The Mule Mountain Trail offers a special opportunity to access the hillsides above the Applegate Valley and witness the seasonal changes in wildlife activity. This is a long distance hike winding up and around the arid ridges of the Oregon Siskiyou. During the spring, dwarf star tulips, lilies, shooting stars, larkspurs and buttercups puncture the needle and leaf mat and adorn the grass floor.

There is no real trailhead on Upper Applegate Road. Parking is limited to a couple of wide spots and the trail is marked by a trail sign mounted on a post by the gate.

Directions: From Ruch, Travel south on County Road 859 5.5 miles past the Star Ranger Station to the trailhead on the left.

Elevation Gain: 2,500 feet

Distance: 4.0 miles

Difficulty: Strenuous

Visitor Information