Zigzag Mountain Road Trail - Nov 15, 2008
Posted: November 15th, 2008, 11:43 pm
Let me preface this report by saying all of the trails mentioned here are use trails, maintained by who knows, and are not part of the MHNF trail inventory. IMO, the main trail (blue in map below) should be part of the inventory as it provides Enola-Hill-free access to east Zigzag Mtn trails.
It took 3 tries but I believe I've mapped all the trails in and around the eastern end of Forest Rd 35a including a trail I'm calling the 'Zigzag Mtn Rd Trail' that I first ran into here and explored again here. While the first couple of trips to this area were at the end of other hiking destinations so time limited the amount of trail I could cover, this trip was dedicated to mapping the existing trail network around 35a to Zigzag Mtn Rd.
Here's the final map:
There are 2 trailheads from the FR 35a Rd, one at the end of the road giving access to the Viewpoint Trail (in red on the map above) and another further west just north and across the road from the lot 46/48 marker giving access to the Zigzag Mtn Rd Trail (in blue). Parking at the latter trailhead looks to be a problem, I'd use the end of the 35a rd as there is a lot more space for parking. The Viewpoint Connector Trail (in green) is much like a game trail in spots but never loses its sense of purpose. Its been sawed out but be advised that it can be hard to follow at times. The Viewpoint Loop Trail goes to a nice open rock bluff with views of the valley and Hood. There is some exposure at the viewpoint and at one point the rock bluff has an abrupt drop-off about 150' directly into Zigzag River.
I'd say the best route to the Zigzag Mtn Rd Trail, with the caution about the connector trail, would be to take the eastern part of the Viewpoint Loop Rrail to the catch the Viewpoint Connector Trail then on to the intersection with the trail to Zigzag Mtn Rd. The Viewpoint Connector Trail takes off north from the Viewpoint Trail right across from a crude log shelter and would be easily missed if you didn't know the trail was there.
Here's the shelter just south of the Viewpoint Loop Trail:
The trail takes off to the north, this photo is looking east, the corner of the shelter is on the right, there is a log on the left with a space cut out at the far end where the connector trail takes off. The loop trail runs down the middle of the photo.
On the connector trail looking east, there's a log across the trail but in general the trail is quite clear, although faint at times.
At the intersection of the connector and the Zigzag Mtn Trail is a marker, the lettering painstakingly made by pounding nails into the marker. This side of the marker says "Viewpoint Trail .5"
The other side marks the direction of the Zigzag Mtn Rd Trail.
Once on the much easier to follow Zigzag Mtn Rd Trail, there are a couple of viewpoints along the way, nothing dramatic. After a while the trail connects and follows an old logging road.
The section from here to Zigzag Mtn Rd was documented in on the of the previous hikes. I did try to found a route down to Devils Falls but the spot I picked had some 10-20ft cliffs to negotiate - I think there is a route there but it will take some looking around to find something safe and non-technical.
Here's some shots of Hood from the viewpoint:
It took 3 tries but I believe I've mapped all the trails in and around the eastern end of Forest Rd 35a including a trail I'm calling the 'Zigzag Mtn Rd Trail' that I first ran into here and explored again here. While the first couple of trips to this area were at the end of other hiking destinations so time limited the amount of trail I could cover, this trip was dedicated to mapping the existing trail network around 35a to Zigzag Mtn Rd.
Here's the final map:
There are 2 trailheads from the FR 35a Rd, one at the end of the road giving access to the Viewpoint Trail (in red on the map above) and another further west just north and across the road from the lot 46/48 marker giving access to the Zigzag Mtn Rd Trail (in blue). Parking at the latter trailhead looks to be a problem, I'd use the end of the 35a rd as there is a lot more space for parking. The Viewpoint Connector Trail (in green) is much like a game trail in spots but never loses its sense of purpose. Its been sawed out but be advised that it can be hard to follow at times. The Viewpoint Loop Trail goes to a nice open rock bluff with views of the valley and Hood. There is some exposure at the viewpoint and at one point the rock bluff has an abrupt drop-off about 150' directly into Zigzag River.
I'd say the best route to the Zigzag Mtn Rd Trail, with the caution about the connector trail, would be to take the eastern part of the Viewpoint Loop Rrail to the catch the Viewpoint Connector Trail then on to the intersection with the trail to Zigzag Mtn Rd. The Viewpoint Connector Trail takes off north from the Viewpoint Trail right across from a crude log shelter and would be easily missed if you didn't know the trail was there.
Here's the shelter just south of the Viewpoint Loop Trail:
The trail takes off to the north, this photo is looking east, the corner of the shelter is on the right, there is a log on the left with a space cut out at the far end where the connector trail takes off. The loop trail runs down the middle of the photo.
On the connector trail looking east, there's a log across the trail but in general the trail is quite clear, although faint at times.
At the intersection of the connector and the Zigzag Mtn Trail is a marker, the lettering painstakingly made by pounding nails into the marker. This side of the marker says "Viewpoint Trail .5"
The other side marks the direction of the Zigzag Mtn Rd Trail.
Once on the much easier to follow Zigzag Mtn Rd Trail, there are a couple of viewpoints along the way, nothing dramatic. After a while the trail connects and follows an old logging road.
The section from here to Zigzag Mtn Rd was documented in on the of the previous hikes. I did try to found a route down to Devils Falls but the spot I picked had some 10-20ft cliffs to negotiate - I think there is a route there but it will take some looking around to find something safe and non-technical.
Here's some shots of Hood from the viewpoint: