Known for it's beauty, the Applegate Valley consists of several small communities, the first town being Murphy.
  
The town of Murphy is located just off Williams Highway about five miles to the south of Grants Pass, where Murphy Creek meets the Applegate River. It features a market and several retail establishments along with Hidden Valley High School, which serves the high school students residing in the south Rogue Valley, Applegate and Williams Valley areas.
   
The community of Williams is in the Applegate Valley and is located about 12 mi. south of Grants Pass. A mix of ranches, rural residences & town center with several businesses. It is a wonderful community, known for its artists, musicians and peace & quiet, accentuated by some of the most gorgeous scenery in the Rogue Valley.

 
Applegate Lake: The forested slopes and often snow covered peaks of the Siskiyou Mountains are reflected in the clear blue waters of Applegate Lake in the Rogue River National Forest. In this scenic setting the U.S. Forest Service operates hike-in campgrounds and lakeshore areas for picnicking, swimming and boating. The lake extends to the California border and a hiking trail follows the 18 mile shoreline.
Development at most of the recreational sites is minimal and the majority of the lakeshore has been maintained in a natural state. Another measure for preserving the rustic character of the lake is a ten mile per hour speed limit for all boats. Paved trails and other barrier free facilities are provided at the day use areas so that they may be enjoyed by all visitors. Water, stored in the reservoir for flood protection, maintains a year round flow in the Applegate River, assuring good quality water, even in dry summer months.