Posted by Curtis Knight on March 18, 2008 at 4:12 PM
Hi all,
Marie and I are heading down to La Pine to see my sister this weekend. I'll probably take I-5 and Hwy 58. Does anyone know of a 1 or 2 mile hike along that route that we could use to break up our drive a bit? Preferably something easy on the knees...
A camera target at the destination would be a nice bonus
Posted by Ned Fenimore on March 18, 2008 at 6:58 PM
Shorter might be to hit Salt Creek Falls along the way....
Posted by Paul DeCesare on March 19, 2008 at 12:07 AM
Interesting. I will ask my wife tomorrow, she is from Central Oregon (I am heading out to Smith Rock this Friday in the morning for the weekend myself.... )
Roman
Posted by Greg Vaughn on March 19, 2008 at 9:00 AM
Salt Creek Falls, and continuing from there to Diamond Creek Falls, would be good, but there may still be too much snow on the trail and the access road could still be blocked.
Have you tried Salmon Creek Falls near Oakridge before? Two nice waterfalls there right at the campground. The campground will be closed/gated, but you can walk in. There's also a trail leading west along the creek from the last campsite. To get there, go through Oakridge on Hwy 58 and turn left at the sign for the fish hatchery. Go for about 1.5 miles until that road makes a T with FR 24, turn right and drive to the campground at about MP4.
Further west on Hwy 58, Black Canyon Campground would work for a leg stretcher. The campground is closed but boat ramp access is open and you can walk around the campground loops and on a short nature trail through old-growth forest. It's about MP 27 on Hwy 58.
Another option is Mt. Pisgah Arboretum/Buford Recreation Area close to the junction of I-5 and Hwy 58. Miles of trails there from flat to steep. Part of it is oak savannah and the oaks are now bare except for their thick coat of lichen and moss. The first wildflowers are now blooming there, too. If you haven't been there before, get off I-5 at Exit 189 on the south side of Eugene, turn left at 30th Ave to cross the freeway, left again on frontage road and follow the signs to Mt. Pisgah via Seavey Loop in a couple of miles.
Posted by Curtis Knight on March 19, 2008 at 2:12 PM
Thanks for the ideas!
I checked the Willamette NF website and it looks like Salt Creek area is closed until May. We could walk in, but if there's a lot of snow, we don't have the gear to properly deal with it.
Greg, thanks for the detailed info. That's the kind of info I could not find on the NF website. I think we'll go for Salmon Creek Falls. That sounds like a nice break, and a good half-way point.
I hiked around on Mt Pisgah a few times when I lived in Eugene. It always felt more like a large city park, than a hike in the woods. However I drank a lot back then too
Posted by Greg Vaughn on March 20, 2008 at 9:51 AM
Curtis,
When you get to Salmon Creek Campground, walk straight toward the river on the road, rather than following the loop to the left. When you get to the railing, look over for the main waterfall. It should really be cranking now with the rain we've been having.
Walk along the campground road to your left to campsite #4 and look across the creek to a very pretty double waterfall that drops into the creek.
Bryan Swan has a very good write-up of the falls on his website.
Discussion
6 repliesMarie and I are heading down to La Pine to see my sister this weekend. I'll probably take I-5 and Hwy 58. Does anyone know of a 1 or 2 mile hike along that route that we could use to break up our drive a bit? Preferably something easy on the knees...
A camera target at the destination would be a nice bonus
Roman
Have you tried Salmon Creek Falls near Oakridge before? Two nice waterfalls there right at the campground. The campground will be closed/gated, but you can walk in. There's also a trail leading west along the creek from the last campsite. To get there, go through Oakridge on Hwy 58 and turn left at the sign for the fish hatchery. Go for about 1.5 miles until that road makes a T with FR 24, turn right and drive to the campground at about MP4.
Further west on Hwy 58, Black Canyon Campground would work for a leg stretcher. The campground is closed but boat ramp access is open and you can walk around the campground loops and on a short nature trail through old-growth forest. It's about MP 27 on Hwy 58.
Another option is Mt. Pisgah Arboretum/Buford Recreation Area close to the junction of I-5 and Hwy 58. Miles of trails there from flat to steep. Part of it is oak savannah and the oaks are now bare except for their thick coat of lichen and moss. The first wildflowers are now blooming there, too. If you haven't been there before, get off I-5 at Exit 189 on the south side of Eugene, turn left at 30th Ave to cross the freeway, left again on frontage road and follow the signs to Mt. Pisgah via Seavey Loop in a couple of miles.
I checked the Willamette NF website and it looks like Salt Creek area is closed until May. We could walk in, but if there's a lot of snow, we don't have the gear to properly deal with it.
Greg, thanks for the detailed info. That's the kind of info I could not find on the NF website. I think we'll go for Salmon Creek Falls. That sounds like a nice break, and a good half-way point.
I hiked around on Mt Pisgah a few times when I lived in Eugene. It always felt more like a large city park, than a hike in the woods. However I drank a lot back then too
When you get to Salmon Creek Campground, walk straight toward the river on the road, rather than following the loop to the left. When you get to the railing, look over for the main waterfall. It should really be cranking now with the rain we've been having.
Walk along the campground road to your left to campsite #4 and look across the creek to a very pretty double waterfall that drops into the creek.
Bryan Swan has a very good write-up of the falls on his website.