Bear Camp Road Reopens Following Moon Complex Fire
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