I went on a beautiful autumn hike Saturday with my dogs, Lucy the News Hound and Little I.V. The sun was peeking through the clouds and made the colorful leaves falling from the trees glisten in the light. This is an easy hike called Grayback Interpretive Trail #1204 that makes a 1-mile loop through the trees by Sucker Creek and a marshy meadow.
Even if you don’t feel like hiking, just driving up to the Caves is a beautiful sight to see the changing autumn leaves. I traveled up Caves Highway for 10.5 miles to the Chinquapinn Group Camp, which is one-fourth mile past the Grayback Campground. Before you get to Chinquapinn you will see the Cedar Guard Station on your left. Chinquapin is located behind the Cedar Guard Station and is accessed through the gate immediately to the right (east) of Cedar Guard Station.
History Brief: The Chinquapin Group Campground is located at the former site of the Camp Oregon Caves Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp. During the Great Depression from 1933-941 the CCC camp was home to over 200 men who worked on projects in the Siskiyou National Forest and the Oregon Caves National Monument. Today, the only structure currently remaining at the site is the historic Grayback Ranger Station, constructed by CCC crews around 1936 and located immediately adjacent to the Chinquapin Group Campground. The large Port-Orford cedar tree located near the back of the parking area was dedicated in 2011 as the 56th Oregon State Heritage Tree and is a living reminder of the CCC and Camp Oregon Caves CCC camp.
Note: The sign outside of the Group Camp reads “Chinquapinn,” but the Forest Service site and map reads “Chinquapin.”
When you get to Chinquapinn Camp, the gate will be closed, so park to the side of the entrance so you don’t block the gate. Once you walk into the campground, go straight until you see the trail sign to your right.
What I really appreciate about this walk through the woods is looking at the many types of trees and rainforest plants and listening to the trickle of the creek. According to the Forest Service website (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recreation/camping-cabins), the tree species in this area are diverse, including Port Offord-cedar, Douglas-fir, myrtle, big-leaf maple, Pacific yew, and chinquapin.
As you are hiking the path, veer to the left to take the loop. If you run into Caves Hwy, you have missed your path. On the way back to the campground you will travel by a wet meadow and will hopefully get to hear birds singing in the tall grass. This is the perfect hike to distress and get in your dose of nature therapy.