There are rock benches on the stream here where you can take a break, and small drops above on the creek where there are swimming holes. The Pacific Crest Trail is way cool in the Gorge. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 11 h 40 min to complete. Share. This page has been accessed 31,624 times. You'll pass a large open area of talus and switchback up twice. The fourth cabled section of the trail takes you along a cliff 120 feet above the creek. A lot of burn area from fires a few years ago. (971) 333-4100 Follow #2000 300 west to the beginning of this trail. You'll see a weir to the right and then follow the wide well-groomed route above the creek for a stretch. United States government. ), Indian springs Campground (18.2 mi. Toll Free: 888-947-2757. . Trail, USFS - Mt. 5 4 3 2 1 4.6 282 reviews Write review Sort by: Matt Strayed July 19, 2023 Hiking Amazing view at the top! Penstemon, arnica, and saxifrage cling to the rocky fastness. off camera to root, And yes while foolishly multitasking a call to my wife from that vista (who was like Why In the F are You Calling Me I am Working Arent You Backpacking Or Some Shite?! Life Coaching Therapists in Crystal Lake, IL - Psychology Today A Salt Lake City man has created an outdoor theater space in his backyard, called Meanwhile Park and is producing a new romantic comedy by Utah playwright Matthew Ivan Bennet. 3.8 km Switchbacks begin, with views of Mt. Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail - Yelp Many have referred to this stretch of trail as the "Vertigo Mile". Designated sites along this gem's south shore are perfectly placed between the water and the flower-carpeted hillsides. Beginning at the Wahtum Lake trailhead, follow the Wahtum Lake Express trail down to the shore and head east (right) around the lake. Three hundred yards past Herman Camp, reach the junction with the Nick Eaton Trail. The trail traverses upward and makes two switchbacks to reach a rocky ridge crest. Keep straight at 3-way. Good chance that section is either clear or at least well tracked now, so that navigation may not be an issue. Switchback up to the right and reach the Herman Creek-Mud Lake Trail Junction. You'll also encounter your first section of crown fire where all the trees were killed but the ground cover is making a vigorous comeback. Can you help me out!? Provides access to: Eagle Creek Trail #440, Pacific Crest Trail #2000, Rainy Wahtum Trail , Chinidere Mountain Trail, Herman Creek Trail #406. 2,897' Down Sandy, OR 97055, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mthood/recarea/?recid=79904, Timberline Trail & Mt. 11.3 miles (with side trips to Chinidere Mtn. Springs trickle down onto the trail among lush thickets. United States. Permits are free and self-issued at a permit box station at the Wahtum Lake trailhead. At the 4.0 mile mark, the route passes a campsite at a little crest covered in dense forest. This was however where we discovered that McLovins fabled Road To Nowhere (circa 2008) was in fact within a whisker of the Tomlike Mountain trail (h) just not littered w/pink and orange ribbons and impossible to pass. The split off at 4.1 miles didnt seem to be an option, no indication of trail. The Oregon section of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail climbs gently through vine maple and scattered fir to dense stands of old-growth forest. Day Two: Benson Camp to Casey Creek Camp. This page has been accessed 51,131 times. My wife and I are planning a loop from Eagle Creek trail head to Wahtum Lake. Keep to the left and follow the signs as if going to Lost Lake. Change). 4,117' Up 16400 Champion Way Campsites abound at this scenic wilderness lake, but they're rarely full, and here's why: To reach the lake you have to choose between a short trail with very poor road access, or a very long trail with good road access. September 17, 2009. Herman Creek Cutoff Trail #410 - Hiking Project Keep heading straight for another tenth of a mile to find the Chinidere Cutoff Trail that descends to the left, which will be the return route; continue another 100 feet and find a Chinidere Mountain sign and stay right to leave the PCT and begin the climb to the peak. Wouldnt be a trip to Benson Plateau/Eagle Creek if I didnt rock myself somehow. This section levels off when the forest gets dense, and ultimately