Bolt Mountain Recreation Opportunity Guide€¦ · d Property Status ep r 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 0 0 r J...

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History and Visitor Information: History and Visitor Information: . Believe it or not, the origin of Bolt Mountain began under the sea. About 300 million years ago, the only animals living where southwestern Oregon is today were sea creatures. At that time, the coastline of North America was located near present-day Montana. No, Bolt Mountain did not rise up from the ocean floor from a strike of Poseidon’s trident, but rather when an oceanic tectonic plate began to slowly crash into the North American continental tectonic plate from the west about 160 million years ago. The impact resulted in the pushing up of an enormous amount of material and caused the formation of a long chain of mountainous islands. Rocks from these ancient islands are today part of the Klamath Mountains, in which Bolt Mountain is found. Bolt Mountain is situated in a geologically and biologically rich area known as the Klamath-Siskiyou Ecoregion. The rocks, soils and corresponding plant species found on Bolt Mountain display this wealth of biodiversity. A majority of the soils found on the mountain originate from the rock serpentinite. This rock was pushed up to the earth’s surface from the ocean floor during the uplift activity mentioned earlier. Over time, the rock breaks down forming serpentine soil. Unlike most fertile soils, serpentine lacks calcium, nitrogen and other vital nutrients which most plants require to grow and thrive. Serpentine is also high in heavy metals and magnesium. Plants found growing on this soil, such as the Jeffery Pine, have adapted to tolerate these extreme conditions. Remember to practice leave no trace principals by staying on the designated trail on your hike to the summit of Bolt Mountain. Keep an eye out for rocks with a bluish-green tint and slick-scaly texture. This is serpentinite. Once you reach the summit. enjoy the 360° view and imagine what this landscape may have looked like millions of years ago. Elevation: Elevation: 1,010 ft. — 2,180 ft. Length: Length: 3.2 mi. one way Difficulty: Difficulty: Moderate—Difficult Activities Activities: Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding. Motorized vehicles are prohibited on the trail. Medford District Bureau of Land Management Grants Pass Interagency Office 2164 NE Spalding Ave. (541) 471-6500 www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation Use Season: Use Season: All Year Fees: Fees: A small fee is required to park vehicles at the trailhead which is located within Fish Hatchery Park, a Josephine County Park. The park also has picnic tables, outhouses and a loop trail. Bolt Mountain Recreation Opportunity Guide Driving Directions: Driving Directions: From the intersection of Hwy. 199 and 238 in Grants Pass, proceed on Hwy. 238 towards Murphy. Continue on Hwy. 238 towards Murphy for 1.5 miles then turn right onto New Hope Road. In 3.2 miles, turn right onto Fish Hatchery Road. Just before the bridge over the Appelgate River, turn right onto Wetherbee St. which ends in the parking lot for Fish Hatchery Park and Bolt Mt. Safety Concerns: Safety Concerns: Ticks, poison oak, rattlesnakes. Location: Location: T37 S, R6 W, Sec 9 and 16; Latitude and Longitude: 42 21 21.44 -123 24 26.50 Facilities: Facilities: Trail

Transcript of Bolt Mountain Recreation Opportunity Guide€¦ · d Property Status ep r 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 0 0 r J...

Page 1: Bolt Mountain Recreation Opportunity Guide€¦ · d Property Status ep r 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 0 0 r J F o s h h a n e o r n P t y y r) k B o o l t t M t n . . T r aa i l!e Legend Bolt

History and Visitor Information:History and Visitor Information: . Believe it or not, the origin of Bolt

Mountain began under the sea. About 300 million years ago, the only animals

living where southwestern Oregon is today were sea creatures. At that time,

the coastline of North America was located near present-day Montana. No,

Bolt Mountain did not rise up from the ocean floor from a strike of Poseidon’s

trident, but rather when an oceanic tectonic plate began to slowly crash into

the North American continental tectonic plate from the west about 160

million years ago. The impact resulted in the pushing up of an enormous

amount of material and caused the formation of a long chain of mountainous

islands. Rocks from these ancient islands are today part of the Klamath

Mountains, in which Bolt Mountain is found.

Bolt Mountain is situated in a geologically and biologically rich area known as

the Klamath-Siskiyou Ecoregion. The rocks, soils and corresponding plant

species found on Bolt Mountain display this wealth of biodiversity. A majority

of the soils found on the mountain originate from the rock serpentinite. This

rock was pushed up to the earth’s surface from the ocean floor during the

uplift activity mentioned earlier. Over time, the rock breaks down forming

serpentine soil. Unlike most fertile soils, serpentine lacks calcium, nitrogen and

other vital nutrients which most plants require to grow and thrive. Serpentine

is also high in heavy metals and magnesium. Plants found growing on this soil,

such as the Jeffery Pine, have adapted to tolerate these extreme conditions.

Remember to practice leave no trace principals by staying on the designated

trail on your hike to the summit of Bolt Mountain. Keep an eye out for rocks

with a bluish-green tint and slick-scaly texture. This is serpentinite. Once you

reach the summit. enjoy the 360° view and imagine what this landscape may

have looked like millions of years ago.

Elevation:Elevation: 1,010 ft. —

2,180 ft.

Length:Length: 3.2 mi. one way

Difficulty:Difficulty: Moderate—Difficult

ActivitiesActivities: Hiking,

mountain biking,

horseback riding.

Motorized vehicles are

prohibited on the trail.

Medford District Bureau of Land

Management

Grants Pass Interagency Office

2164 NE Spalding Ave.

(541) 471-6500

www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation

Use Season:Use Season: All Year

Fees:Fees: A small fee is

required to park

vehicles at the trailhead

which is located within

Fish Hatchery Park, a

Josephine County Park.

The park also has picnic

tables, outhouses and a

loop trail.

Bolt Mountain Recreation Opportunity Guide

Driving Directions:Driving Directions: From the intersection of Hwy. 199 and 238 in Grants Pass,

proceed on Hwy. 238 towards Murphy. Continue on Hwy. 238 towards Murphy for 1.5 miles then turn right onto New Hope Road. In 3.2 miles, turn right onto Fish

Hatchery Road. Just before the bridge over the Appelgate River, turn right onto Wetherbee St. which ends in the parking lot for Fish Hatchery Park and Bolt Mt.

Safety Concerns:Safety Concerns: Ticks,

poison oak, rattlesnakes.

Location:Location: T37 S, R6 W,

Sec 9 and 16;

Latitude and Longitude:

42 21 21.44

-123 24 26.50

Facilities:Facilities: Trail

Page 2: Bolt Mountain Recreation Opportunity Guide€¦ · d Property Status ep r 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 0 0 r J F o s h h a n e o r n P t y y r) k B o o l t t M t n . . T r aa i l!e Legend Bolt

Fish Hatchery Rd

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Legend

Bolt Mtn. Trail Roads

Streams

Property Status BLM OwnershipJoCo Ownership

No warranty is made by the Bureau of Land Management as to the accuracy,reliability, or completeness of these data for individual or aggregate use with other data. Original data were compiled from various sources and maybe updated without notification.

Current Date: 12/12/2013 03:11:33 PM

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