Signs of Spring at the Table Rocks
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Joint News Release
The Nature Conservancy
Bureau of Land Management, Medford District
Medford, OR – The Nature Conservancy and Bureau of Land Management Medford District have created a new opportunity for hikers to connect with nature at the Table Rocks. This year, Signs of Spring @ the Table Rocks will replace the traditional in-person guided hikes that TNC and the BLM have held each spring.
“We are excited to provide an educational and fun way for hikers to experience nature at the Table Rocks until we’re able to gather safely for group hikes,” said Molly Allen, Environmental Education Specialist for the Bureau of Land Management.
Several signs will be posted along both the Upper and Lower Table Rock trails to highlight special qualities about the flora, fauna, and physical aspects of these iconic features in the valley. Each of the signs will describe a single topic from geology to poetry, from wildflowers to pollinators, and more. Signs will rotate every two to three weeks from March through May.
The public is invited to take a self-guided hike and stop at each of the signs to discover something new and inspiring about the Table Rocks. URLs on the signs will connect hikers to internet resources that will provide additional information on the featured topic. Hikers should check out the bulletin board at the trailheads for information about the signs.
Additionally, the Agents of Discovery smartphone application for kids will be available for download by BLM later this spring. The app contains missions and challenges to encourage kids to engage and interact at the Table Rocks. Watch for the poster announcing the app’s launch on the bulletin boards at the trailheads. The app, which can be downloaded on the Apple App Store or Google Play, has several of its own features that make exploring fun, easy, and educational.
Hikers should wear face masks when physical distance cannot be maintained. Please hike responsibly!
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 Bureau of Land Management.
- The area around the Table Rocks was inhabited by Native Americans from time immemorial before any European-American settlement.
- 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 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.
The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have helped protect 130 million acres worldwide. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.
The BLM manages more than 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.