Mulkey Ridge – Fitton Green Loop (Corvallis) 03-12-17
Posted: March 13th, 2017, 6:37 pm
In September 2014, the Greenbelt Land Trust oversaw a trail extension on a newly acquired property that connects the trails in the Bald Hill-Mulkey Creek system with those at Fitton Green-Cardwell Hill.
I began at the crowded Oak Creek Trailhead on a slightly overcast day and took the route through Bald Hill Farm. The Land Trust has recently rerouted the trail here from farm roads to a path paralleling the gravel track. Views extended across the pastures, soon to be blooming with buttercups, to Bald Hill and back all the way to the Three Sisters.
Once at Mulkey Creek, I was much enamored of a recent cougar sighting sign but regrettably, in spite of diligent searching (with hackles up), I could not offer any confirmation. I took the trail up to the ridge crest and soon found myself at the new connector. This drops and undulates through an oak/Douglas-fir/grand fir woodland carpeted with invasive false brome grass. After two miles, it joins the Allen Throop Loop at Fitton Green.
From here, I wound up the grassy slope, getting great views of Marys Peak capped by morning clouds. Once I reached the Panorama Trailhead, I took gravel rural roads (Panorama Drive and Wynoochee Drive) to complete a loop back to Mulkey Creek and then to the trailhead.
I began at the crowded Oak Creek Trailhead on a slightly overcast day and took the route through Bald Hill Farm. The Land Trust has recently rerouted the trail here from farm roads to a path paralleling the gravel track. Views extended across the pastures, soon to be blooming with buttercups, to Bald Hill and back all the way to the Three Sisters.
Once at Mulkey Creek, I was much enamored of a recent cougar sighting sign but regrettably, in spite of diligent searching (with hackles up), I could not offer any confirmation. I took the trail up to the ridge crest and soon found myself at the new connector. This drops and undulates through an oak/Douglas-fir/grand fir woodland carpeted with invasive false brome grass. After two miles, it joins the Allen Throop Loop at Fitton Green.
From here, I wound up the grassy slope, getting great views of Marys Peak capped by morning clouds. Once I reached the Panorama Trailhead, I took gravel rural roads (Panorama Drive and Wynoochee Drive) to complete a loop back to Mulkey Creek and then to the trailhead.