Get Wild and Hike

Oregon Wild hosts hikes that are not just fun, but connect people to the places they work to protect.

The summit at Tidbits. Photo: Oregon Wild.

Now that the sun (seems) to be back, it’s time to get out into the woods. Conservation organization Oregon Wild continues its series of summer hikes on Saturday, July 10, with guided hikes all around Oregon, including several within easy reach of Eugene. The 12 remaining summer hikes are free or nearly free to the public. There’s limited space, so reserve a space at http://wkly.ws/mw

“We connect the public to places we want to protect,” says Oregon Wild Roadless Wildlands Advocate Rob Klavins. This year’s hikes include a long, steep trek to the summit of Mount Bailey, a lesser-known landmark entangled in competing plans: the largest Oregon timber sale since the advent of the 2001 roadless timber rule versus the proposed Crater Lake Wilderness area. “We try to show people places that are pretty and enjoyable to go to, and sometimes to show places affected by different issues,” explains Klavins.

Less demanding hikes on Tidbits Mountain, the North Umpqua and the Rogue River Trail also feature picturesque scenery in places important in ecology or history. Oregon Wild staff will lead most of the hikes, educating hikers about the attributes and challenges of each area.

“Each hike is certainly different,” says Klavins. “We have wildflower hikes, tree identification hikes, mushroom hikes, trekking hikes, waterfalls and snowshoe hikes.” Klavins says Oregon Wild selects its various themes according to the season.

Most of the dozen hikes remaining are free to the public, but some do require a small fee. All are family-friendly, but parents should check www.oregonwild.org for each hike’s length and level of difficulty. Sign-ups open about six weeks before each hike, but they have a history of filling quickly. Klavins suggests signing up for the e-alert system that notifies hikers of list openings.

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Click here to sign up for Oregon Wild's e-alerts