Doggin' Jacksonville, Oregon: Where To Hike With Your Dog In An Old Gold Mining Camp

Gold was discovered in Oregon's Jackson Creek inA detailed brochure tells the fascinating story and
1851 but it brought neither fame nor fortune to themakes for a prolonged walkwith your dog. Strollers
prospector, a lone miner remembered today only aswill want to turn around at the footbridge and
"Mr. Sykes." Gold fever ignited soon enough andretrace yourpawprints but adventurous canine hikers
within two years there were thousands of menwill turn left and climb the ridges andcanyons above
tediously pulling flakes and nuggets from area creekthe town. The three-mile Rich Gulch Trail leads to a
beds.panoramic viewof the town and countryside.
Jacksonville's first brick buildings were in place by 1853On the east end of town, behind the country Gothic
as the town thrived. Iteven became the county seathouse built by apprenticecarpenter-turned-pioneer
but when the Oregon & California Railroadbanker Cornelius Beekman in 1873, you will find the
headed fornearby Medford in 1887 and by-passedBeekman Canyon Loop. The trail begins and ends in a
Jacksonville the good times ground toa halt.small arboretum that displayseight distinct bio-habitats
Jacksonville residents built their own railroad fourfound in the region. The trail climbs somewhat
years later but thestruggling line was dismantled andsteeplythrough light woods before descending back
sold in 1925. During the Depression strugglingresidentsinto the Beekman Garden.
dug deeper into the hills around town to extract aAfter hiking through the peaceful Jacksonville
few dollars of gold tosurvive. Not much happened inWoodlands, be sure to take yourdog on a walk
town after that. So little changed, in fact, thatthrough town. More than 80 original brick and wooden
theentire downtown was designated a Nationalbuildingsfrom the 1800s are listed on the National
Historic Landmark in 1966.Register of Historic Places. You cancontinue just
In 1989, Jacksonville residents formed the Jacksonvilleoutside of town into the Jacksonville Cemetery that
Woodlands Associationto preserve and protect thehas been in usefor over 150 years. Dogs are as
quiet forests on the slopes surrounding the town.welcome in Jacksonville today as they were in
Mostexplorations of the dog-friendly Jacksonvillethemining camps of yesteryear - there is a water
Woodlands will start in town alongthe Zigler Trail, abowl placed for dogs outside the
flat one-mile journey to hike with your dog along theVisitor Information kiosk.
JacksonJacksonville is located on Route 238 off of I-5 out of
Creek where gold was discovered in 1851.Grants Pass to the northor Medford from the south.