Rockford dam to 16 Mile Road

10 miles round trip: 35 miles total

The next section of trail followed the White Pine Trail State Park for about 7 miles between Rockford and Cedar Springs. This is a paved rail trail that parallels the Rogue River for a while and then passes through a mixed suburban/rural landscape. I cheated a bit and rode my bike on this section. I prefer a more natural landscape, so the highlight for me was a brief diversion into the Maas Family Nature Preserve.

The North Country Trail follows the White Pine trail beginning just north of the dam on the Rogue River in Rockford.
A cheery hedge of Dame’s Rocket lines the trail just north of Rockford. This is yet another introduced species that has escaped gardens and become naturalized.
The Maas Family Nature Preserve is managed for its healthy carpet of Wild Lupine, which is the only food for the caterpillar of the endangered Karner Blue butterfly.