Illinois River Trail

{{Short description|Spectacular wildflowers, old-growth trees, alongside rugged and steep river canyons.}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

The Illinois River Trail, known on maps as National Trail No. 1161,{{Cite web|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recreation/recarea/?recid=70554|title=Illinois River Trail #1161}} is a hiking trail located in the Siskiyou National Forest in Oregon, United States. The {{convert|27|mi|km|adj=on}} trail provides access to the Kalmiopsis Wilderness in the Klamath Mountains.

Highlights of the trail include Bald Mountain, Buzzard's Roost, Indigo Creek and the Illinois River Valley.{{Cite web|url=http://orcalcoast.com/index.php/gold-beach-hiking/|title=Hiking Near Gold Beach and the Rogue River with Maps and GPS}}{{cite book | first=Lizann |last=Dunegan |title=Hiking Oregon: A Guide to Oregon's Greatest Hiking Adventures | page=138 | publisher=Falcon |date=May 2004}}

The trailhead is at the Briggs Creek Campground near Grants Pass. The trail terminates at Oak Flat near Agness, Oregon. A Northwest Forest Pass{{Cite web|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r6/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=fsbdev2_027010|title = Annual Northwest Forest Pass}} is needed for parking and the required free wilderness permit may be obtained at the trailhead.

The entire trail is open to backpacking and horseback riding. Under Travel Management regulations,{{Cite web|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd518354.pdf|title=Travel Management Regulations Motor Vehicle Use Map}} the Illinois River Trail (from Oak Flat to the old Fantz Ranch) is open to motorcycles with an Oregon ATV{{Cite web|url=http://atv.prd.state.or.us/site_detail.php?UID=9|title = RideATVoregon where to ride}} permit from September 15 to May 15. No motorized or mechanized equipment (i.e., mountain bikes) are allowed past Fantz Ranch or in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness.

In July 2022, the trail was rehabilitated and reopened by the Siskiyou Mountain Club{{Cite web|url=https://siskiyoumountainclub.org|title=Siskiyou Mountain Club}} whose summer interns removed fallen trees and brush that had rendered it nearly impassable for the preceding 20 years.{{Cite web|url=https://medfordmailtribune-or.newsmemory.com/?publink=2ee76fbe8_1348548|title=Siskiyou Mountain Club reopens 30-mile Illinois River Trail to backpackers}}