Felton Memorial Trail

The Felton Memorial Trail is an under 5 mile out and back. It has a little streamside/hillside/open meadow/mixed pine/madrone/abandoned truck/memorial stone vibe.

Driving

– The Felton Memorial Trail is 45 minutes from Interstate 5. Take the Phoenix exit 24 and head towards route 66 where you will turn right towards Medford. At the next light turn left on South Stage Road and head towards Jacksonville. South Stage Road jogs right and left at Griffin Creek Road, and becomes ‘California Street’ as it passes through Jacksonville, but you know what makes sense… it becomes Route 238 after Jacksonville. (sarcasm alert. Doesn’t make sense!)

Drive past Ruch and you are heading into Wine & Weed country. At about 30 minutes into this drive, before the city of Applegate, before you cross the Applegate River you turn right on N. Applegate Road toward Troon Vineyards. 10 minutes on this road and you’ll hit a weird intersection where you continue forward on Kubli Road while N. Applegate turns hard to the left, and then quickly turn right on Slagle Creek Road. That road dead ends into the trailhead.

Parking
– Maybe, MAYBE, 3 spots right there at the trailhead. There is some room along the country road but be mindful of the various private driveways that look like rural roads sometimes.

The Adventure
– There is a legit trailhead with signage and a sign-in box and rules and all that so start on up the trail. In 1/4 mile there is a split! But it is just a slightly longer right route, and a slightly short left route. Take whatever you want.

Those routes meet up and you continue uphill and pass the shot-up old truck filled with bees and at the 1 mile mark there is an intersection. The Enchanted Forest Trail continues forward, we will take the right turn to the Felton Memorial Trail. Now there is 1.5 miles of up and down mixed forest trail. It’s got a different vibe than other trails in this area. I can’t put my finger on it. It’s… relaxed? Maybe that’s the word.

You end downhill and arrive at the memorial stone for the three men who died in a helicopter crash here. Jeffrey Felton. Karl Hansen. Dale Siegle. There are a few benches and a nice area cleared out to be contemplative and have a lunch. Head back to your car from here and 5 miles. Boom.