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Sarah Zigler Interpretive Trail, Jacksonville, Oregon

Discover this 2.0-mile loop trail near Jacksonville, Oregon. A fun trail with interpretive signs along the way.

At the young age of 13, Sarah Mary Plymale arrived in Jacksonville, Oregon in 1852. Two years later, she married Lewis Henry Zigler, a gold miner and local businessman. In 1878, Sarah purchased eight acres of land from Peter Britt for one dollar, which included the trail that is now known as the Sarah Zilger Interpretive Trail.

Starting from the historic Peter Britt Gardens, where Peter Britt settled in 1852 and established the foundation of the area's multi-million dollar fruit industry, the trail passes by the famous Britt Sequoia (1862) which many regard as the oldest Sequoia tree in Oregon. The trail then climbs to the Britt Water Ditch, following the lush creekside beauty of Jackson Creek and The Zigler Woods. It was here that gold was first discovered in 1851, which prompted the famous Jacksonville Gold Rush of 1852.

For the next mile, the trail traces through various forest types and alongside old mine tailings. Crossing Jackson Creek the trail climbs through a transitional forest of Ponderosa Pine, Douglas fir, Big Leaf Maple, and Madrone, to the top of a dry ridge consisting mostly of small Oregon White Oak. Views are also enjoyed of the Siskiyou and Cascade Mountains.

From the forested ridge line, hikers are able to explore many side trails to "glory holes" and old gold mine diggings. The face of the forest begins to change once more as the trail loops back toward its beginning in Britt Park. Entering Britt Park hikers are able to enjoy the lush coolness of the groomed park grounds as they pass the Britt Pavilion, the site of the Britt Music Festivals. Following the down-sloping path returns hikers to where they started - at the fieldstone foundation of the old Britt home.