youll find the spacious, not particularly scenic Casey Creek Camp. 223.66 m Up (Bear in mind, that some "campsites" right on the lakeshore are designated day use only.) Eagle Creek to Wahtum Lake Hike - Oregon Hikers 16400 Champion Way From here youll journey through more old growth as you reach the plateau summit, and will find many small meadows scattered throughout the breezy, open forest cap. 6780Highway 35 The trail sticks to the east side of the ridge crest and passes the junction with the Indian Springs Trail. Cross High Bridge over a deep slot cut by Eagle Creek. You may recognize this viewpoint from photos and postcards. Next, you'll see the mouth of Opal Creek, which flows steeply down from the bowl below Tanner Butte. The trail switchbacks three times under tall hemlocks, noble fir, and silver fir, but then you'll pass through a section of burned forest, part of the 2017 Eagle Creek conflagration. Instead, the main attraction is the series of mossy tributary streams, some with graceful waterfalls, that that the trail crosses. Not far past Cedar Swamp is a last good source of water for the last 4 miles of the day. The first waterfall appears shortlyfor lack of a name, called "Nick Eaton Falls" here. Eagle Creek-Chinidere Cutoff Trail Junction, Eagle Creek to Timberline Lodge 9/20/21 - 09/23/21, 9/7/21 - 9/8/21 Herman Creek to Eagle Creek via Chinidere, Wahtum, Eagle Creek Trailhead & Trail (#440) (USFS), Eagle Creek to Wahtum Lake (Friends of the Columbia Gorge), Portland, OR: Wahtum Lake via Eagle Creek and Herman Creek Trails (Backpacker), 2011.2 PCT Eagle Creek to Wahtum Lake (GoalTech), Sorenson Falls (Northwest Waterfall Survey), Metlako Falls (Northwest Waterfall Survey), Punch Bowl Falls (Northwest Waterfall Survey), Loowit Falls (Northwest Waterfall Survey), Skoonichuck Falls (Northwest Waterfall Survey), Wy'east Falls (Northwest Waterfall Survey), Grand Union Falls (Northwest Waterfall Survey), Tunnel Falls (Northwest Waterfall Survey), Twister Falls (Northwest Waterfall Survey), Sevenmile Falls (Northwest Waterfall Survey), "Now 100 years old, Eagle Creek helped revolutionize camping in the 20th century" (Oregon Live), https://www.oregonhikers.org/w/index.php?title=Eagle_Creek_to_Wahtum_Lake_Hike&oldid=114909, Crowded: Yes, especially the first 7 miles. Continuing up the East Fork valley, you'll pass a small waterfall. After heading up from the creek crossing, go left at the Eagle Creek-Chinidere Cutoff Trail Junction, and make another left turn at the Pacific Crest-Eagle Creek Trail Junction. Provides access to: Eagle Creek Trail #440, Pacific Crest Trail #2000, Rainy Wahtum Trail, Chinidere Mountain Trail, Herman Creek Trail #406. The first waterfall along Eagle Creek, viewed from a lookout on a short side spur. Channel Lake, Lake County. 517' Up Pacific Crest Trail #2000 - Oregon - US Forest Service (541) 467-2291 Heading out the door? Wahtum Lake, in the rainforest of Oregons Columbia River Gorge, lies halfway through an ideal 33-mile loop (link the Eagle Creek and Herman Creek Trails). Dufur, OR 97021, Clackamas River Ranger District 70220 E Highway 26 Herman Creek Trail #406 Running Trail, Cascade Locks, Oregon 157.67 m Up Hiker exiting the tunnel behind Tunnel Falls. An official website of the It is west of Waupaca on Hartman Creek Road South of Highway 54 and north of Wisconsin Highway 22. There are two more open talus slopes, with a massive Douglas-fir guarding the trail at the first. At the next intersection (4+ miles), keep right onto the Forest Road 1310. Hi Ryan if youre looking to loop in a day, your options are pretty limited especially given that its 13 miles to Wahtum from the Eagle Creek Trailhead, and overnight camps (other than @ popular Wahtum Lake itself) are relatively few: you can however loop back via the Pacific Crest Trail and the Ruckel Creek Trail back to Eagle Creek. There are a couple of small sloping campsites below the trail. Hard 3.9 (76) Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness. by Beef24 June 18th, 2017, 4:56 pm, Post Taking other people's content (text, photos, etc) without permission is a copyright violation and Switchback down to the Herman Creek Bridge, a large steel truss bridge, and get views up and down Herman Creek as it runs past a verge of alders, maples, and cedars. Ahead, cross 4 more creeks. Thanks for the report. exactly the area I was wondering about! Cross a meadow that blooms with balsamroot in June, and reach a spur that leads right to a rock outcrop with views over Herman Creek. