Eugene around 5:30, tired
yet relaxed from another great river trip.
While the others were gearing up I decided to paddle across the river to wait in sun, where
it was already significantly warmer. It was shaping up to be another hot day and I had
dressed lightly to avoid having to change after a few minutes of paddling. We were soon
on our way and moving quickly downstream on the steady current. While only a handful of
significant rapids lay in our way today numerous class II riffles required attention to avoid
taking on an excess of water. The river remained very scenic although it gradually opened
up as we passed Clay Hill Lodge and its accompanying rapids.
Our only stop today came only a few miles below camp at Tate Creek. This side stream is
probably the most popular of the side hikes found along the Rogue River. A short but
rough half mile path follows the stream up to a natural waterslide complete with a rope
ladder for return rides. It was still too chilly out in the shade for my liking, so I was content
to take pictures and watch Steve and Mark make the slide. The grotto that the slide
plunges into is itself a worthy goal and it is worth going here even if you don’t plan on
swimming. By the time we returned to the beach where our we had left the canoes the river
was in full sun and the day was quite warm. I was already regretting not having gone in the
water.
it was already significantly warmer. It was shaping up to be another hot day and I had
dressed lightly to avoid having to change after a few minutes of paddling. We were soon
on our way and moving quickly downstream on the steady current. While only a handful of
significant rapids lay in our way today numerous class II riffles required attention to avoid
taking on an excess of water. The river remained very scenic although it gradually opened
up as we passed Clay Hill Lodge and its accompanying rapids.
Our only stop today came only a few miles below camp at Tate Creek. This side stream is
probably the most popular of the side hikes found along the Rogue River. A short but
rough half mile path follows the stream up to a natural waterslide complete with a rope
ladder for return rides. It was still too chilly out in the shade for my liking, so I was content
to take pictures and watch Steve and Mark make the slide. The grotto that the slide
plunges into is itself a worthy goal and it is worth going here even if you don’t plan on
swimming. By the time we returned to the beach where our we had left the canoes the river
was in full sun and the day was quite warm. I was already regretting not having gone in the
water.
The network of rough paths that we found above the East Creek campsite led
to an bird's eye view of the Rogue River.
to an bird's eye view of the Rogue River.
The steep set of stairs and climb to the campsites at East Creek make this a
less used spot, especially for large groups.
less used spot, especially for large groups.
More canyon scenery and cruising water started day three on the Rogue.
My fifteen foot Explorer makes a great tripping canoe when paddled solo. It tracks well in flatwater and performs
surprisingly well in moderate whitewater.
surprisingly well in moderate whitewater.
Steve climbs up the rope ladder at Tate Creel so he can take a ride down
the natural waterslide. .
the natural waterslide. .
Hiking up Tate Creek is a fun side trip that most people running the river decide to make.
This rugged tree grasps precariously on this craggy outcrop.