The best family-friendly hikes and walks in Josephine County

Reinhart Volunteer Park is located in Grants Pass, Oregon, and is a large community park known for its extensive recreational facilities. It features multiple sports fields, including baseball and soccer fields, as well as tennis courts, a skate park, and a disc golf course. The park also offers several picnic areas, playgrounds, and a scenic pond, making it a great spot for family outings and community events. Walking trails wind through the park, providing opportunities for leisurely strolls with friends and family.

The Rogue River Pedestrian Bridge spans the Rouge River, connecting the Reinhart Volunteer Park with Tussing Park. This bridge is only open to pedestrians, cyclists, etc., and is known as a stressed ribbon bridge, which is a type of bridge. A ribbon-stressed bridge is a type of bridge where the deck, which is made of a flexible material like steel or concrete, follows a catenary curve and is pre-stressed to handle tension and compression forces. This design allows the bridge to efficiently support loads while still being relatively narrow.

The Limpy Botanical Interpretive Loop Trail is an easy, accessible path for people of all ages nestled in a botanically diverse serpentine area; it is one of the best trails in southwest Oregon to observe a high diversity of native plant species. Along the trail, interpretive signs provide insights into the vast array of plant species in the region, highlighting the unique biodiversity of southwest Oregon. Springtime is a particularly nice time to visit, when the trail bursts with a vibrant display of wildflowers exclusive to this habitat. A mossy creek and waterfall can be found along the way, complete with a bench for a peaceful rest. Additional benches are strategically placed beside the creek and at various scenic viewpoints, offering nice spots to take in the area. A picnic table is available at the trailhead, making for a perfect spot to enjoy a snack before or after your hike.

Mount Elijah, situated in the Siskiyou Mountains of southwestern Oregon, stands at an elevation of approximately 6,411 feet and is part of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. Located near Oregon Caves National Monument, you can access the trail to Mount Elijah from within the boundaries of the monument itself, starting at the visitor center. The hike from begins and ends along the popular Big Tree Trail, where you climb through lush forests and past marble formations, offering glimpses of the unique geology and diverse plant life of the Klamath-Siskiyou region. The region is rich in biodiversity, featuring coniferous forests, alpine meadows, and wildlife such as black bears and deer. As part of the geologically complex Klamath-Siskiyou region, Mount Elijah is composed of ancient rocks and is a popular destination for hiking and camping. You can also access the mountain from outside of the monument via the Bigelow Lakes-Mount Elijah Loop Trail, which provides stunning views of the surrounding wilderness, including the Illinois Valley.

Little Illinois Falls Loop Trail is a short loop just off the Little Falls Campground. It is also accessible via a connector trail from the Jeffery Pine Loop. This trail grants you great views over the Illinois River and of a small waterfall.

Jeffery Pine Loop is a 1 mile, unpaved loop that overlooks the Illinois River. This is a lovely little loop that is nice to add on to the Eight Dollar Mountain Botanical Wayside Boardwalk across the road, and/or the Little Illinois Falls Loop Trail, which is accessed via a pleasant trail on the same side of the road as the Jeffery Pine Loop that follows the Illinois River up to the Little Falls Campsite and trail.

Eight Dollar Mountain Botanical Wayside Boardwalk is a short boardwalk that is wheelchair accessible with two overlooks that give great views over one of the larger, more easily accessible fens in the Illinois Valley. The fen is home to a unique carnivorous plant, the California pitcher plant (Darlingtonia californica). This is a great little trail to take kids on and to link with the nearby Jeffrey Pine Loop Trail and Little Falls Loop Trail if you want to lengthen your hike and explore other diverse ecosystems.

The Big Tree Trail is a popular trail in the Oregon Caves National Monument. The trail begins at an archway behind the visitor center and if you complete the full loop, it is just over 3 miles, with 1,100 feet of elevation gain. This section of the Big Tree Trail is where most of the elevation is gained; you switchback up a steep climb through mountain meadows, dense forests, and past the widest Douglas fir tree known in Oregon! You also take the Big Tree Trail if climbing up to Mount Elijah, one of the longer and more challenging hikes in the area.