The Nature Conservancy and U.S. Bureau of Land Management are offering free educational hikes at Upper and Lower Table Rocks during April, May and June. Space is limited and reservations are required.

Hikers can expect great views, an abundance of wildflowers and expert information from specialists. Each hike focuses on different topics, such as geology, cultural legacy, the night sky, and flora and fauna.

Hikers will meet at the designated trailhead for the 2.5- to 3-mile round trip hike. Trails are a moderate grade. Hikes to the top may last three to four hours. Restrooms are available at each trailhead. Dogs and bicycles are not allowed on the trail.

Information about the hikes and online reservations are available at tinyurl.com/TableRocksHikes2024. For more information, call the BLM office at 541-618-2200 or The Nature Conservancy at 541-708-4990.

Hikes in April:

10 a.m. April 6, Lower Table Rock. Explore oak savannas, woodlands and shrublands with Rich Fairbanks, local oak fancier. Learn about recent climate resilient restoration work.

10 a.m. April 7, Lower Table Rock. Enjoy spring blooms with Liz Landreth, Oregon master naturalist for the Cascade-Siskiyou region.

9 a.m. April 13, Upper Table Rock. A family-friendly general information hike with Chamise Kramer of the U.S. Forest Service creative services team and Molly Allen, a BLM environmental education specialist.

10 a.m. April 18, Lower Table Rock. Learn about botanical treasures with Karla Alvarado, a BLM botanist, and Marisa Mancillas, a wetland scientist with the Oregon Department of Transportation.

8 a.m. April 20, Lower Table Rock. Join early birds to listen for and observe the birds of the Table Rocks with Bob Quaccia of the Rogue Valley Audubon Society and Frank Lospalluto from the Klamath Bird Observatory.

9 a.m. April 21, Upper Table Rock, 9 a.m. Learn about Camp White with Medford BLM archaeologists Jennifer Sigler and Dakota Slaton.

9 a.m. April 27, Lower Table Rock, 9 a.m. Dave Garcia, a member of the Siskiyou Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Oregon, will share his love and knowledge of the Table Rocks’ diverse and beautiful native flora.

Day hikes offered for people 55 and older

The Medford Parks and Recreation Department is offering day hikes for people 55 and older. They are led by Marc Mason, health coach.

Three categories of hikes are offered: Nearby hikes, those involving longer trips out of the area and dog-friendly hikes. Space is limited. Register at playmedford.com or 541-774-2400.

The local trips start at 1 p.m. at Rogue X, 701 N. Columbus Ave. in Medford. Participants take a van to the trail. Cost per hike is $12 for residents, $18 for non-residents.

The longer trips cost $49 per trip for residents, $55 for non-residents. Participants meet at the appointed time and take a van to the trail.

The dog-friendly trips begin at 1 p.m. at the trailhead. Cost is $9 for residents, $15 for non-residents.

Local hikes:

• April 9, Cantrall Creek, a quick and easy 1.7-mile hike on a trail paralleling bubbling Cantrall Creek in Jacksonville’s Forest Park.

• April 16, Beckman House to Jacksonville Creek Loop. This hybrid hike includes a sampling of three of Jacksonville’s iconic trails and a short in-town stretch of the historic downtown. The hike is moderately difficult and 4.3 miles long.

• April 23, Canyon Vista to Canyon Falls Loop. This hike offers vistas from a relatively flat creekside trail that passes by several waterfalls. This 2.3-mile hike is rated as easy.

• April 30, Twin Peaks. This steep 2.5-mile hike takes you to an isolated viewpoint with picturesque views of the Rogue Valley.

• May 7, Grouse Gap via Pacific Coast Trail: View spring wildflowers and amazing views of the Siskiyou Mountains. The hike is moderately difficult and 4.5 miles long.

Out-of-area hikes:

• April 10, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Rough and Ready and Eight Dollar Mountain near Cave Junction, with short hikes at both locations. Stop for lunch at Taylor’s Sausage.

• April 26, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Bolt Mountain near Murphy for a five-hour, hard climbing hike with a possible stop at a farm stand or winery on the way back.

• May 10, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., a moderate 3-mile hike of two hours at Castle Crags State Park, with views of Mount Shasta and a stop at Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens on the way back.

Dog-friendly hike:

April 29, Tunnel Ridge to Bear Gulch Loop: A challenging hike of 5 miles. Meet at the trailhead at 1 p.m. Hike leader will provide directions. Bring your well-mannered pooch. Dogs must be on a lead.

Conservancy sets upcoming hikes and events

Learn about birds, butterflies, wildflowers and more during upcoming hikes, work parties and outings hosted by the Southern Oregon Land Conservancy. Registration is required and early sign-ups are suggested.

Events include the following:

• See the wildflowers during a hike at Agate Desert Preserve, located at Table Rock and West Antelope roads, 3-5 p.m. April 10.

• Explore Pompadour Bluff near Ashland, 3-5 p.m. April 17, April 24 and May 8.

• Take a stroll through Whetstone Savanna Preserve, located off Newland Road near White City, 9 a.m. to noon April 21 and May 14.

• Learn about the geology of Pompadour Bluff, 9 a.m. to noon April 27.

• Get a primer on nature journaling 10 a.m. to noon May 11 at Jacksonville’s Oredson-Todd Woods, off Lupine Drive.

• Explore a mountain forest and meadow at a conserved property near Mount Ashland, 4-7 p.m. June 25.

Most hikes are free. Pets are not allowed. Sign up online at landconserve.org. For more information, call 541-482-3069 or email events@landconserve.org.

Wild & Scenic Film Festival is April 12 and 14

The 2024 Wild & Scenic Film Festival is set for 5-9 p.m. April 12 at the Historic Ashland Armory, 208 Oak St. in Ashland, and 4-8 p.m. April 14 at the Grants Pass Performing Arts Center, 313 N.E. Olive St. in Grants Pass. The event is hosted by the Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center and Rogue Riverkeeper.

Eleven films are offered, ranging in length from five minutes to 19 minutes, covering topics that include dam removal, kelp forests, cultural practices, river ecosystems, California’s wild rivers, a blind rock climber, a Dallas skate park, bears on the Alaska Peninsula, habitat restoration in British Columbia, the shrinking Great Salt Lake and indigenous people and salmon in Bristol Bay, Alaska.

Admission is $20. Purchase tickets at siskiyoufilmfest.org. For help purchasing a ticket or other accommodations, contact Allee Gustafson, 541-488-5789, ext. 1014.

Spread the word about your upcoming outdoors-related event by sending us brief details, contact information and other important detailsinformation so that we can tell others about your event in our weekly column, Outdoor Adventures.

Send to reporter Shaun Hall at shall@rv-times.com or 2 E. Main St., Ste. 200, Medford, Oregon, 97501. Reach Hall at 458-225-7179.