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Union Creek — where wilderness and pie meet By Peggy Dover Aug 28, 2022 12:15 AM A A About this time each summer, this woman’s fancy turns to fresh, local fruit, especially that which tastes delectable betwixt two layers of flaky crust. I’ve been dreaming of pies, my favorite dessert, and how nicely one would satisfy. Then, the Mail Tribune’s own Sarah Lemon, whose very name suggests a favorite, went and loaded Wednesdays’ A la Carte section with several selections. It was too much for this pie-lover to resist. However, I do resist heating the oven this time of year. So I considered for about three seconds where I could find a freshly made pie to soothe the savage tooth and realized I hadn’t visited the Rogue River Gorge or Natural Bridge in a few years. The wild shenanigans of our awesome Rogue River in the Union Creek area are conveniently situated, like nature’s impetuous arms, around Union Creek Resort and Beckie’s Café, about 10 miles north of Prospect on Highway 62. Beckie’s provides tasty comfort food, and it happens to list several pies. I planned to hike off the calories, though my math in figuring the probability may have been subpar. We thought to enjoy lunch first, always our motto, as I recollected that particular stretch of river and how ferociously it runs. What if I tripped over a sunning blue-tongued skink and took a header into the rapids before achieving pie satisfaction? Over I’d sail with lingering regret. Since 1926, Beckie’s has rustically satisfied hungry travelers’ gullets and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places along with the resort. Business was brisk, as usual, but we slid right into a booth. I had their special, a French dip with grilled onions, Swiss cheese and fries, and Lane scarfed his usual club sandwich. Then, pie. They bake their creations daily and with local fruit. Huckleberries hadn’t quite made an appearance. Our server, Linda, who had the nicest smile, said they would be available come fall. Strawberries were finished, but peaches landed right on target. Tempting, but I chose my favorite after huckleberry, a warmed “very berry” a la mode. Lane is a cream pie guy and ate a slice (?) of banana cream the size of Bigfoot’s cross-trainer. Then we were on our way to work off our indulgences and inundate our senses with the wild and wonderful. Natural Bridge is just before Beckie’s on the left as you head north. It’s where the rumbling Rogue plays peek-a-boo, traveling underground through a lava tube and reappearing several yards below. There’s an easy and accessible walkway from which to enjoy the spectacle — complete with the satisfying roar of all that fresh water. This is also the starting point of the 3.5-mile Rogue Gorge Trail. Or if you’re loaded with pie, drive just past Beckie’s and turn left at the sign for Rogue River Gorge, a 500-foot-long chasm that narrows to 25 feet, forcing a flow of 410,000 gallons per minute into a frothing ribbon. This fenced viewpoint is awesome in a terrifying way. Giant, downed trees, stripped of branches, straddle the river. The pummeling flow has jammed them up against the rocks like pickup sticks. Following the trail, the Rogue eventually loses a measure of bluster and flattens out to afford an icy foot soak. A good source for detailed information is the Forest Service website at fs.usda.gov , then search Rogue Gorge Trail. It’s a comfort knowing that places as magnificent as the Upper Rogue exist so close to home. I can still see the river, smell the needle-covered path and hear the torrent. Love and respect to the many brave souls who risk their lives to protect them. On that note, my heart goes out to the friends and family of Logan Taylor, the dedicated young firefighter who gave his all while protecting our wildlands. A public memorial service is planned for 10 a.m. Monday at Harry & David Field. Peggy Dover is a freelance writer/author. Reach her at [email protected].