63400-8104 (01/15)
All information or fees subject to change without notice.
This brochure is available in alternative formats upon request.
Call 1-800-551-6949. Oregon Relay for the hearing impaired: dial 711.
Printed on Recycled Paper
small children.
steep hills and may not be suitable for
trail. Please note that the route includes
to the numbered posts along the ¾-mile
park. The numbers in this guide correspond
animals, and geological features in the
We invite you to explore the diverse plants,
Jacksonville
Historic Landmark
Ashland
99
238
Medford
r
ve
Ri
To
Sacramento
97
66
39
Upper
Klamath
Lake
Bly
140
r
Rive
140
chaparral woodland and dense forest.
Adel
Booth
Valley Falls
Lake
Abert
31
Paisley
395
Summer
Lake
State S
Ro cenic W
gu
ate
e
rw a
Riv
er
U
r way
along the Joseph Stewart Nature Trail — dry,
Goose Lake
State Scenic
Corridor
State Wayside
Chandler
Sprague
Nature Trail
Interpretive Guide
Fort
Klamath
62
62
Crater
Lake
y
r
Rive
nic W
ate
State Recreation Area
State Trail
OC&E
Woods Line
Mt. McLoughlin
Gearhart
Mountain
State Recreation Area
te Sce
Two distinct ecosystems await hikers
Clear Lake Reservoir
st
Lo
Lakeview
Klamath
Falls
Howard
Prairie
Reservoir
er
Riv
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
725 Summer St. NE, Suite C
Salem, OR 97301
Check out other
Oregon State Parks by visiting
www.oregonstateparks.org
To San Francisco
C A L I F O R N I A
Oregon Caves
National Monument
46
S
Mouiskiyou
ntain
s
140
Grants
Pass
Joseph H. Stewart
Sta
97
CRATER
LAKE
NATIONAL
PARK
Thompson
Reservoir
mson
Willia r
Rive
Alkali
Lake
Station
Silver
Lake
Lava Field
To Chemult
To Riley
To La Pine
Lemolo
Lake
1
Nature trail
Hiking trails:
Hard surface
Soft surface
Bicycle path
1
D Loop
2
Lo
Accessible
facility
st
C
re
ek
Re
se
rv
oi
r
CL
oo
p
3
Amphitheater
A Loop
4
Playground
B Loop
5
Group Camp
Group picnic
area
Group Camp
Parking
6
7
Boat launch
In time, wounded trees
heal themselves by forming
a callus. Trees of all varieties
form calluses as a way of
recovering from a broken
limb or nick in the bark.
Within days, a thin layer of
cells grows over an open
wound, much like a scab.
The callus material grows like a collar around the wound,
similar to a scar over wounded human skin. Seen here,
the bark covered the callus completely before the tree
ultimately died, likely from rot and old age.
(Toxicodendron diversilobum)
Leaves of three, let them be! Poison-oak is one of
the most widespread and adaptable shrubs of North
America. It can look like a small shrub, climb like a
vine or crawl along the ground. Poison-oak is easy to
spot in spring, summer and fall: look for shiny green,
red or yellow leaves in groups of three. Be careful of
poison-oak during all seasons. The oil found in the
stems, roots and leaves spreads easily and may cause
a severe skin rash. If you come in contact with the
leaves, ordinary soap won’t do the trick. Wash your
skin and clothes with dish detergent and water. Your
best protection is to learn to recognize poison-oak and
avoid the plant altogether.
Walk, Look and Listen
Registration
booth
8 9
10
20
11
12 13 19
18
14
Parking
Walk quietly. What sounds do you hear?
Look along the sides of the trail. Can you find
animals that make their homes here, or signs
of the past fire that burned uphill? What smells
tickle your nose? Remember them and note how
they change later in your walk.
To
Picnic shelter
Fish cleaning
station
B Loo
p
Nature Trail
3 Tree Callus
1 Poison-Oak
Flush toilet
Shower
Viewpoint
op
D Lo
iles)
Pro
s
p
e
ct (9
m
17
15
62
16
4 Douglas-fir and Woodpeckers
(Pseudotsuga menziesii)
Look for the
woodpecker holes
in this Doulas-fir
tree. Woodpeckers and
Douglas-fir benefit from
a symbiotic relationship.
Woodpeckers dig for
insects and insect larvae
in the tree trunk and
under flakes of bark.
This rids the tree of harmful insects and spreads seeds.
