Lost Creek Lake Shoreline Trail
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Overall: 5
Aerobic: 4
Technical: 4
Steepness: 3
Flow: 6
Singletrack: 98%
The Shady Cove Oregon Lost Creek Lake Trail is a shoreline trail around the lake, referred to by the Corp of Engineers as Rogue River Trail. Not a destination ride but something to check out if camping in the area.
Type
Loop
Length
Avg: 19.5mi
Ascent
Easy
Elevation Change
TH:1675'
Avg Ascent:2550'
Ascent Incline
4%
Duration
Avg: 2.5hr
Weather
Forecast
NOAA
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Corp
The trail is usually ridden CCW and includes 2mi pavement and 1mi of gravel road including the dam. If the dam is accessible then ride from Rivers Edge Park, or start from McGregor Park, Joseph Stewart Day Use area, Lewis Rd TH, or the Burnt Peak TH.
A very popular hike, Blue Grotto is a seasonal stream falls some 40' over a greenish rhyolite cliff. The green rock is ash from the eruption of Mount Mazama, the volcano that created the caldera which became Crater Lake.
The 327' William L. Jess Dam was constructed in the 1970s by the Army Corps of Engineers.
Camping at the 150 site Joseph H. Stewart State Park are reserved. There are also 50 tent sites with water and public bathrooms and showers at the campground
Viewpoint: south of SR62 on Crowfoot Rd is a TH for hiking 2.4mi to a viewpoint overlooking the lake.
Directions: Park at one of the trailheads or at the Joseph H. Stewart State Park Day Use Area. View Larger Map. No Map?.
Loop Directions
riding to the grotto
- TH: From McGregor Park, ride 7mi to SR62 and the Peyton Bridge, passing the Joseph Stewart marina and campground.
- 7.5mi: After crossing the bridge, ride Lewis Rd 1mi, past the Catfish Cove picknic area, to the Lewis Rd TH.
- 8.5mi: Exit Lewis Rd at the TH, passing the Fire Glen camp at 9.5mi, followed by crossing the first of 6 footbridges on the way to the Burnt Peak Rd TH.
- 10.8mi: Stop and check out Blue Grotto, then continue along the north shore trail section.
- 14.6mi: Reach the Burnt Peak Rd TH after traversing around Fawn Butte and crossing a footbridge. The trail merges with the road after another 0.8mi, continues around a curve, then returns to the shoreline.
- 17.1mi: Cross a footbridge then Pass Four Corners camp. Continue on to Takelma Dr.
- 18.2mi: Turn onto Takelma Dr at the boat ramp, breaking away from the road at Takelma Park. Ride to the intake tower access road and across the dam, or continue on Takelma Dr to McGregor Park.
Rogue River NF Hiking
Bitterlick Creek Tr1079 is primitive and not maintained, with seven creek crossings which are not possible/advisable during the Spring or after heavy rainfall. The southern TH is not suitable for cars.
The steepness of the trail makes riding south from Access 1 to Access 2 easier, as a shuttle or returning on the FR. Vegetation is lush along the creek. Old-growth Douglas-fir, sugar pine, and incense-cedar are found here along with dogwood, hazel, big-leaf maple, and vine maple.
Sugar Pine Trail 1080 follows Sugar Pine Creek for 3.1mi to Coalmine Creek, with many pools among the creek bedrock, providing cool refreshment for wading.
Due to low volume of use this trail receives limited maintenance. Expect to encounter downed logs and brush.
Be sure to check with the Prospect Ranger Station on the trail conditions of these abandoned and lightly used trails.
Mosquitoes are ferocious in this area until August. Feel free to try the natural repellents, and avoid drinking carbonated drinks prior to riding, but Deet 100 may be the only protection from 'the swarm'. Expect some trailside poison oak and prepare as needed. Try using Tecnu before the ride.
Trail Index
This Ride
Lost Creek Lake Trail
Hiking
Bitterlick Creek Trail 1079, Sugar Pine Trail 1080
Campgrounds
Fire Glen Camp, Four Corners Camp, Joseph H. Stewart State Park
Trail Rankings
Ranking consistently applied to all of the listed trails.
- Overall Rating: Ride quality and challenge
- Aerobic: Ascent challenge
- Technical Difficulty: Terrain challenge
- Steepness: Average incline
- Flow: Uninterrupted riding
- Elevation Change: Total elevation gain
- Ride Difficulty: Terrain challenge
