Silly me…

So, the other day we decided to go for a drive and explore a new area south of Grants Pass. We headed down Route 99 following the Rogue River through an older section of motels and small fishing cabins, an area that spoke of a former time and lifestyle. Today, the motels and cabins are being replaced by RV parks, they are everywhere, I mean everywhere, and amazingly most of them look full. The temperate climate makes it a great place to overwinter, I guess. But, I wander. We are driving and admiring the landscape and architecture when Darrin sees a sign that says Table Rock and says, “Isn’t that where Nancy went hiking? Lets go check it out!” (Nancy being our Grants Pass Airbnb hostest with the mostest.) So I said, “Sure, lets go give it a gander.” Silly me, several hours later we had hiked 5.5 miles round trip to the top of Lower Table Rock. Normally, that would have been a normal hike for us, but a winter in the flatlands of Florida did nothing for my hiking muscles. Never the less, we hiked, it was beautiful and we have a blog to show for it!

Lower Table Rock elevation ahout 2,000ft.
Once you reach the top of Lower Table Rock it is approximately 1 mile across to the lookout over the Rogue River (at one time it was an airstrip!)
You can read about the airstrip here, and some other fun facts.
And all that science stuff on how it was formed is here.
The view of the valley and the Rogue River.
And a look the other way down the river. Notice the lava like rocks (Did you read the science stuff above?)
Reminded us of a mini Devil’s Tower. This is from halfway up the trail.
Upper Table Rock from the top of Lower Table Rock. The easier 1 mile round trip trail is over there, I found out after.

Tidbit: The Lower Table Rock is taller and north of Upper Table Rock which makes absolutely no sense until you learn one is up river and one is down (lower on) the river, the Rogue River, that is. The all important river that brought life sustaining salmon to the native Takelma tribe.