Southern Oregon Land Conservancy Spring Hike Series 2023 Season

Southern Oregon Land Conservancy (SOLC) is hosting a series of guided hikes this spring on protected properties throughout the Rogue Valley. Pre-registration is required for these hikes, which are free, open to the public, and led by local experts. For more information and to register, visit www.landconserve.org/events or call at 541-482-3069. This season’s hikes include:

Agate Desert Preserve Wildflowers 
Wednesday, Apr. 12, 2023, 3-5 p.m.
Meet the charismatic itty-bitty flora of the Agate Desert Preserve near White City. We will soak in the beauty of rings, patches, and ribbons of colorful flowers and look for federally endangered and other rare flowers that grow in drying vernal pools. This is a unique preserve of vernal pool-mounded prairie surrounded by industrial and grazing land. Our guide will be Kristi Mergenthaler, a botanist and stewardship director with Southern Oregon Land Conservancy.

Pompadour Bluff: Oaks and Wildlife
 Friday, April 14, 2023 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Tour the spectacular Pompadour Bluff just outside of Ashland on a hike guided by forest ecologist and SOLC Land Steward Lyndia Hammer. Use your nature observation skills to find birds, reptiles, insects, nests, flowers and other signs of life.

Wonder and Wander at Whetstone
 Sunday, Apr. 16, 2023 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Take a stroll through the Whetstone Savanna Preserve with SOLC staff. This hike will traverse the diverse habitats of the Preserve with stops at the legacy oak woodland and vernal pool mounded prairie. There will be some casual botany, birding, and a special trip to visit the rare Southern Oregon Buttercup.
 
Open Lands Day at the Rogue River Preserve with Two Hike Options
 Saturday, Apr. 22, 2023, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Participants will explore the Preserve’s trails on their own, or join experts for a guided interpretive hike.

• Hike Option #1: Introduction to the Rogue River Preserve  (10 a.m. - 12 p.m.)  SOLC’s Education Program Manager Tara Laidlaw will lead a hike along the Gnatcatcher Loop Trail, a mostly-flat 1.5-mile loop that offers a fantastic overview of many of the Preserve’s special habitats, interesting features, and conservation projects. Feel free to stay after the hike to continue exploring the Preserve on your own, or bring a picnic to enjoy by the river!​
• Hike Option #2: Spring Wildflower Saunter   (1 p.m. - 3 p.m.) Explore the Rogue River Preserve with naturalist and volunteer docent Liz Landreth on a native plant tour.

 Explore the Bluff at The Harry & Marilyn Fisher Preserve at Pompadour Bluff 
Wednesdays, April 26, May 3 and 17, 2023, 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Participants will tour Pompadour Bluff just outside of Ashland on a hike guided by Southern Oregon Land Conservancy staff. Walk through oaks and grasslands to the top to take in the views of the valley and beyond.
 
Birding at Pompadour Bluff with Pepper Trail
 Saturday, May 27, 8 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Join ornithologist and naturalist Dr. Pepper Trail on a birding exploration at Pompadour Bluff. We will likely see or hear Acorn Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Oak Titmouse, Red-tailed Hawk, and Violet-green Swallow. If we’re lucky, there may be Canyon Wren, Rock Wren and Purple Martin. The Bluff is only occasionally open to the public for events so this is a special treat!

Jacksonville Woodlands History Tour 
Saturday, May 7, 2022 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Participants will tour the Jacksonville Woodlands. Southern Oregon University Research Archeologist Chelsea Rose will lead a three-hour hike around the conserved woodlands and share her expertise on the mining history of Jacksonville. This hike will include a visit to the Chinese Diggings Trail and Panorama Point. Rose’s research includes the Jacksonville Chinese Quarters, the homestead of frontier photographer Peter Britt, the native Hawaiian mining camp of Kanaka Flat and the Historic Applegate Trail.
 
Open Lands Day at the Rogue River Preserve with Two Hike Options
 Saturday, June 3, 2023, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Explore the Preserve’s trails on your own, or join experts for a family-friendly guided interpretive hike. Southern Oregon Land Conservancy staff will have self-guided activities for visitors to take on the trail.

• Hike Option #1: Bark Beetles (10 a.m. - 12 p.m.) Dr. Bill Schaupp is an expert on bark beetles and forest health, and a marvelous storyteller. Learn about how to read bark beetle signs from the trees at Rogue River Preserve. Participants may stay after the hike to explore the Preserve on their own during this Open Lands Day event.
• Hike Option #2: Native Bees, (1 p.m. - 3:00 pm.) Look for native bees with entomologist Judith Maxwell from the Bee Atlas. Learn about their recent research and new bee discovery at Rogue River Preserve.  Participants may arrive before the hike to explore the Preserve on their own during this Open Lands Day event.

 Jacksonville Woodlands History Tour
 Sunday, June 18, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Join SOU Research Archeologist Chelsea Rose for an encore hike! Similar to the three-hour hike around the conserved woodlands in 2022, Chelsea will share her expertise on the mining history of Jacksonville. This hike will include a visit to the Chinese Diggings Trail and Panorama Point. Chelsea Rose’s research includes the Jacksonville Chinese Quarters, the homestead of frontier photographer Peter Britt, the native Hawaiian mining camp of Kanaka Flat, and the Historic Applegate Trail.

Walk ‘N Work for Wildlife
 Friday, June 23, 2023, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Tour the scenic Vesper Meadow Restoration Preserve property located near Howard Prairie! This beautiful property has undergone some significant restoration projects including weed solarization and native plant restoration, installation of Post-Assisted Log Structures (PALS) in Latgawa Creek, engaging community efforts in science, art, and Tribal partnership....and so much more! Join the staff of the Vesper Meadows Education Program on a stewardship stroll through th iconic meadow and give back to the land with a work party. Help removing old cattle fencing from the property to make it a safer place for elk, bobcat, and other wildlife found throughout the area. 

As Oregon’s first regional, nonprofit land trust, Southern Oregon Land Conservancy began working with local landowners to create conservation easements—a conservation approach to safeguard their lands in perpetuity. What began small has grown into more than 12,400 acres of protected lands across the Rogue River region including 632 acres owned by Southern Oregon Land Conservancy.

Southern Oregon Land Conservancy continues to fulfill its original mission by connecting people, nature and communities. The nationally accredited organization serves as a leader among regional land trusts, through its approach to community involvement and successful conservation track record.