Illinois River East Trailhead
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
- Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
- Latitude, Longitude: 42.37789, -123.80396
- Elevation: 950 feet
- Driving time from Portland: 6 hours
Contents |
Hikes starting here
- Illinois River Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
Description
This is the eastern trailhead for the Illinois River Trail #1161. The trailhead sign says Trail #1162 but that's wrong - #1162 was the trail (now a road, FR 4105-152) that came down to Briggs Creek from the east. This is also called the Oak Flat trailhead or the Briggs Creek trailhead.
Driving Directions
There are two options for reaching this trailhead. Both start in Selma, Oregon, which is on Highway 199 (Redwood Highway) about 19 miles south of Grants Pass and 10 miles north of Cave Junction. You turn west on to paved Illinois River Road at the only intersection in Selma (marked with a blinking yellow light). After two miles, the road becomes Forest Road 4103. At 6.1 miles the pavement ends, then begins again at 6.4 miles. At 6.7 miles you come to a signed “Y” junction – FR 4103 (the usual route to the Briggs Creek trailhead) heads down to the south (left) while gravel FR 4105 heads uphill to the north (right).
FR 4103 goes for another 12 miles - paved for four miles, then eight miles of rough, bumpy road - to the trailhead. The last few miles can be rough on low-clearance passenger cars and can become muddy in winter and spring. The last two miles are only suitable for a high-clearance, 4WD vehicle, and the road can be hard on your car or truck.
FR 4105 is a good to excellent gravel road (no high center, few potholes) that winds for 14 miles to its end at a turn-around loop at School Flat. From there, a narrower, steeper road (FR 4105-152) descends for 2.4 miles to the trailhead. With a high clearance vehicle, you can easily drive this smaller road (BUT the USFS suggests you not do so in 2WD passenger cars) down to Briggs Creek. After about two miles, FR 4105-152 joins with FR 4103, just short of the trailhead.
There are three campsites, picnic tables, a pit toilet, and parking for 10 cars at the trailhead.
Fees and Regulations
- Wilderness regulations apply
- There may be fire restrictions; check for the latest news
- Store food in a bear canister or be prepared to hang it
More Links
- Illinois River East Trailhead (USFS)
- Briggs Creek Campground (USFS)
- Illinois River Trail #1161 (USFS)
Contributors
- retiredjerry (creator)
- VanMarmot