Hike coordinator: Terry Andreucci
Narration by Lane Harris
The Umpqua Hot Springs segment of the North Umpqua Trail is undoubtably best experienced during the autumn when the leaves are at their finest color. This is also why it’s a club favorite to hike during this time of year!
On this day, eight raingear-clad hikers gathered at the trailhead near Toketee campground to begin this wet and wonderful journey. But the golden-yellow glow radiating from the trees made this rainy day feel bright and cheerful! It seemed as if no amount of rain could dampen our spirits.
This section of the trail is mostly level with no long hills to climb, which was kinda nice on a rainy day like this. It meant no slipping around on steep, muddy trails (Not that I’m opposed to that, it’s just not my favorite thing to do while hiking).
After several miles, the trail intersects with the road that leads to the hot springs. Since we were hikers, and not hitchhikers, we chose to walk the trail vice the road. A quick jaunt over the bridge and then back on the trail again, this time on the north side of the river. The trail then crosses Deer Creek via a footbridge. I’m not sure how many times this footbridge has been washed away and then rebuilt, but I do remember that perhaps a decade ago or so it had been washed out. I know this, because when I was hiking this section back then, I had to carefully cross the creek because the bridge wasn’t there! It’s possible to do, but obviously not the preferred method to conduct creek crossings.
We continued up the trail until we came to the junction where one path leads to the hot springs and the other leads to the parking lot on the other side of the river. Some of the group had never been to the hot springs before, so several of us decided to make a quick side trip there. Barbara and Colby chose to stay behind, thus being spared the scene of adults frolicking around the pools of water in various stages of undress. To me, the hot springs is one of those places that you go to just once just to say you’ve been there. I do remember going there a handful of times when in high school. Then again while hiking this section previously. Then again during previous club hikes. And of course, this hike. Yes, so I’ve been there more than once. Don’t judge me.
After washing our eyes out with disinfectant, we continued further up the Dread and Terror section of the trail toward Columnar Falls. After admiring the falls and chilling out a bit, we turned around and began heading back down the trail. By now, the rain had let up, and we even saw a little blue sky. It stayed like this long enough for me to get a quick drone flight in before the next rain started.
Upon returning to the parking lot, we all gathered at the group site near the trailhead. Most of us ate our late lunch in the dryness of the covered pavilion while the rain lightly fell. Terry, Penny and Barbara decided to make a stop at Steamboat Inn for a bowl of soup while the rest of us opted to go straight home to begin the drying out process.
This roundtrip trek from Toketee campground to Columnar Falls and back was about 9 miles. Its best experienced during the fall, and I hear it’s even nicer when it’s not raining. But don’t let the rain stop you if you decide to go!
Pictures below by Lane Harris
