Upper Salmon River Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Salmon River East Trailhead
- End point: Linney Creek Trail Ford
- Hike Type: In and out
- Distance: 11.0 miles
- Elevation gain: 1550 feet
- High Point: 3,490 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Seasons: Summer into mid-fall
- Family Friendly: No
- Backpackable: Yes
- Crowded: No
Contents |
Description
The Salmon River is a designated National Wild and Scenic River for much of its length, with about half of its course contained within different segments of the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness. The east end of the Salmon River Trail #742 connects with the Jackpot Meadows Trail #492, which heads south to connect with the Pacific Crest Trail. This upper end of the Salmon River Trail is quite easy to reach via Trillium Lake and yet sees few hikers, thus almost guaranteeing a day of solitude or an overnight camp without human neighbors. Note that the farther you get down the trail, you’re more likely to encounter blowdown that needs to be negotiated.
The Salmon River Trail begins from the pull through and heads downhill through rhododendrons and bear-grass. It’s a mixed lower montane forest here of Douglas-fir, western hemlock, silver fir, noble fir, western white pine and even a few Engelmann spruce. Huckleberry bushes fringe the trail. You’ll cross Mud Creek, which drains Trillium Lake, on a single-rail log bridge in a skunk-cabbage/lady fern/willow/cedar bottomland and hike up over a ridge crest. (At the crest, you can make a detour about 40 yards to the left to a rockpile view of the forested slopes of the Salmon River valley.) Then you’ll descend to the first of three crossings of Fir Tree Creek, this one on stepping stones. Notice the old burn snags in the forest from the extensive Sherar Burn of the mid-nineteenth century. Right after crossing Fir Tree Creek, you’ll see a trail running up to the right, the formerly abandoned Dry Lake Trail #672. (Except for a few stepover logs, Trailkeepers of Oregon brushed out the Dry Lake Trail in 2019-2020.) A new sign at the junction directs you to keep on the Salmon River Trail #742.
Now the trail makes a traverse and crosses Fir Tree Creek where it runs partially underground in a vine maple thicket near a scree slope. The route then traverses a dry slope of rhododendron and salal before making a sharp switchback down. You’re now above the Salmon River and can hear its spate. Cross Fir Tree Creek for the last time, and enter the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness. Soon you’ll hop over a significant but nameless creek and head up along a steep slope. The path then drops gradually past open scree. In a lush and impressive expanse of skunk-cabbage, springs issue above and below the trail. After crossing a rotting footbridge, you'll step over a trickling creek under a dense canopy. Pass the junction with the abandoned Fir Tree Trail #674, an unmaintained trail which rises to your right, joining the Fir Tree Trail in about 1 1/2 miles.
The trail now gets quite close to the Salmon River. Rockhop two creeks near their confluence with the river to make an undulating traverse. Springs spill across the trail, and you’ll get more views down to the river. When you get to river level, there’s a bench to your left that shelters a large campsite. From here, the Salmon River Trail heads across a wide, forested riverside flat with thimbleberry, snowberry, and bracken overhanging the path. Cross rocky, tumbling Wolf Creek. To your left, after the crossing, there’s another campsite.
The trail then drops through rhododendron thickets and crosses a dry, eroded gully. Keep descending on a bench above the river, and cross another rocky creek. As you traverse the slope here, you will see some large Douglas-firs that survived the turn-of-the-century fire. The trail ascends again and heads into a deep gully before descending through the salal and past some impressive trees. Below, you can also see where the Salmon River braids around a large alder-shaded island. When you reach the Salmon River-Linney Creek Trail Junction, turn down to the river and a campsite at the Linney Creek Trail Ford. This is a peaceful spot (and most likely unoccupied), and there’s a sandy-bottomed swimming hole to enjoy! Those with enough chutzpah to bounce and scrape their vehicle down the Linney Creek Road to the Linney Creek Trailhead (see the Salmon River from Linney Creek Hike) will find the best ford across from the east end of the campsite, but fording is only possible from about the end of July until the fall rains begin.
This is a good turn-around point for a day hike.
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- none
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
- Green Trails Maps: High Rock, OR #493
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness, Bull of the Woods Wilderness, Opal Creek Wilderness, Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Zigzag Ranger District
- Discover Your Northwest: Mt. Hood National Forest North: Trail Map & Hiking Guide
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Mt. Hood National Forest
- National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: Mount Hood
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Upper Salmon River Hike
- Salmon River from East Trailhead – 08-11-20
- Salmon River Trail… Nearly the Whole Thing (Apr. 18)
- Salmon River Double w/Dry Lake and Fir Tree Loop: 4/19/14
- Brushy Trails in “Upper” Salmon River Area (Sep 27, 2008)
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Upper Salmon River Hike
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- Off the Beaten Trail by Matt Reeder
- Afoot & Afield: Portland/Vancouver by Douglas Lorain
More Links
- Salmon River Trail #742 (USFS)
- Salmon River Overnight (wanderingyuncks)
- Upper Salmon River Trail (Outdoor Project)
- Salmon River, Oregon (National Wild and Scenic Rivers System)
- Salmon River (Clackamas County, Oregon) (Wikipedia)
Page Contributors
- bobcat (creator)