Sign Up  /  Login

Burnt Turkey LbNA #2542

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Nov 27, 2002
Location:
City:Merlin / Grants Pass
County:Josephine
State:Oregon
Boxes:1
Planted by:ARose
Found by: FORAYCH
Last found:Mar 23, 2016
Status:FFOF
Last edited:Nov 27, 2002
This one is back up and running! 3/1/15

LOCATION: Tin Can Camp, Taylor Creek Trail and Burned Timber Loop, Josephine County, OR, near Grants Pass / Merlin.

DROPPED: November 27, 2002, by the Horse Trap Gang.

PATH: Dirt, foresty. Significant elevation gain at first. Evens out a bit at the Burned Timber Loop.

EST. DISTANCE: 1.2 miles round-trip hike to the letterbox, 2.6 miles with Burned Timber Loop tacked on.

CLUE DIFFICULTY: Easy easy

Thanksgiving Day 2002, the Horse Trap Gang dropped this box on the Burned Timber Trail, hence “Burnt Turkey Letterbox.” A pleasant drive to a scenic hike that few people take is only 16 paved miles from I-5.

(If you find any problems with this box or wish to share any successes, etc., please email Annette at ARoseLb@aol.com.)

DIRECTIONS TO TRAILHEAD:
Get off Interstate 5 at the Merlin Exit (No. 61, 3 miles north of Grants Pass) and head west on Merlin-Galice Road 11 miles (through the town of Merlin, over Hellgate Canyon Bridge and past Indian Mary Park). A mile after the park you pass Morrison’s Lodge on the right, and immediately on your left appears Briggs Valley Road (aka Taylor Creek Road).

Take that left and proceed 5 miles on this narrow, winding, beautiful road to well-marked Tin Can Camp (just after Burned Timber Road veers to the left). The road has followed Taylor Creek, and on the other (i.e. southeast) side of the creek a trail likewise parallels it. Park your car.

CLUES:
Cross the footbridge at Tin Can Camp. Climb a short pitch to the
intersection with Taylor Creek Trail, then go left. Follow Taylor Creek Trail 1/2 mile, crossing Burned Timber Road and Burned Timber Creek (complete with waterfall) in the process. High above Taylor Creek you reach a junction where the sign says it is another 3/4 mile to English Meadow on the main trail.

But you are going to switchback to the right, following the sign to Burned Timber Trail. 100 yards after this junction sits the hollowed-out stump of a long dead tree (burned, perhaps?). The stump is four feet wide and right next to the trail, on your left. You don't need to leave the trail to find the Burnt Turkey Letterbox—it is in the hollow of the tree, at approximately chest level (depending on how tall you are), covered by a piece of bark.

The actual Burned Timber Loop Trail is still ahead. Continue 100 yards after the letterbox to cross Burned Timber Road again (you could actually drive your car here, but there weren't any good landmarks to direct people when we visited). Soon after crossing the road, the trail forks. Take either fork and you will end up back here in 1.2 miles—a nice little loop well worth the additional effort.