Lewisburg Saddle Old Growth Hike

Old road track on the Mill Hill Loop (bobcat)

Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia), Mill Hill Loop (bobcat)

Fairy lanterns (Prosartes smithii), Mill Hill Loop (bobcat)

Oval-leaf shooting star (Dodecatheon hendersonii), Mill Hill Loop (bobcat)

The Mill Hill Loop shown in red (bobcat)

Start point: Lewisburg Saddle Trailhead
End Point: Old Growth Trail-Davies Road Junction
Trail Log:
Hike Type: Lollipop loop
Distance: 2.0 miles
Elevation gain: 240 feet
High Point: 955 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Seasons: All year
Family Friendly: Yes
Backpackable: No
Crowded: No

Poison-Oak

The gated roads of Oregon State University's McDonald State Forest are open to recreationists and can be quite busy on weekends. Short trails lead through the forest from various points, so hikers will need to use the roads as part of their excursion. Two such trails are the New Growth and Old Growth Trails, both about half a mile long. These head across a handful of creek drainages that feed Soap Creek. The New Growth Trail was originally constructed in a research area where foresters could monitor growth of high-quality Douglas-fir timber: here the public can now view the research plots. The New Growth Trail connects with the Old Growth Trail, whose little pocket displays some impressive Douglas-firs and grand firs as well as that scraggly indicator of undisturbed woodland, the Pacific yew.

At the Lewisburg Saddle Trailhead, there’s an information kiosk with brochures usually available. The forest roads in the area are open to bikers and hikers and horses: they see little official activity on weekends, and it is then that locals take over - on a fine day, the roads can be quite busy. On the east side of the road, two roads diverge. On the right is Harry J. Nettleton Road leading uphill. On the left is William A. Davies Road, which is the one you need to take. The two roads are named after former forest managers.

Hike down Davies Road, soon come to the brown trailhead sign for the New Growth Trail on the north side of the road. This graveled trail leads around a slope, crossing two footbridges, through plots of now mature Douglas-firs, displaying various spacings between eight to fifteen feet (six different configurations in all). The purpose of this research study is to monitor optimal growth and wood quality based upon various planting configurations. Forest wildflowers, such as woods violet and bleeding heart, bloom here in the spring. After half a mile, come to the junction with the Old Growth Trail, and go left. The trail switchbacks down past large, mossy big-leaf maples and sizeable Douglas-firs in a creek valley. There are young grand firs and also a number of drooping yews. Make another switchback and cross a footbridge over a creek. Cross another creek and note larger old-growth grand firs, Douglas-firs and yews. Head into another creek valley with mossy yews and old growth Douglas-firs six feet in diameter. Cross a footbridge shaded by a mossy yew. A stepped trail heads up between big Douglas-firs to the Old Growth Trail-Davies Road Junction.

Go right on the road. Hiking back to the Lewisburg Saddle Trailhead, you can look down on the old-growth Douglas-fir, maples, yews, and grand fir on this slope of tributaries leading to Soap Creek. At a quarry, look to your right for a big Douglas-fir and some madrones. Pass the trailhead for the Old Growth Trail and, 15 yards later a pullout on the right. Continue to ascend to the Lewisburg Saddle Trailhead.

Fees, Regulations, etc.

Information kiosk at trailhead
Port-a-potty
Dogs on leash
Active research area: stay on the trails

Guidebooks that cover this hike

Corvallis Trails by Margie C. Powell
A Guide to Trails in the Corvallis Area by Phillip R. Hays

Page Contributors

bobcat (creator)

Lewisburg Saddle Old Growth Hike

Lewisburg Saddle Old Growth Hike

From Oregon Hikers Field Guide

Contents

Description

Fees, Regulations, etc.

Maps

Trip Reports

Related Discussions / Q&A

Guidebooks that cover this hike

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