Upper Rogue Valley - Upper High Meadow - PG&E Loop

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Spring · Views

This hike is special because it lets you warm up slowly, then takes you to secluded trails with gorgeous views of the Bay Area. It is all on wide fire trails, so you don't have to worry about falling on a root or stone or hiking into someone on a singletrack trail.

After heavy rains, there are only a few areas where you have to slow down due to mud. The first mile (from the parking lot to Deer Hollow Farm) may be full of people on weekends, but after that you'll mostly meet only seasoned hikers.

Parking is free but you might have to wait to find an empty spot during prime time on the weekends.

You start out at a very mild incline on the Permanente Creek Trail, pass Deer Hollow Farm and continue along the Chemise to Rogue Valley Connector, which is great for warming up.

When the High Rogue Valley Trail turns southwest, you begin to climb. The climb gets steep after four miles, while you are on the sunny High Meadow Trail. At the 1600' summit, you think it'll all be downhill. But no, there will still be some climbing.

Stay on the PG&E Trail and descend past the first parking lot down to the second. A couple of loops in the parking lot are great for cooling off, and making sure your GPS logged ten miles.

You might encounter turkeys, deer, salamanders, tarantulas, all sorts of birds, bobcats, rabbits, and yes, mountain lions. For this reason, it is wise to read up on what you should do in case you do run into a mountain lion. If you are hiking solo, leave a note on your windshield for the rangers with planned route, your cell phone number, and an ICE number.

Stop by Deer Hollow Farm to see a working farm with animals like cows, pigs, goats, sheep, and chickens. There is also an organic farms and old farm buildings.