If the tree becomes diseased or dies, woodpeckers will
continue to eat insects in the decay and create larger
holes for nests in the tree.
2 Manzanita
Swimming area
Picnic Area A
(Arctostaphylos
manzanita)
“Manzanita” is Spanish
for “little apples,” but
these fruits aren’t for
snacking. Manzanita
produces inedible berries
year-round, which change
from white to deep red
as summer progresses.
Manzanita can grow as
a bush like the one growing here or as a tree that can
reach 20 feet tall.
Dock
Marina
cafe store
d (36
edfor
To M
Picnic Area C
)
miles
ay
199
h
5
ue
Lost
Creek
Res.
Prospect
Canyonville
227
42
q ua
mp
Diamond Lake
Roseburg
Joseph Stewart
State Park
North Umpqua River
138
5
To Eugene
63400-8104 (01/15)
All information or fees subject to change without notice.
This brochure is available in alternative formats upon request.
Call 1-800-551-6949. Oregon Relay for the hearing impaired: dial 711.
small children.
steep hills and may not be suitable for
Printed on Recycled Paper
trail. Please note that the route includes
to the numbered posts along the ¾-mile
park. The numbers in this guide correspond
animals, and geological features in the
We invite you to explore the diverse plants,
chaparral woodland and dense forest.
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
725 Summer St. NE, Suite C
Salem, OR 97301
along the Joseph Stewart Nature Trail — dry,
Two distinct ecosystems await hikers
Check out other
Oregon State Parks by visiting
www.oregonstateparks.org
To San Francisco
Jacksonville
Historic Landmark
S
Mouiskiyou
ntain
s
Ashland
99
Lakeview
State Trail
OC&E
Woods Line
Upper
Klamath
Lake
Mt. McLoughlin
Bly
Canyonville
227
2
q ua
mp
Fort
Klamath
62
y
Diamond Lake
Roseburg
Sta
nic W
te Sce
ate
r
way
Chandler
Valley Falls
Nature Trail
Interpretive Guide
Paisley
395
Summer
Lake
97
CRATER
LAKE
NATIONAL
PARK
North Umpqua River
138
State Wayside
Lake
Abert
62
Crater
Lake
Adel
Booth
31
Prospect
r
Rive
Rive
r
140
State Scenic
Corridor
Sprague
State Recreation Area
Lost
Creek
Res.
140
Gearhart
Mountain
Joseph H. Stewart
5
Goose Lake
Lemolo
Lake
mson
Willia r
Rive
Thompson
Reservoir
Alkali
Lake
Station
Silver
Lake
Lava Field
To Chemult
To Riley
Joseph Stewart
State Park
To La Pine
To Eugene
1
Bicycle path
2
Accessible
facility
L
t
os
C
re
ek
s
Re
er
r
1 Poison-Oak
Flush toilet
CL
oo
p
D Lo
op
Shower
Viewpoint
(Toxicodendron diversilobum)
Leaves of three, let them be! Poison-oak is one of
the most widespread and adaptable shrubs of North
America. It can look like a small shrub, climb like a
vine or crawl along the ground. Poison-oak is easy to
spot in spring, summer and fall: look for shiny green,
red or yellow leaves in groups of three. Be careful of
poison-oak during all seasons. The oil found in the
stems, roots and leaves spreads easily and may cause
a severe skin rash. If you come in contact with the
leaves, ordinary soap won’t do the trick. Wash your
skin and clothes with dish detergent and water. Your
best protection is to learn to recognize poison-oak and
avoid the plant altogether.
3
Amphitheater
A Loop
8
Boat launch
Parking
Registration
booth
9
10
20
11
12 13 19
18
14
17
15
In time, wounded trees
heal themselves by forming
a callus. Trees of all varieties
form calluses as a way of
recovering from a broken
limb or nick in the bark.
Within days, a thin layer of
cells grows over an open
wound, much like a scab.
The callus material grows like a collar around the wound,
similar to a scar over wounded human skin. Seen here,
the bark covered the callus completely before the tree
ultimately died, likely from rot and old age.
Walk quietly. What sounds do you hear?
Look along the sides of the trail. Can you find
animals that make their homes here, or signs
of the past fire that burned uphill? What smells
tickle your nose? Remember them and note how
they change later in your walk.
