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Opal Creek to trail's end, 9/24 (w/ loads of pictures!)

Posted by mattisnotfrench (2006-09-25)

Opal Creek to Cedar Flats (and beyond!)

Roundtrip: 10.2 miles to Cedar Flats, 11+ miles to end of trail (app.)
Elevation gain: 600 feet
Long / Lat: 44� 50' 22" , -122� 12' 2"
Directions: Drive down I-5 to Salem. Turn east towards Detroit on Highway 22. At the Swiss Village restaurant just outside Mehama, turn left at the sign for "Elkhorn area". Drive this road for maybe 20 miles until it hits the forest boundary and turns to gravel. About a mile after turning to gravel, the road forks into FRs 2209 and 2207. Keep a left (on 2209) if you intend to go to Opal Creek (or Henline Falls, or Whetstone Mtn, or Battle Axe Creek, for that matter...), or turn right onto FR 2207 if you want to camp at Shady Cove Campground, stop at Sullivan Creek Falls, or drive all the way to Detroit on one of the prettiest drives in the state of Oregon.

Opal Creek is probably my favorite place on earth. Having grown up in Salem (with an 8 year stay in central Illinois and two intermittent stops in France in between), I've been up into the canyon at least 7 times that I can think of off the top of my head-and probably more. Yet, strangely, I'd never been to trail's end. Once I was foiled by tired parents; another time by snow; another by a bridge washout at the second creek crossing; and so on. This time I wasn't to be denied.

My girlfriend loves hiking and jumped at the suggestion to go to Opal Creek. We got an early start, but didn't arrive at the trailhead until about 10:30. We couldn't have asked for better weather! Seriously...it was fantastic. If you've ever been to Opal Creek, you know that it's a magical place in any kind of weather, and worth visiting again and again in all kinds of weather. Seeing it on an early fall day with sunshine illuminating the deep green waters and abundant moss of the area was truly a sight to behold. Fantastic!

Some pictures of the way to Jawbone Flats...

Now, Jawbone Flats is a very popular place. Wendy found the village very interesting, but seeing as how most of the area is private property, and seeing as how Opal Creek herself beckoned nearby, we were on our way up the narrow canyon in no time...

The last two shots are of Cedar Flats and the ENORMOUS trees in the area. Wendy looks very insignificant in that last shot. What a fantastic place to stop for lunch! After eating I wandered around taking pictures of the creek. Check it out:

After eating, we decided to continue as far upstream as we could, or until the trail disappeared. The following are shots from the Beachie Creek crossing on upstream...

The enormous trees we're standing on marked the end of any semblance of a trail, or at least as far as I could tell. This is maybe half a mile beyond the Beachie Creek crossing, so perhaps this is what is known as Franklin Grove. Honestly, I'm not sure. One of my lifelong dreams is to follow Opal Creek from Jawbone Flats to its source at Opal Lake (and in particular, to document it...), and so help me God, one day I'll do it. It wasn't going to be on this day though. It was time to turn around.

Some parting shots from the hike out...

The afternoon was getting on. We didn't get back to the car until 4:45 or so, but we were spent from the sheer enormity and beauty of the scenery. Having spent a lot of time in this area as a child, I was almost speechless because the area is VERY, VERY special to me. Wendy absolutely adored the canyon too. Standing in the shadows of giants will render a person speechless. It's like spending the day inside a gothic cathedral, like, say, Chartres.

In other words, the entire experience is awe-inspiring.

On the way home, we stopped at Sullivan Creek Falls. The falls is another place where I spent loads of time as a child. I have fond memories of skipping rocks into the water, of contemplation, of drinking the water straight out of the pool (I never once got sick...) and on one occasion, of being advised by campers leaving the area to get on because more snow was on the way (there was already a foot on the ground...mmm...one of the best trips EVER). In other words, like Opal Creek, Sullivan Creek Falls is a very special place to me.

One of the great things about the falls is that it is literally at the side of the road - there is absolutely no work required (unless you count driving...) to find it. However, despite being in such an easy location to reach, you aren't likely to encounter crowds swarming the falls like you would if it were in the Columbia River Gorge. It's actually a fairly solitary spot.

All in all, a fantastic day of hiking. The area has changed some since I was last up there (which, not counting a trip to Jawbone Flats last fall with a school group) was around the time it was designated
a wilderness area. The drive up Cedar Creek in particular had changed quite a bit, and I must say, for the better.

Do yourself a favor-if you haven't already, visit the Opal Creek area (and for that matter, the entire Little North Santiam canyon, as well as the Bull of the Woods Wilderness). It's truly a sacred place.

Re: Opal Creek to trail's end, 9/24 (w/ loads of pictures!)

Posted by Bill Bens (2006-09-25)

Outstanding! Thanks for sharing.

Re: Opal Creek to trail's end, 9/24 (w/ loads of pictures!)

Posted by Jill (2006-09-26)

The Opal Creek area IS a magical place! I know exactly what you mean. Great trip report and pics. We went last year and followed the trail to the end only after crossing the creek, we went just a little ways and then turned back. It sounds like you are saying you went about a half mile further after crossing? Sounds like it would be a fun bushwhack to Opal Lake. CFM, thanks for the additional info. We will have to get up there again very soon.

Re: Opal Creek to trail's end, 9/24 (w/ loads of pictures!)

Posted by retired jerry (2006-11-19)

Can you do a winter backpack up there anywhere?

Are there any good camping spots towards the end of the trail?

Thanks

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