Sterling Ditch Tunnel to Bear Gulch 11-14-25

Photos by Debbie, Elisabeth and Kay

Following meet-ups in Ashland and Jacksonville, seventeen tenacious Mod Hikers set out for a sunny day in the Anderson Butte region of the Applegate. We climbed from the Tunnel Horse TH up the 0.8-mile steep grade to the Sterling Ditch Trail for a rest before setting off westward on the flat narrow trail along the ditch. The Ditch is 26-miles long and 3’ deep. Construction began in 1877. It was completed in six months after back-breaking work by 400 laborers, many of them Chinese. Its purpose was to bring water from Little Applegate to the Sterling Mine where hydraulic mining was used to mine for gold. It cost $70,000 and produced an estimated four million dollars in gold before closing in the Great Depression of the 1930s. We examined the outlet of the tunnel they dug to allow the water to flow through a ridge rather than digging the ditch around the contours which would have been more costly. The tunnel is 130’ long, partially filled by now.

As we hiked the 2.2 miles along the Lower Bear Gulch trail, we forged over and around five very challenging downed tree obstacles. These trees were heavy with branches making it difficult or impossible to climb over, so we navigated some of them through the ditch. On top of these five downed trees, we encountered three more easy step-over downed trees. Views of some ridges showed a great deal of dying trees, presumably owing to beetle infestations and drought. We assumed the recent heavy winds brought so many down. Word of caution: Avoid this area on very windy days.

Among the delights on this journey, we enjoyed the beautiful madrone and manzanita, discovered several varieties of mushrooms, including bonnet mushrooms, and birds of the area. Expansive views of the mountain ranges to the west were, as always, a highlight of this hike.

Once we reached the intersection with the Bear Gulch trail, we took it down the 1-mile steep decline to the TH and road. A couple hikers waited there, while the others walked up the road to the cars at the Tunnel Horse TH. We hiked about 5 miles with 650’ elevation gain.

Elisabeth