To Pr
Fish cleaning
station
3 Tree Callus
Walk, Look and Listen
)
7
miles
6
Picnic shelter
ct (9
Group Camp
Parking
Group picnic
area
ospe
5
Group Camp
B Loo
Nature Trail
B Loop
p
4
Playground
62
16
4 Douglas-fir and Woodpeckers
2 Manzanita
Swimming area
Picnic Area A
Dock
Marina
cafe store
edfo
Picnic Area C
To M
iles)
6m
rd (3
(Arctostaphylos
manzanita)
“Manzanita” is Spanish
for “little apples,” but
these fruits aren’t for
snacking. Manzanita
produces inedible berries
year-round, which change
from white to deep red
as summer progresses.
Manzanita can grow as
a bush like the one growing here or as a tree that can
reach 20 feet tall.
Ri
Grants
Pass
L
D Loop
e
5
140
State Recreation Area
os
t
Hiking trails:
Hard surface
Soft surface
r
ve
199
39
Klamath
Falls
Howard
Prairie
Reservoir
Medford
U
Nature trail
y
238
97
66
er
Riv
Oregon Caves
National Monument
46
Clear Lake Reservoir
To
Sacramento
C A L I F O R N I A
State S
Ro cenic W
g
ate
ue
rw a
Riv
er
1
i
vo
(Pseudotsuga menziesii)
Look for the
woodpecker holes
in this Doulas-fir
tree. Woodpeckers and
Douglas-fir benefit from
a symbiotic relationship.
Woodpeckers dig for
insects and insect larvae
in the tree trunk and
under flakes of bark.
This rids the tree of harmful insects and spreads seeds.
If the tree becomes diseased or dies, woodpeckers will
continue to eat insects in the decay and create larger
holes for nests in the tree.
9 Vine Maple
5 Boulder Row
These boulders are remnants of the past, a time when
volcanic events battered the Upper Rogue mountains.
During an eruption, mountaintop snow melted into a
torrent of floodwater, washing tons of rock and soil down
hillsides. This happened over and over again between 2
and 7 million years ago, creating a misplaced repository of
soil, sediment and basaltic-andesite boulders. Over time,
sediments covered the boulders, hiding them from view.
Water, wind and human activities—such as when the
Army Corps of Engineers built Lost Creek Lake—exposed
this outcrop, giving us a peek into the past.
Caution: Steep decline ahead.
6 Western Gray Squirrel
(Acer circinatum)
Nothing says autumn
like the brilliant red
and gold leaves of
the vine maple. Over
time, the twisting and
spreading limbs of a
single tree can turn
an open space into
a dense, impassable
thicket. The wood was
historically used by
local tribes for fishing
nets, snowshoes and
cooking tools.
10 Oregon grape
(Mahonia aquifolium)
Oregon’s state flower has a storied past. Native
Americans used the bark of the Oregon grape to
produce yellow dye. They also used the bark and berries
medicinally for liver, gall bladder and eye problems,
as well as to treat shellfish poisoning. Today, Oregon
grape remains a popular herbal medicine sold in health
stores. That’s why it’s important not to overharvest wild
resources. The tart, blue berries aren’t pleasant to eat
raw, but they can produce delectable jelly and wine!
(Sciurus griseus)
It’s hard to miss these
noisy, bushy-tailed
chatterboxes. That’s
because during the day
they search for plants,
fruits and nuts. Squirrels
have well-developed
jaw muscles and chisellike front teeth that they
sharpen by gnawing on
hard objects. The gnawing also helps file the squirrel’s
other growing teeth. If not filed, the teeth will continue
to grow and inhibit eating until the animal starves.
Remember, feeding wild animals like squirrels makes
them more aggressive at taking people’s food.
7 Lost Creek Lake
A lake built with a purpose. The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers built Lost Creek Lake in 1977 to reduce flooding
downstream and control water quality and temperature,
as well as to provide water for irrigation, recreation and
power. Engineers allow the reservoir to fill in the spring
and winter and draw the water level down each summer.
The water level behind the dam fluctuates more than 100
feet throughout the year, from a high of 1,872 feet to a
low of 1,751 feet. Look carefully at the shoreline—can
you see the high water mark?
13 Diamond Creek Falls
Can you hear the
roar of water? You are
listening to Diamond
Creek Falls. These falls
cascade gently down
a slope of fallen rocks
called talus, partially
hidden in the lush
vegetation. Underground
stream channels and
surface water feed the
falls. The water continues
to flow a short distance
downslope until it
concludes its surface
journey at Diamond Pond.
The trail splits here; stay to the left and
continue to group camp area.