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service/Bureau of Land Management: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: Northwest Forest Pass (or America the Beautiful Pass) required, Restrooms, information kiosk, picnic table at trailhead. A very anal and precise write-up, my friend, complete with references to the text below! Portland, OR: Wahtum Lake via Eagle Creek and Herman Creek Trails Also look around for evidence of the lookout cabin that once stood here. The trail follows Waucoma Ridge along an old abandoned road between Rainy Lake and Wahtum Lake. LockA locked padlock The wet overgrowth served as a car wash-like soaker, and given our relative proximity to Wahtum (and the car) we pushed through w/o stopping to put on rain gear. Above the creek crossing, you'll pass Seven and a Half Mile Camp and then Noble Camp at 7.5 miles. Continue on Trail 405B until you rejoin Trail 2000 (Pacific Crest Trail) and head left/down/NE towards the Columbia River. From here, Trail 406B, the Anthill Trail (a) makes its way around the east si-eed of Wahtum Lake, gaining about 700 along a periodically exposed, narrow trail, crossing Trail 409, terminating at Trail 406. Enter a lush bench of bracken, Sitka alder, western aster, thimbleberry, paintbrush, and goats beard. Nice easy trail. We were not. The falls convey the East Fork Eagle Creek from the bluffs above to the creek bed below, and then downstream into the main Eagle Creek run. This page was last modified on 31 May 2023, at 21:31. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. This was as wet as McLovin has ever been on trail, but we made excellent time motoring up to the 4000 summit near the Mud Lake spur. You will find it just west of the PCT #2000, #406M junction. Wyeth Campground. Fires not allowed within 200 feet of trail. 780 NE Court St *and* using a knife to open some food item I managed to stab myself into a pretty nice bleeder. The first mile is ok for normal hiking but the next 4 miles you'll want snow shoes. Wahtum Lake Campground. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. 16400 Champion Way Cheers MCL. Return all the way down the Eagle Creek Trail on your last day. The Wahtum Lake trailhead leads to several trails within Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness. Pass around the nose of a ridge, switchback twice, and traverse up to the junction with the Herman Bridge Trail #406E, 0.6 miles from the trailhead. The Pacific Crest Trail crosses a small scree slope and drops below a talus field to arrive at Camp Smokey, which was consumed by the Eagle Creek Fire. Hood National Forest - Hood River Ranger District. You can also see down Eagle Creek to the Columbia Gorge. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 4 h 44 min to complete. Cross three small creeks, and switchback at a talus slope. Pass primitive campsites at Herman Creek Camp (no permit required). 6780Highway 35 Not too many views but a nice trail if you want solitude. On two occasions this creek provided ample water; most recently, not so much. Within a mile the trail reaches Gorton Creek Trail #408 just below the ridge. ScoreboardPloss: 1; McL: 0. Provides access to: Eagle Creek Trail #440, Pacific Crest Trail #2000, Rainy Wahtum Trail,Chinidere Mountain Trail, Herman Creek Trail #406. (Upcoming Hikes), Discussion Forum Support and General Site Questions/Comments. This trail doesn't head down to the lake, and instead, rises above it to join the Herman Creek Trail near the unmarked trail to Tomlike Mountain. Below the trail, on a bench above Eagle Creek, you'll see the campsites at Blue Grouse Camp. After you walk between two large Douglas-firs, you will see up the narrow gorge to the lower horsetail of 100-foot Sorenson Falls splashing off the east rim. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Cascade stratovolcanoes from Mount Jefferson in the south to Mount Rainier in the north should also be visible. ultralight backpacking gear reviews, trail reports, wisdom and smack, Monkey Pillow Handcrafted Backpacking Pillow CaseReview, LoopAlien Rapid Cord Attachment KickstarterProject, Kalalau Trail Solo Hike July 25-26,2012, Vasque Snow Junkie UltraDry Winter BootReview, Backpacking: Its Not Just For BackpackingAnymore, Quilt Trip: An Examination of UL BackpackingQuilts. Dry Creek Falls Hike 8 Hiking Open until 1:00 PM 1340.93 m Up Not only is this whole section incredibly damp, with abundant signs that its predominantly so year-round, but signs of a recent, significant local fire abound. Casey Creek? Worth the side trip. These are the last to fill on busy days and are a more secluded choice than the busy sites near the Pacific Crest Trail at Wahtum Lake. Two more switchbacks take you to the crest of a ridge before you switchback twice more, getting views of sheer orange cliffs, part of an exposed Boring volcano. (971) 333-4100 After the bridge, the trail becomes the northern boundary of the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness. The trail enters a wide gully, and you'll see campsites situated below. LockA locked padlock Pick up shuttle car from Herman Creek Campground to return to Waypoint 1. Hours. You'll reach the top of Twister Falls, with its necktie "crossover" of two streams of water. From this stream, the trail turns away from the sound of Herman Creek and enters a quiet woodland for the next half-mile or so. Link to Trail Description and Map (PDF File). Posted on July 14, 2014 by Carie. Trail is in good condition. No snow :-) Anthill Trail is bit overgrown but trail is obvious and doesn't slow you down. The trail negotiates its third cable-railed section on a high cliff with views to massive boulders that have tumbled into the creek below. Clinton Lake (reservoir), DeWitt County. Although paved, Forest Road 13 is a narrow road, during the summer expect heavy traffic. Herman Creek to Wyeth Traverse. Ultimately we acquired good directions at a local Gas n Sip and made our way to the Wahtum Lake Campground parking lot. Pass the junction with the Wahtum Lake Horse Trail and reach the junction with the Wahtum Lake Express Trail #406H. Wahtum Lake - Herman Creek Loop | smackpacker.com Punchbowl Falls, viewed right off the Eagle Creek Trail. Continuing on, the next pair of streams are Mullinix Creek and, finally, Whisky Creek at the 6.0 mile mark. Water Recreation | Hartman Creek State Park | Wisconsin DNR (This is a section of trail sometimes called the "The Potholes".) After a dripping grotto festooned with maidenhair fern, you'll rise above the Eagle Creek Formation and reach cliffs of Columbia River Basalts where the trail was blasted out of the rock. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Parking is available along the Frontage/Forest Lane Road allowing you to hike in to the trailhead & trail. There are a few small campsites across the East Fork on the Chinidere Cutoff Trail. 1340.8 m Down, 7.8 mi Please explain. $10/vehicle/day to park at the trailhead/day use area. 157.3 m Down. From the Herman Creek Trailhead, the route begins a steady climb through a couple of switchbacks, under a power line, and past the Herman Bridge Trail which provides a continuation of the 400 Trail, dropping down to Herman Creek. A couple good viewpoints, and the creek at the end was nice, but otherwise pretty boring. Once you start to ascend to past Herman Creek Cutoff (410) you hit some snow patches until about a mile to mile 1/2 to Mud Lake. Although paved, this is a narrow road, during the summer expect heavy traffic. Map Information, Barlow Ranger District A spur leads down to some campsites, and the view up the creek is of a lush green canyon with living trees! Sleep beneath Casey Creek camps giant widowmakers and enjoy the peaceful sounds of rushing water below. This is the trailhead for trails heading down to and around Wahtum Lake. " Bruce Hope OpenMapTiles OSM 10.5 Miles 81% Runnable 4,320' High 222' Low 4,298' Up 286' Down 8% Sandy, OR 97055, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mthood/recarea/?recid=53160, Timberline Trail & Mt. That would make 3, Cribbage was on day 1we stopped for twenty at Casey Creek after belaying down/up effing Trail 407and little else as I recall. ( Visit, Restroom during summer season at trailhead. But I said Good chance, not certainty. Mt. Hood National Forest - Wahtum Lake Trailhead - US Forest Service Wahtum Lake Trailhead - Travel Oregon Hike was really nice, plenty of waterfalls and places to get water on Herman. Not bad WAHTUM LAKE - HERMAN