South Coast Striders release – Sunday June 20, 2021(Re-scheduled); If you registered for the June 13 hike, you don’t need to do it again. You will be contacted individually. Weather forced us to postpone this hike. This is the re-schuled hike. This hike (and the view it offers) is well worth the drive time to get to the trail head. Hanging Rock, in the Wild Rogue River Wilderness is perched at 3500 ft overlooking the Rogue River canyon and the rapids below. The hike to the rock itself is a 1.9 mile round trip. That will be the Short Hike. Those wanting a longer hike can extend the hike by following the Panther Ridge Trail along the ridge for another two miles, stopping for a lunch break in a clearing on the trail, and returning to the trailhead (an ‘out and back’ hike along the ridge). The Panther Ridge trail winds along this high ridge under magnificent stands of old growth timber with rhododendron and scrub oak and nests of bear grass. Hikers who have taken this hike in the past may recall that we set up a shuttle and hiked further on the Panther Ridge trail. By doing an out and back we’re eliminating the shuttle, saving the time, and reducing concerns about spreading COVID. You might want to finish the day with optional trips to Coquille River Falls (1 mile moderate–steep climb back up) and Elk Creek Falls (.25 miles easy), which are both on our way back toward Powers.
