State: Oregon
Location: Rogue River National Forest
Length, One-Way: 5.3 miles
Trail Type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 4850 feet
Maximum Elevation: 5650 feet
Best Season: May to October
Difficulty: Moderate
Usage: Light
Trail Information
The Brown Mountain Trail is 6.8 miles in Length and runs from the junction with High Lakes Trail (#6200) on the Winema National Forest to Forest Road 3705 on the Rogue River National Forest. This guide describes only the 5.3 miles on Rogue River National Forest.
This section of the Brown Mountain Trail is a delightful hike, mountain bike, or horseback ride along the southern flanks of Brown Mountain. Passing through a shaded old growth forest, the trail offers opportunities for morel mushroom hunting in the late spring; shade loving wildflowers such as orchids and trilliums, blanket the forest floor in early summer; good huckleberry picking in late summer; brilliant fall colors. Water sources are untested and should be considered unsafe to drink.
Beginning on Forest Road 3705, the trail follows the South Fork of Little Butte Creek. At 1.5 miles the trail crosses Forest Road 500 and continues through the forest alongside the creek, which now becomes swampy and abound with willows. At 2.5 miles you cross Forest Road 560 and at 2.9 miles you cross the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. (Mountain bikes prohibited on Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail). While the trail skirts the massive lava flows of Brown Mountain, the mountain is almost hidden by the forest. Between 3.6 and 3.9 miles the mountain and lava flows can be viewed through the trees. At 5.2 miles the trail forks: the trail to the left continues to High Lakes Trail (#6200) 1.5 miles further. Follow the trail to the right for 0.1 miles to Forest Road 3640.
Directions
To Forest Road 3705 from Ashland Ranger Station:
Take Highway 66 East for 1/2 mile to Dead Indian Memorial Highway. Turn left on Dead Indian Memorial Highway and travel 22 miles to Forest Road 37 (Big Elk Road). Turn left on to Forest Road 37 and proceed 6 miles to Forest Road 3705. Turn right onto Forest Road 3705 and continue 3.5 miles to the trailhead. Parking is available for 4 -5 vehicles using turnouts on the road.
NOTE: If you have two vehicles leave one vehicle here and shuttle the second vehicle to the access on Forest Road 3705. Park the second car there and hike a gentle downhill grade back to the first car. (Note that the trail description should now be read in reverse.)
Forest Road 3640 from Ashland Ranger Station:
Follow
Directions
to the trailhead on Forest Road 3705. From this trailhead, proceed southeast on Forest Road 3705 for 1 mile to the junction with Forest Road 3720 and continue for 1.5 miles to the junction with Forest Road 700 and proceed 3 miles to Forest Road 3640. Turn left again and continue 1.5 miles to the intermediate trailhead. There is no developed parking, but a spur road about 200 feet north of the trail is adequate for two cars.
