The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
The 40-mile-long Galice-Hellgate Back Country Byway begins near Merlin, Oregon and runs along the Rogue National Wild and Scenic River before entering the Siskiyou Mountains. Along the way, you can find many hiking opportunities and great spots for a picnic. This 40-mile road that is easily accessible to passenger vehicles is open year-round. It is approximately 70 miles from Redwood National Park and about 170 miles from Lassen Volcanic National Park. As it does for millions of acres of public lands, the Bureau of Land Management oversees this byway and the surrounding area for public use.
The northeast trailhead is at Grave Creek, about 30 miles northeast of Grants Pass, Oregon, and the southwest trailhead is at Big Bend near Foster Bar, Oregon. This hiking-only trail takes about four days to complete. It runs along the Rouge River.
Length: 40 miles
Intensity: Strenuous
This trail near Grants Pass is open for horseback riding, hiking and mountain biking. Consider hiking it in the summer to see the wildflowers along the shaded trail, and you may see bears. This trail can be muddy after rain.
Length: 6 miles
Intensity: Moderate
This trail near Ashland, Oregon gains over 1,100 feet in elevation. You are likely to see a variety of animals, possibly including bears. The main route is graveled, so ensure you stay on it because there are a lot of offshoots.
Length: 4.4 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Lake Selmec is a terrific place to go fishing. Largemouth bass fishing is usually superb throughout the year, and the state stocks this 100-acre lake with rainbow trout. There are at least two camping facilities on this lake's shores.
Rabbit Ears near Roseburg, Oregon is a terrific place to climb in the fall. This area is not open until July 31st because falcons nest annually here. You can attempt the longer climbs, but there are also many sports climbs on the apron in this area.
The Kenneth Denman Wildlife Area is a fun place to view wildlife. This area was set aside to protect many bird species, including pheasants, valley quail, blue heron, mallard ducks and cinnamon teals. You may also see otters, beavers, black-tailed deer, skunks, raccoons, western pond turtles and gopher snakes. This is also a fabulous place to go fishing.
Head to TouVelle State Recreation Area if you want to have a picnic. There are picnic tables overlooking the Rouge River at this site next to Denman Wildlife Area. There are five group picnic areas, some with electricity, and many individual sites.
While there are numerous pullouts along the Galice-Hellgate Back Country Byway, there is no organized BLM RV camping facility. Big Pine Campground in the Rogue River- Siskiyou National Forest sits under the second-tallest grove of Ponderosa pine trees in the United States. This campground features 12 campsites. While there are no hookups, hand-pumped drinking water is available. Ennis Riffle Campground is a 50-acre campground about 18 miles from Grants Pass. Many campers enjoy fishing in the Rogue River while staying at this campground. There is a boat ramp and a vault toilet. Indian Mary Campground is a county-operated camping facility that has full hookups in Merlin. This campground along the river has a sand volleyball court, fishing area and other recreational activities. Whitehorse Park offers 44 camping spots. This county park has a boat ramp, picnic tables, shower house and fishing area.
There is an abundance of Bureau of Land Management free camping opportunities and other options operated by the national forest service near this scenic drive. Elderberry Flats Campground sits on the banks of Evans Creek. You can go horseback riding, hiking, swimming and off-roading near this Bureau of Land Management camping facility. When searching for "BLM camping near me" at the south end of this highway, consider the Tucker Flat Campground about a mile from Rogue River Ranch National Historic Site. There are six campsites available at this campground on Mud Creek's shores.
While the start of this highway is only a short distance from Interstate 5, the end of it is in a very remote area. Therefore, bringing at least three days of supplies with you is advisable if you continue from the southern end of this highway. Additionally, ensure that you have a full tank of gas. One of the few places to get gas along the road is at Galice. This route was laid out years ago by Native Americans and can be curvy in places. Never drive faster than you are comfortable based on road conditions.
Bureau of Land Management campgrounds are terrific places to stay in nature. When visiting them, relax and take life at a slower pace. Enjoy your camping adventure even more by taking the time to learn more about BLM camping before your trip.
Many people are tempted to throw their trash out the RV's windows when driving in remote areas like the Galice-Hellgate Back Country Byway. This ruins the scenery for those coming behind you and may harm wildlife. When the trash gets into the Rogue River, it can float far downstream and destroy other areas. Therefore, please contain your trash until you get to a place where you can throw it away.
Take the Merlin exit off Interstate 5 North. The Galice-Hellgate Back Country Byway begins at this point, and you will be on Merlin-Galice Road West. About 15 miles into the drive, you will come to the Galice Access Road. Turn right on it. The byway continues for 16 more miles. Once the byway ends, you can continue on this road, bringing you to Gold Beach, Oregon. The Galice Access Road is often closed in the winter.
Address: Galice-Hellgate Back Country Byway, Merlin-Galice Road West, Merlin, Oregon 97532
Ready to visit Galice-Hellgate Back Country Byway? 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 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.
