Oregon Hikers

The closure was effected on December 23rd and it will probably continue a while. There’s no end date given.

Thanks for the report! It’s a fine ridge to visit in the spring.

Best time to be there! As for the watercress, which is abundant in the somewhat slimy creek, I’d hesitate a tad. All those white stains on the rocks means plenty of fertilizer draining from above.

about how many miles did you do? It was about 9.2 miles according to my GPS, including short sections off trail on the railroad and logging roads. As for maps, the state doesn't have a current map, the older Gales Creek Trail map available online showing the former alignment of the Step Creek Trail...

The original plan had been to head up the Gales Creek Trail from Reehers Camp, but we found out that trail was closed between Round Top and Bell Camp roads due to a logging operation, so we hiked the trails below Round Top Road. We took the Gales Creek Trail along the Nehalem River, which crossed at...

Thanks. I'll put a note in the Field Guide.

Coincidentally, I revisited that entire excursion in December. The Peterkort section is definitely a highlight, at least looking south from the trail.

Yes, it's not really a boundary fence but I think a cattle fence, now no longer repaired, that separated a former grazing concession in the canyon from farmland above. Looking down from Peak 1443, you can see a gate in the fence. You could follow the jeep track on the other side as far as a farm roa...

Thanks for the report and info on the upper Sunflower extension. Looks like it was a lovely day out there!

Thanks, coaster, for keeping us current on the situation for that trail. I've put a note in the Field Guide. When/if the situation is fixed, let us know. State Parks operates in "clusters," usually with one trails ranger for a group of parks. Looks like you found out who that is, which should speed ...

Before the weather turned again, I motored out to the John Day River and did this loop in Cottonwood Canyon State Park. I began at the first parking area, and took the short trail up to Sage Knob and then headed up the ridge to Peak 1443. The steppe wildflowers were beginning to bloom, and a cool we...