CREEK LOOP VIA PCT, HERMAN CREEK TRAIL DISTANCE: 32.2 MILES (AS DESCRIBED) | SCENERY: 7 | DIFFICULTY: 6 Local area of Columbia River Scenic Area/Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness Trailhead: Wahtum Lake Campground Camp 1: Benson Camp Camp 2: Casey Creek Camp Day One: Wahtum Lake to Benson Camp. (This junction is the official terminus of the Eagle Creek Trail.) Then follow the Eagle Creek Trail 0.1 mile to the lakes outlet and go north up the Chinidere Cutoff Trail #406M 0.1 mile to #2000. You can see five glaciated volcanoes from here on a clear day. Email, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/crgnsa/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=30058&actid=51, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Pacific Crest Trail Association (ww.pcta.org), a map of the Pacific Crest Trail in the Columbia River Gorge, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area office, Effective Oct 20, 2022: Closure Update: Eagle Creek Fire, Drones prohibited in wilderness and select recreation sites, Klickitat Mile One Overnight Use & Large Boat Launch Prohibition, Avoid during high winds and heavy rains due to fire weakened trees and unstable slopes. There are more streams and talus slopes as you continue to rise to a jumble of boulders which offer a view to Chinidere Mountain. Trail on the Wyeth end was very overgrown. Dufur, OR 97021, Clackamas River Ranger District This route is steeper. Think coal mine shaft, with a death-defying rappel at the bottom. Bear right here, and descend the slope. From here you can take a right for a side trip up Tomlike Mountain (h) (which the author has yet to actually find visit), otherwise head left on Trail 406 for 0.8 miles to the junction of Trail 2000 the Pacific Crest Trail. Hiking to Wahtum Lake would make for a good overnight trip. Practice Leave No Trace (LNT) backcountry skills and ethics. The Wahtum Lake trailhead leads to severaltrails within Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness. Wahtum Lake | Portland Monthly connected to the .gov website. Coffeen Lake (reservoir), Montgomery County. Go east around the lake on #2000 and loop west up to the junction with the Herman Creek trail #406 and shortly afterward, the Chinidere Mountain Trail #445. Something else? Then you'll get a view up the West Fork to the lowest tier of 148 foot tall Twister Falls (sometimes called "Crossover Falls" or "Eagle Creek Falls"). Three more switchbacks rise to an open gravelly slope vegetated with with manzanita, common juniper, and rare Fremont's silk-tassel. Adamsyou never studied! Cross the road and pick up the trail heading northeast. Wahtum Lake, in the rainforest of Oregon's Columbia River Gorge, lies halfway through an ideal 33-mile loop (link the Eagle Creek and Herman Creek Trails). The trail makes a level traverse below the ridgeline, exits the Eagle Creek Fire zone, and comes to the junction for Chinidere Mountain, which is a switchbacking 0.4 mile detour to your left for the best views of the hike. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. Pass along another cliff face to reach Four and a Half Mile Bridge, only the second time you'll cross Eagle Creek. Look for sites above and below the trail on the south and west shores. Backpackable: Yes Crowded: Yes Poison-Oak Hike Description The Pacific Crest Trail's northern terminus in Oregon used to be at the Forest Service's Herman Creek Work Center, and this backpacking option to Wahtum Lake on Waucoma Ridge begins at the nearby Herman Creek Trailhead. This road is even narrower and traffic may be just as heavy. Features: At 14.4 miles, hike the extra 0.2 mile to Chinidere Mountain for views of Mount Adams, Mount Rainier, and Mount St. Helens. Couldnt agree more about your reference to the Casey Creek water-run from hell -and- the widowmakers. 4,399' Down There is more crown fire after Slide Creek Falls, but shortly before Whisky Creek, you'll exit the burn area and pass a campsite. The park straddles the Waupaca-Portage county line. Conifers at the bottom of the canyon survived the fire with a full canopy, but you'll pass through a scorched area where fireweed, thimbleberry, poison oak, and ocean spray flourish. In fact, you'll soon pass a large fossil tree stump, now much diminished because of the depredations of decades of souvenir snatchers.