HART-TISH PARK at APPLEGATE LAKE

The unique character of the landscapes comprising the area has led to the designation of over 340,000 acres of the forest as wilderness, and over 200 miles of streams as National Wild and Scenic Rivers. The forest itself is composed of two distinct geological provinces, the Cascade Range and the Siskiyou Mountains. The Cascade Range is dominated by snow-capped volcanic peaks like the 9,495-foot Mt. McLoughlin, located within the Sky Lakes Wilderness. The Siskiyou area embodies the most complex and treasured plant communities in the Pacific Northwest. World-class wild rivers, biological diversity, remarkable fisheries and complex watersheds all define the Siskiyou. Diverse landscapes provide habitat for a wide range of wildlife, from spotted owls and bull elk to salamanders and sandhill cranes.

Recreation: Hart-Tish Campground sits on the shores of Applegate Lake, a popular recreation lake located north of the Red Buttes Wilderness Area. Visitors enjoy swimming, cycling, boating, canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, world renown fishing and hiking the various trails near the lake. There is a trail that goes 18.5 miles around the lake, with two short sections that are back on the road, as well as various trails close to the lake that are popular with mountain bikers due to the trails and choices of climbs having trails for every level. Collins Mountain Trail, named for the family of Freeman and Sophia (Lewis) Collings, sisters who moved to the area in the mid-1870s from the Forest Creek/Kanaka Flat area, begins at the Hart-Tish Park picnic area. The trail crosses Upper Applegate Road and drops down to Grouse Creek, where it passes an abandoned miners' cabin and several mines, as well as an inactive Bigfoot trap. Leaving Grouse Creek, the trail climbs steeply for one mile to the ridge top, gaining 1,000-foot elevation, and begins a long traverse of the western slope of Collins Mountain. Panoramic views of Applegate Lake and the Siskiyou Crest are seen at several locations along the trail. The inactive Bigfoot trap, found at the beginning of the trail, was built in 1974 by the North American Wildlife Research Team. The trap was inspired by a miner who lived near the Applegate River who claimed to have found 18-inch-long, human-like tracks in his garden. The organization operated the trap, keeping it baited with carcasses for six years, but caught only bears and a hiker. Trails and lake activities are plentiful.

Nearby: The nearby Rogue River National Recreation Trail, stretching 40 miles between Grave Creek and Big Bend, offers some of southwestern Oregon's most scenic landscapes and rewarding hiking experiences. This hiking-only trail follows the north bank of the Rogue River as it winds its way toward the Pacific Ocean. The historic town of Jacksonville has an endless amount of activities for adults as well as children not to mention The Incredible Venue the Britt Fest. Visitors enjoy Crater Lake National Park and learning about its unique natural and cultural history. At 1,943 feet deep, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and one of the ten deepest lakes in the world.