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By Joseph Vaile September 01. 2015 8:40PM Head out to the Siskiyou Crest before summer's end The heat and smoke were brutal this summer, but now is the time to check out the Siskiyou Crest before summer ends. Photo by Martha McCord There is a saying that absence makes the heart grow fonder. After weeks of smoke-filled skies, I have a renewed fondness for blue skies. Grizzly Peak has come into clear view, and I hope it sticks around.  It is official: We experienced the hottest summer in recorded history in southern Oregon. Drought-fueled forest fires have been burning in nearly every direction surrounding the Rogue Valley.  As the first rains of the season hit, outdoor enthusiasts have the opportunity to enjoy the waning days of summer — smoke-free. Rainy weather and snow in the mountains will make exploring more of a challenge. Now is our chance to get out and explore the mountains.  The Siskiyou Crest is a high-elevation ridge that runs from the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument to the east and extends west over 60 miles. It is a land of craggy peaks, mountain lakes, and ancient forests — full of hiking trails, swimming holes and glorious views. It is perfect this time of year.  Here are the top three Siskiyou Crest hikes you should take before the end of summer:  1) Red Mountain — One of my favorites, this subtle, red peak is close to Ashland and can be easily done in an afternoon. While the highlights of wildflower season are long past, the panoramic views of Mount Shasta, the Cascade Range, and the western Siskiyous are well worth it.  Drive to the Mount Ashland Ski Area parking lot and continue on Road 20 for another 8 miles. (Make sure you continue past Grouse Gap on Road 20, which is about 2.5 miles past the Ski Area.) The easy out and back hike begins where the Pacific Crest Trail crosses the road near Milepost 17 and Siskiyou Gap. Once you can see an easy route, I like to scramble up to the top and bag the peak.  2) Boundary Trail has several access points, but I usually head up the O’Brien Creek Trailhead. The O’Brien is a steep uphill feeder trail to the Boundary Trail, which straddles the northwest Siskiyou Crest. If you are up for a challenge, you can also summit Grayback Mountain from this trailhead. The various trail routes that connect to the Boundary Trail could keep you busy for weeks. From the town of Applegate, turn onto Thompson Creek Road for 11.9 miles. Once it turns gravel, take a hard right onto Road 1005 for 4 miles to O’Brien Creek Trailhead. (Low-clearance cars should park at the lower trailhead made for horse trailers and walk the last 1.7-mile section of seriously rocky road.)  KS Wild has been working for nearly 8 years to complete a grazing buyout to retire the cattle allotment in this area. Cows once roamed over these forests and meadows in the Grayback area. They also made their way into the headwaters of Sucker Creek, near the drinking water source for the Oregon Caves National Monument.  3) Azalea Lake is perhaps the quintessential Siskiyou Crest experience. The lake is tucked in the heart of the Red Buttes Wilderness at the very top of the Butte Fork of the Applegate River. I take the Fir Glade access that climbs to and crests the ridge and drops steeply to this wide, cirque lake. This is an overnighter for most folks, and well worth the 13-mile round trip.  From Highway 238, in the town of Applegate, take Thompson Creek Road for 11.9 miles. When it turns gravel, stay on the main road for another 2.8 miles down to and along Carberry Creek, then turn right onto Steve’s Fork Road (Road 1030) for 5.1 miles and then turn left onto Road 400 for 4.7 miles. Then fork right onto Road 800 to the trailhead.  Just to the north of the trailhead is the Hinkle Lake Botanical Area that has been damaged by illegal off-road vehicles. The Forest Service, local residents and KS Wild’s Adopt-a-Botanical Area Program are working to protect the wet meadows at Hinkle Lake.  Be prepared! When hiking in the Siskiyou Mountains, bring plenty of food and water and the appropriate gear for the weather. While dated, the map Applegate and West Half of Ashland Ranger Districts is the best map of the area. William Sullivan’s "100 Hikes of Southern Oregon" is also a helpful guidebook for exploring the region. Joseph Vaile is executive director of the Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center (KS Wild, 541-488-5789, www.kswild.org). His Wild Side column appears every three weeks.             http://www.dailytidings.com/article/20150901/NEWS/150909961 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->