JACKSON COUNTY, Oregon — Let’s go on the road to see a geologic wonder and Oregon landmark that’s home to hundreds of different wildflowers.
The travel may be long and the hikes are steep, but the payoffs atop dramatic and towering Table Rocks are worth the effort.
On a day too nice to stay indoors, the trail to outdoor learning is open and inviting to explore an Oregon wonder many have missed; where shooting stars, fawn lilies and red bells are always by your side.
There‘s also plenty of elbow room for brushing up on botany and wildlife — like wild turkeys — across thousands of acres at Lower Table Rock near Medford.
The Nature Conservancy‘s Molly Morrison and the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Molly Allen are teachers who guide educators-in-training Melissa Clement, Mary Sue Walker and Kelly Gaudin.
The three women will soon teach groups of up to 5,000 students each spring and summer along the nearly two mile trail to the top of Lower Table Rock.
“From down here on the trail, you can see the gently sloping sides,” said Allen. “This is where the softer sediment is eroding from Lower Table Rock. It’s a really unique land form that’s so different from anything else around Southern Oregon.”
Exploring Table Rocks | Grant's Getaways
Seven million years ago, a nearby volcano erupted and filled the ancient Rogue River Valley with lava.
Over the millennia, ancient rivers eroded the landscape, but left these two plateaus behind.
Each Table Rock (Upper and Lower) rises more than 800 feet from the valley floor.
Each Table Rock is also protected by the co-owners, BLM and The Nature Conservancy as areas of critical environmental concern.
“That designation means that it can’t be developed,” said Allen. “There cannot be resource extraction like logging or mining here because of the special plants and animals that live here.”
Once you reach the top of Lower Table Rock, it is easy to see that the plateau is wrapped by ancient basalt and offers eye-popping views of the valley floor below.
Down on the ground, you can hike to scores of vernal pools that fill with spring rain.
“These pools are like fascinating aquariums,” said Morrison. “They are full of small invertebrates including the star of the show, fairy shrimp or vernal fairy shrimp that are cute little critters.”
There are more than 200 wildflower species growing on Lower Table Rock including the extremely rare dwarf-wooly meadowfoam.
“That flower only grows on the top of the Table Rocks and nowhere else in the whole wide world,” added Morrison. “The Lower and Upper Table Rocks are like islands in the sky: iconic features for the region… landmarks of natural and cultural history that are dearly loved by residents and visitors alike.”
The best is yet to come for the springtime wildflower show at Oregon’s islands in the sky. The peak period stretches from early April until late May.
Be sure to follow my Oregon adventures via the new Grant’s Getaways Podcast. Each segment is a story-telling session where I relate behind the scenes stories from four decades of travel and television reporting.
Be sure to watch the weekly half hour program of Grant’s Getaways. The show airs each Saturday and Sunday at 4 p.m. on KGW.
You can also learn more about many of my favorite Oregon travels and adventures in the Grant’s Getaways book series, including:
- "Grants Getaways I," Photography by Steve Terrill
- "Grant's Getaways II," Photography by Steve Terrill
- “Grant’s Getaways: 101 Oregon Adventures,” Photography by Jeff Kastner
- “Grant’s Getaways: Guide to Wildlife Watching in Oregon,” Photography by Jeff Kastner
- “Grant’s Getaways: Oregon Adventures with the Kids,” Photography by Jeff Kastner
The book collection offers hundreds of outdoor activities across Oregon and promises to engage a kid of any age.
You can reach me: Gmcomie@kgw.com