Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1914-12-31

I Creek Valley to the edge of the noun
tains and then taking the trail across
the mountains to the caves. The
other route takes one through the
Illinois Valley to the junction of
Sucker and Grayback creeks and then
by trail up Cave creek to its source,
for the waters of Cave creek spring
from the caves themselves.
Direct Route to Marble Halls.
There are long, difficult trails lead
ing to the caves eventually from
northern California and from the
coast, but these cannot be travelled
except by the experienced woodsman.
The road from Ashland via Med
ford, Ore, meets the Williams creek
road from Grants Pass to Provolt,
near the Applegate river, and is
good automobile road.
From Williams Creek Side.
To reach the caves from the Will
liams creek side, the traveller has an
automobile ride of twenty-seven miles
over splendid roads, for the most part
macadamized. AS there are many
ranches along this road and several
postoffices, the highway is carefully
kept in shape. The road comes to an
end at the ranch of the Stevens broth
ers, which, lying in the foothills, was
located as a homestead in 1873. At
this point, at an elevation of 2,1O0
feet, the trail commences and leads
gradually up to the ridge of the
mountains, along which it is followed
until near the headwaters of Gray
back creek, when a descent is made to
cross that stream. The ascent is
again made to the ridge and it is fol-
lowed more or less closely until Cave
crek is reached, when a descent is
made to the entrance to the caves
which are about 4,300 feet above sea
level. By this trail the caves are just
101A miles from the present end OF
the wagon road.
Trail Through the Forests.
With the exception of small
natural park of only few acres ii
extent about two miles from the
caves, the trail leads through the for
est. No more beautiful sight can bt
imagined than to see these gigantic
frs and pines towering toward thu
sky, with occasional openings on thu
crests of the mountains so that {
glimpse may be obtained of the sur
rounding green-covered hills. In
Vulnerable springs and brooks arr
crossed and the traveller can quencl
his thirst with the purest and coldes
, water he ever tasted. Occasionally
from the trail can be heard the nois
of some waterfall far below in tn
canyon, but upon approaching tn
t crossing of Lake creek, not only tn
: thunder is heard but the vision of
5 beautiful falls several hundred fee
5 below the trail is obtained. Fo
: quite distance along the trail tn
name of rhododendron grove Nigh
aptly be applied. This beautiful bus
is growing on all sides and it's Grim
son flowers can be seen for a lon
distance.
Illinois Valley Gateway.
The other route to the caves, a
mentioned above, is from Grant
Pass. through the Illinois Valley t
Kerby or Holland, and across to tn
juntcion of Grayback and Sucke
creeks, which unite at an elevation O
1900 feet. This distance is abou
42h miles over roads that are eX
cellent, with beautiful scenery on al
, sides. The trail, commencing at tn
, end of the road, leads up Sucke
} creek until the mouth of Cave cree
is reached, and from there up Cav
creek to the caves.
Placer Mines Are Seen.
There are several placer mine
along this trail and the traveller ha
the opportunity of seeing the sui
roundings of the old '49 miner wh
, first brought the wealth of the south
, western Oregon mines to the motto
; of the world.