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Mace Mountain Trail #1518 (North Umpqua)

Posted: January 25th, 2018, 10:36 am
by bobcat
I was staying with friends on the North Umpqua, and we decided to do an exploratory drive on forest roads to check out the status of some trails that are on the maps but no longer listed by the North Umpqua Ranger District.

We were actually looking for the Williams Creek Trail #1514 and #1513, but ended up finding bits of the Mace Mountain Trail. Our first discovery was a stake on a tree and a signless post. The trail led down the nose of a ridge on the edge of the 2009 Williams Creek Burn and is fairly densely choked by snow brush in this location. At any rate, we later figured this must be the middle trailhead for the Mace Mountain Trail.
Middle trailhead, Mace Mountain Trail, Umpqua N.F..jpg
Sign post, Mace Mountain Trail, Umpqua N.F..jpg
About 450 yards later, the road ended at a well-preserved trail sign indicating 2 ½ miles to Road 4710-500 up on the divide. A little farther in, there was a multi-use sign. The trail here is faint and covered by debris. I suspect both the Mace Mountain and Williams Creek Trails were abandoned after the Williams Creek Fire, so there is about eight years of debris to clear. I’d start clearing this upper section first as it would be a nice ridge hike with some forest openings. Once at the road on the divide, you can hike a little east and summit Mace Mountain. The route is mostly out of the burn. The forest roads here are narrow but are good for passenger cars - just a little rockfall and a few branches that might need to be cleared.
Upper trailhead, Mace Mountain Trail, Umpqua N.F..jpg
Mace Mountain Trail sign, Umpqua N.F..jpg
Multi-use sign, Mace Mountain Trail, Umpqua N.F..jpg
The lower half of the Mace Mountain Trail begins just above the river on FR 4710, the original North Umpqua Road. The lower slopes were scorched by fire and it looks like they are densely carpeted with snow brush, something that would have to be kept at bay every year until a canopy develops 40 years from now.
MaceMountainMap.png
Mace Mountain “Upper” Trailhead
43.3406; -122.8416
3095 feet

Mace Mountain “Middle” Trailhead
43.3375; -122.8423
2860 feet