The scenic route connecting the Rogue Valley to the Southern Oregon Coast has reopened, though hazards and trail closures remain in place.
Map of Bear Camp Road. Wikipedia.
GRANTS PASS, Ore. — The U.S. Forest Service has reopened Bear Camp Road, the remote and winding mountain route connecting the Rogue Valley to the Southern Oregon Coast, following weeks of closures due to the Moon Complex Fire.
In a joint advisory issued Nov. 7, the Forest Service and Southwest Oregon Fire Information cautioned travelers that hazards remain along the corridor, especially near areas burned by the recent fire. Drivers are urged to use extra caution when traveling through the affected zones.
While Bear Camp Road is now open, several popular recreation areas remain off-limits. Hiking along the Rogue River Trail and camping between Marial and Foster Bar remain closed due to safety concerns, though the river itself is open to permitted boating.
Bear Camp Road—composed of National Forest Road 23 and BLM Road 34-8-36—connects Galice Road west of Merlin to Agness Road upriver from Gold Beach. The road is part paved and part gravel, often closing in late fall as snow begins to accumulate in the higher elevations.
The reopening offers travelers and residents renewed access between the Rogue Valley and the coast, but federal officials remind visitors that fire recovery and cleanup work is still ongoing.
Cover image: Wikipedia
More News
The Eugene Emeralds and City of Medford have ended discussions over a proposed Minor League Baseball stadium at Hawthorne Park. The decision follows months of debate over downtown redevelopment, public investment, and an alternative site at Harry & David Field.
A 60-year-old hunter missing for more than 72 hours in the remote wilderness near Prospect was found safe Wednesday. The search brought together crews from Southern Oregon and Northern California, with aircraft, K-9 teams, and dozens of community volunteers joining the effort.
The discovery of ammunition in a restroom at Mazama High School prompted a precautionary security response Monday. Klamath County deputies and school officials conducted searches as investigators worked to determine how the ammunition ended up on campus.
A 71-year-old woman died Friday evening, November 6, in a single-vehicle crash on Robertson Bridge Road in Josephine County. Deputies say the westbound vehicle crossed into the opposite lane, left the roadway, and overturned in a ditch. The driver, identified as Dawn Burton, was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene.
Ashland police executed search warrants at 99 China massage parlor and a neighboring residence on November 6 following a three-month investigation into suspected illicit activity and possible human trafficking. Two female employees were arrested on licensing-related offenses. Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is seeking to commute the death sentences of 548 prisoners, potentially clearing the state's death row. Nearly 400 cases will require California Supreme Court approval. The decision follows a 2019 execution moratorium and has drawn sharply divided reactions from victims' families, prosecutors, and death penalty opponents.
Hollywood actor and comedian Tom Arnold brings his “My Crazy X-Wife” comedy tour to the Ross Ragland Theater in Klamath Falls on Saturday, November 7. Known for his roles in Roseanne, True Lies, and numerous television and film productions, Arnold will share stories about relationships, fatherhood, and life in Hollywood.
Christina Klauda, 53, of Riddle, Oregon, pleaded guilty to federal bank fraud and tax charges after admitting to a nine-year embezzlement scheme targeting her former employer, Tower Timber Services. Prosecutors estimate losses exceeding $1.08 million through manipulated payroll, duplicate payments, and unauthorized checks.
Oregon’s record-breaking 2026 fire season has officially ended after more than 2.5 million acres burned across the state. From the East Evans Creek and Fielder Mountain fires west of the Cascades to the Wrights Spring and Picture Rock fires on the east side, Southern Oregon experienced its share of a historic and demanding wildfire season.
A major shift in the weather pattern begins Friday as successive Pacific storms move into Southern Oregon and Northern California. Heavy coastal rainfall, dangerous surf, gusty winds and increasing mountain snow chances are expected, with unsettled conditions continuing into next week.