Portal:Oregon/Selected article/81
Upper Table Rock and Lower Table Rock are two prominent volcanic plateaus located just north of the Rogue River in Jackson County, Oregon. They are approximately seven million years old. The land is jointly owned; The Nature Conservancy is responsible for 3,591 acres (14.53 km2), while the Bureau of Land Management is responsible for 1,280 acres (5.2 km2). An abandoned airstrip is located on Lower Table Rock, and a very high frequency omni-directional range (VOR) aviation tower is located on Upper Table Rock. The rocks are home to over 70 species of animals, 140 species of plants, and 200 species of wildflowers, in four distinct habitats. The Table Rocks have been listed as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern since 1984. They are presently one of the most popular hiking locations in the Rogue Valley, featuring two trails: the Lower Table Rock Trail and the Upper Table Rock Trail. They lead to the flat tops of the plateaus. The plateaus are named for their location along the Rogue River, not for their height. Upper Table Rock, 2,091 feet (637 m) above sea level at its highest point, is located upstream, while Lower Table Rock is farther downstream, with an elevation of 2,049 feet (625 m).