The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
Since the 1880s, botanists have believed Eight Dollar Mountain to be a hotspot for unusual plants and wildflowers in Oregon. Today, these unique flora continue to grow here, and visitors can tour the botanical area by taking the Eight Dollar Mountain Botanical Wayside boardwalk and trails. Managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the 0.1-mile boardwalk includes interpretive signs about the local flora and is handicap accessible while the trails are open year-round for more extensive hiking.
A highlight of the Eight Dollar Mountain Botanical Wayside is its Darlingtonia fens, or native wetlands, which allow plants like the carnivorous California pitcher plant to grow. These types of wetlands are limited to certain areas of California and Western Oregon, making them a rare sight to see. Other highlights of the trails in this wayside include views of the Illinois River and access to a historic mining ditch.
The Jeffery Pine Loop Trail winds through the serpentine wetlands as well as surrounding dry mountain slopes. This trail also offers access to a historic mining ditch and is within walking distance of the Illinois River.
Length: 1 mile
Intensity: Moderate
The Little Falls Trail is a short trail that extends off of the Jeffery Pine Loop Trail and connects to the Little Falls Campground. Many hikers use this trail to access the Steamboat Creek for a day of swimming and picnicking.
Length: 0.2 miles
Intensity: Easy
This easy trail takes a route to Babyfoot Lake and a small beach area fit for picnicking. Also included at the trailhead are informational signs about the lake and the surrounding area.
Length: 2.5 miles
Intensity: Easy
The Illinois River can be accessed through the trails in the Eight Dollar Mountain Botanical Wayside and is home to plenty of native fish species like salmon, steelhead trout, lamprey, and cutthroat trout. Salmon are most commonly caught in the summer, while steelhead trout are more commonly found in the winter, and fishing is allowed year-round with a valid Oregon state-issued fishing license. The Illinois River itself is a 56-mile-long tributary of the Rogue River and is popular with kayakers and whitewater rafters. Some sections of the river are Class IV and V rapids and include large, sharp boulders, making for a challenging experience. If you'd like to boat on the Illinois River, consider launching from one of the trails at the Eight Dollar Mountain Botanical Wayside or launching upstream and stopping at the trails.
The Eight Dollar Mountain Botanical Wayside offers visitors a chance to see some rare and endangered plant species that thrive in serpentine wetland habitats, which are wetlands that have a constant supply of cold water delivering nutrients to the plants that live within it. Five rare plants conserved here include large-flowered rush-lily, purple-flowered rush-lily, Mendocino gentian, Oregon willow-herb, and western bog violet. Also found in the wayside area are California pitcher plants, plants with pitcher-shaped leaves that are designed to catch and trap insects. When insects land on these leaves, after being lured in by the plant's nectar, they are usually unable to escape the slippery pitcher and slide through the plant's stem to be dissolved for nutrients.
The Eight Dollar Mountain Botanical Wayside is considered to be the beginning of the T.J. Howell Botanical Drive, a 7.5-mile scenic driving route through the Siskiyou Mountains. The Illinois River can also be accessed via this route, and interpretive signs are provided along the drive route for visitors to learn about the botanists who helped mark the Eight Dollar Mountain Botanical Area. Some highlights along the drive include Eight Dollar Bridge, Josephine Creek, Josephine Camp, Days Gulch Botanical Area, Vista of Eight Dollar Mountain viewing area, and the picnic site at the end of the driving route.
Many Bureau of Land Management campgrounds have no water or electricity for you to use, so if you'd like to have full hookups, consider staying at an alternative campground near the Eight Dollar Mountain Botanical Wayside. You can go RV camping at a place like Laughing Alpaca Campground and RV Park, which has full hookups, free Wi-Fi, and available spots for lengthy stays.
For BLM camping, check out Elderberry Flats Campground, a Bureau of Land Management free camping option for tents and RVs. This campground is located along the Rogue River and has paved campsites with picnic tables and shared trash bins. Know that this is a primitive-only campground, though, so you will not have any RV hookups.
If you plan on hiking at the Eight Dollar Mountain Botanical Wayside, be sure to bring lots of drinking water. If you bring any food with you, make sure to bring bags to collect your trash. If you'd like to camp at a BLM-managed campground, you'll want to pack water for drinking and cleaning, and you may consider bringing extra batteries for your battery-operated equipment, like flashlights, heaters, and fans. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
The Eight Dollar Mountain Botanical Wayside is home to very unique wetland ecosystems, so it's important that these areas remain clean and as natural as possible to preserve them. To do your part, follow the BLM's Leave No Trace guidelines when you visit this wayside. These guidelines include simple steps like picking up after yourself, leaving all plants and other items where you find them, and maintaining a safe distance from wild animals.
The Eight Dollar Mountain Botanical Wayside can be accessed from the city of Selma by taking Eight Dollar Mountain Road west. From there, drive 0.8 miles, and then you will see the parking lot area for the wayside on the left of the road.
Ready to visit Eight Dollar Mountain Botanical Wayside? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day of exploring, you'll have your RV to return to for the night, where you'll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here’s a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.
