Overview

Situated along the rocky banks of the Applegate River, the McKee Bridge Community Kitchen is a fantastic day-use picnic shelter and registered National Historic Site. The shelter is constructed with large pine timber and features Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) masonry, including a beautiful stone fireplace.

Groups often reserve McKee Community Kitchen when holding a wedding ceremony on the neighboring historic covered bridge.

Located in southwest Oregon in the Rogue River-Siskayou National Forest at an elevation of 1,600 feet, this day-use area boasts nearby volcanic peaks, scenic rivers and fantastic old-growth forests.

Natural Features:

The unique character of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest is composed of two distinct geological provinces; the Cascade Range and the Siskiyou Mountains.

The Cascade Range is dominated by snow-capped volcanic peaks, such as 9,495 foot Mt. McLoughlin, located within the Sky Lakes Wilderness.

The Siskiyou area embodies the most complex and treasured plant communities in the Pacific Northwest. World-class wild rivers, biological diversity, remarkable fisheries resources and complex watersheds define the Siskiyou.

Diverse landscapes provide habitat for a wide-range of wildlife, from spotted owls and bull elk to salamanders and sandhill cranes.

Recreation:

The area surrounding this day-use area offers outdoor enthusiasts the opportunity to hike, fish, swim, ski and enjoy a multitude of outdoor activities throughout the year.

Nearby Applegate Lake is a recreation lake located north of the spectacular Red Buttes Wilderness Area. The lake is popular for swimming, cycling, boating, canoeing, fishing and hiking the various trails.

Mule Mountain Trail offers visitors a special opportunity to access the hillsides above the Applegate Valley and witness the seasonal changes in wildlife activity. It is a long distance hike winding up and around the arid ridges of the Oregon Siskiyou Range. In the spring time, dwarf star tulips, lilies, shooting stars, larkspurs and buttercups puncture the needle and leaf mat and adorn the grass floor.

Facilities:

The McKee Bridge Community Kitchen is an accessible covered group site. Reservation is for Community Kitchen shelter. The nearby picnic area is separate and not included in the reservation.

Nearby Attractions:

The Rogue River National Recreation Trail, stretching 40 miles between Grave Creek and Big Bend, offers some of southwestern Oregon's most amazing landscapes and rewarding hiking experiences. The trail follows the north bank of the Rogue River as it winds its way toward the Pacific Ocean.

Visitors enjoy Crater Lake National Park and learning about its unique natural and cultural history. At 1,943 feet deep, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and one of the ten deepest lakes in the world.

The Rogue-Umpqua National Scenic Byway offers 172 miles of diverse river and mountain landscapes. The byway leads from from rolling oak-covered hills and towering coniferous forests, to roaring white water rapids and incised intercanyon lava flows.