14 Western red cedar
(Thuja plicata)
A treasured tree. Native Americans traditionally used
western red cedar to make planks for houses, canoes,
utensils, clothing, ropes and fishing nets. Western red
cedar remains extremely valuable today. Its heartwood
resists decay, and it is prized for use in areas exposed
to weather. Soft in texture and straight grained with a
pleasant aroma, the red cedar is an attractive and useful
member of the forest.
Trail forks; stay to the left.
18 A protective shield
Just as skin protects people,
bark protects trees. The bark
of a tree is formed from dead,
hardened tree cells and serves as
a protective armor. For many tree
species, it also is a distinguishable
physical characteristic. Remember
the red cedar and Douglas-fir you
saw earlier? Look ahead. Based
upon the bark, can you tell which
tree is which?
19 Pacific Madrone
(Arbutus menziesii)
A smooth, greenish-brown trunk and peeling outer
bark are hallmarks of the Pacific Madrone, a tree
prized for its many uses. The
twisty branches make excellent
nesting sites for birds, which also
find the berries to be a delicious
meal. Native Americans also ate
the berries and used the leaves as
an ointment for cuts. They boiled
the bark to make a medicinal tea
to soothe stomachaches. Pacific
Madrone is also prized for use in
exotic flooring, furniture, cabinetry
and other decorative pieces.
15 Diamond Pond
20 Diamond Creek
(Pandion haliaetus)
Look closely to see the home of the “fish hawk.”
Notice the large stick nest at the top of the snag directly
head? Osprey—migratory birds that return from South
America to Oregon each April—nest in large dead trees
or on nesting platforms near lakes and rivers. With long,
curved claws, these birds are fishing specialists. They
dive feet first from 30-100 feet above the water’s surface
to catch fish to eat or to feed to their young.
Can you solve this disappearing water mystery?
Fed by Diamond Creek, this pond stays small due
to its unusual flow pattern. Water does not flow out
the typical
way—via a
stream or other
waterway.
Instead, water
seeps into the
ground from
the pond, likely
adding to the
water in Lost
Creek Lake.
An ambling journey. Groundwater gushes from a
natural spring and flows into Diamond Creek, then
travels a short distance further and pools in a small
grass meadow.
The water’s path
continues several
hundred feet to
Diamond Creek
Falls. Its flow slows
at Diamond Pond,
where it seeps
underground and
likely makes its way
into Lost Creek Lake.
16 Western sword fern
(Polystichum munitum)
12 Downed tree
(Lonicera ciliosa)
A tasty treat for birds and bees. The large orange,
trumpet-shaped flowers of the honeysuckle are favorites
of hummingbirds and bees. In late summer, orange berries
replace the flowers. Native Americans used the yearround vines for weaving, binding and lashing.
A competition for survival. These young Douglasfir, vine maple and western red cedar trees are all
competing for soil nutrients, water and sunlight. Over
time, the healthiest and
strongest trees prevail
and help sustain the
forest. Can you tell
which tree is winning
the competition today,
compared to 2005 when
this photo was taken?
11 Osprey nest
Caution: Steep incline ahead.
8 Orange Honeysuckle
17 Nursery of Trees
Hooray for decay! The lives of many common forest
creatures depend on decay of large logs like this one.
Insects such as bark beetles, wood borers and termites
feed on the decaying wood. Larger animals— such as
rodents, woodpeckers and bears — forage in the logs for
grubs and adult insects. Eventually insects, fungi, bacteria
and weather will recycle the nutrients from this log back
into the soil.
Fronds decorate the forest floor. The sword fern
boasts 75-100 fronds that can reach three feet in length.
Turn over a frond to see rows of brownish-orange
dots— spores used by the fern for reproduction.
Native Americans used the fronds to line berry baskets
and make steaming pits. In lean times, they ate the
underground stems, called rhizomes.
Thank you for enjoying our Nature Trail!
We invite you to explore our other hiking trails:
one to the Lost Creek Marina and one to the cycle
loop at Taggert’s Creek Bridge. In addition, six
miles of cycling trails wind through the park.
Hiking tips
•This trail is designated for hikers only. It is not
ADA accessible and may not be suitable for
small children.
•For your safety, please watch for poison-oak,
low hanging branches and uneven terrain.
• Keep to the trail to help prevent erosion and
damage to native vegetation.
•Pack it in; pack it out. Thank you for keeping
our park litter-free.
•No smoking on the trail.
To help conserve our natural resources, you
may return this brochure to the information
booth at the end of your journey.