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BLM to host 40th annual Table Rocks free weekend hike series

Oregon-Washington
Medford DO
Event Coordinator
Kyle Sullivan
541-618-2340
BLM Office:
Medford District Office
Event Dates
to

See Spring Hikes Program section for more details

Event Description

Table Rock
Hikers at Table Rocks. BLM photo.

MEDFORD, Ore. — The Bureau of Land Management, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, will host its 40th annual spring series of free guided weekend hikes at the Table Rocks. The series also coincides with the Nation’s 250th anniversary and the BLM’s 80th anniversary, highlighting the role of public lands in our Nation’s history.

From April to June, local specialists will lead family-friendly hikes focused on wildflowers, pollinators, wildlife, geology, stewardship, and the area’s rich history.

“Everyone is invited to join us and celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence with our weekend hike series at Table Rocks,” said Scott Nagel, Butte Falls Field Manager. “It's a great opportunity to learn about the natural and cultural history of the area, and to think we’ve been doing this for half of the BLMs history is incredible.”

Hikes are free and open to all ages. Space is limited and advanced registration is required. Hikers will meet at the designated trailhead for the 2.5- to 3-mile roundtrip hike, which gains about 800 feet in elevation. The trails are a moderate grade. Participants should dress for the weather and terrain and bring water and snacks since hikes to the top may last 3 to 4 hours. Restrooms are available only at each trailhead; there is no drinking water available on site. To help protect this special place, dogs, bicycles, and motor vehicles are not allowed on the trail.

“The Table Rocks offer an outdoor classroom unlike any other,” said Aubrey May, Southwest Oregon Preserve and Forest Manager at the Nature Conservancy. “These hikes bring people together to experience the beauty of their public lands and to learn firsthand about the unique plants, wildlife, and ecosystems that make this area so special.”

For more information or to register, contact the BLM Medford District Office at 541-618-2200, Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

2026 Weekend Hike Schedule

  • April 11 — Upper Table Rock (9 a.m.): Nature Rocks! General ecology and history
  • April 12 — Lower Table Rock (9 a.m.): Oak, Fire, and Restoration
  • April 18 — Upper Table Rock (9 a.m.): Layers of time: Geology and volcanic history
  • April 19 — Upper Table Rock (9 a.m.): Walk on the wild side: Wildlife and habitats
  • April 25 — Lower Table Rock (8 a.m.): For the early birds: Birding hike (limited to 20 participants)
  • April 26 — Upper Table Rock (9 a.m.): Wildflowers and invasive species
  • May 2 — Upper Table Rock (9 a.m.): Camp White: “The Alcatraz of Boot Camps:” Camp White WWII history (limited to 15 participants)
  • May 3 — Lower Table Rock Loop (9:30 a.m.): Be dazzled by bees: Native bees and pollinators (limited to 15 participants)
  • May 16 — Lower Table Rock (9 a.m.): Uncovering the botanical treasures: Native plants and wildflowers
  • June 13 — Lower Table Rock Loop (8:30 p.m.): Table Rocks after dark: Exploring local bat and owl ecology
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The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

Logo of Freedom250 showing American flag with stars arranged in circle around 250. Words under logo says Freedom 250

Did you know? A few facts about the Table Rocks

  • The 4,864 acres of the Table Rocks are jointly owned, managed and protected by The Nature Conservancy and the Bureau of Land Management.
  • The Table Rocks are the ancestral homelands of the Takelma people who lived here since time immemorial. Their descendants, as members of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, share stewardship of these traditional lands for past, present, and future generations.
  • The Table Rocks are named for their location along the Rogue River: Upper Table Rock is upstream and Lower Table Rock is downstream.
  • There is an inactive airstrip on Lower Table Rock that was built in 1948.
  • More than 50,000 visitors annually hike the Table Rocks, making it one of the most popular hiking locations in Southern Oregon.
  • The Table Rocks are home to more than 70 species of animals and 340 species of plants including 200 species of wildflowers.
  • The vernal pools at the top of the Table Rocks are one of the few places that are home to a federally threatened species of fairy shrimp, Branchinecta lynchi.