Oregon Hikers

Trailkeepers of Oregon invites you help refurbish two trails in the Eagle Cap Wilderness in August. We take on the Falls Creek trail during the first work party and the Maxwell Lake trail during the second. Each stint will involve five days of trail magic.

The steep Falls Creek trail could have its origins as a route selected by some miner's wayward mule. It isn't what we would choose as a route today if building new trail but it sure gets one into the high country fast, and eventually to Oregon's highest lake. We will make a dent into its deferred maintenance and enjoy the scenery in the process.

The Maxwell Lake trail is also a high gradient wanderer but with greater use than the Falls Creek trail. Granite cliffs surround the lake and a short hike from there to the divide offers views up and down the Lostine and Minam drainages. We will be using our collective creativity to figure out how to get water to drain off of this trail in an orderly fashion.

Will you join us for some challenging and rewarding fun?
https://www.trailkeepersoforegon.org/ge ... trailwork/

I have hiked the Maxwell Lake trail many times. The first three miles are well-behaved, properly graded switchbacks. The last mile is steep, rocky and in quite poor condition. I think I know where your work party will be concentrating its efforts. Have fun and wear good work gloves!

The good news is that most of the logs are now cut out of the trail. The bad news is -- well, you said it -- that last mile of fall line trail. It's going to take creative solutions to improve that section.