Take A Hike
The Rogue Valley's Hike of the Week
Hobart Bluff
How to get there
Head east on Highway 66 (Greensprings Highway) toward Emigrant Lake. Continue 15.7 miles to the summit at Soda Mountain Road, which will be on the right-hand side. Take a right onto Soda Mountain Road (which is a gravel road) and drive about four miles through a small residential area in which you will have to slow down through to reduce the amount of dust in the air. Go past a cattle guard in the road, and eventually to a large meadow with a parking area and overhead power lines. Look for signs for the Pacific Crest Trail.
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LEFT: The view of Emigrant Lake and Ashland from the top of Hobart Bluff. RIGHT: The decaying old growth along the trails leading to Hobart Bluff make home to many small woodland creatures and insects. |
About the hike
Once you've parked, there will be signs for the Pacific Crest Trail. You can either go to the right and follow the trail up to a great viewpoint of the valley, Pilot Rock and Mount Ashland. Or you can follow the PCT to the left and uphill for additional trails. The hike to the viewpoint is about one mile.
This late in the season, there aren't too many flowers blooming anymore, but there are still elderberries and other flowers around, adding to the area's beauty, as well as leaves beginning to change to their fall colors. This hike is good to do from late May through October, with wildflowers in full force in May to July. After October, snow fall will hinder access and hiking conditions.
History
"This section of Highwy 66, or Greensprings Highway parallels the 'Old Applegate Trail' that was used during the 1840s by pioneers that diverted from the Oregon Trail at Fort Hall Idaho and crossed the sagebrush desert of northern Nevada."
History from the United States Forest Service.
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| There are great views of Pilot Rock and Mount Ashland from the summit of Hobart Bluff. |
