Phlox Point from Kueffler Road
Posted: May 11th, 2019, 7:35 pm
Having hiked west from Kueffler Rd, we wondered about the old road which headed east toward Hardy Ridge. We found an old post to follow, so off we went, although counterclockwise.
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=17524&hilit=kueffler
We started down the old road and soon found we were heading in the wrong direction, straight to the creek instead of north. We backtracked and found a turnoff to another old road, but with more brush.
No problem crossing East Woodward Creek - rocks to hop across. Past the crossing the road/trail was more open. We noticed a cairn to the left of the trail. A few years ago I found a link to a gorge mapset on Oregon Hikers and downloaded it to my gps. The map showed a waterfall nearby and a trail/route to it and back to our original trail. My friend and I discussed this map is the one reason I have not switched entirely to Gaia, but still use my Garmin 62s. The trail to the falls was pretty easy. We first arrived at a small cascade. Around the bend was a beautiful falls with logs stuck across the rocks. We then backtracked a bit and steeply up a rocky ridge. This led back to our original road. Parts were green and overgrown, other times dry and dark. We found some evidence of wildlife. Passed by the car and then into a clearcut. We intersected a new looking gravel road. We followed it uphill to great views of Table Mtn and the ridge where the PCT turns west. Looked like we could follow the road to Three Corner Rock, but walking on a gravel road was not appealing. We turned southeast and had a hard time finding the old road which goes south parallel to Hardy Creek. After heading up to the powerlines and back down, we walked into the brush where the road should be and soon found it and a couple of flags. Shortly, the route was obvious, although much more overgrown than the route north. There were a couple markers on the trees. We arrived at the gate. The trail had less brush and overhanging vine maple at this point. Soon, we arrived at another old road and headed down to the Hardy Creek bridge. And, then back up again to Phlox Point. We saw a few other groups as we headed up. We had lovely views. We bushwacked down. Didn't see a path. When we reached our road back, this stump marked our exit. Not sure if it is the same stump from the previous post.
On our way back down we met another hiker, Eric Peterson, whose gorge mapset posting led us to the waterfall! Thank you Eric, it was a great detour to the falls.
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=17524&hilit=kueffler
We started down the old road and soon found we were heading in the wrong direction, straight to the creek instead of north. We backtracked and found a turnoff to another old road, but with more brush.
No problem crossing East Woodward Creek - rocks to hop across. Past the crossing the road/trail was more open. We noticed a cairn to the left of the trail. A few years ago I found a link to a gorge mapset on Oregon Hikers and downloaded it to my gps. The map showed a waterfall nearby and a trail/route to it and back to our original trail. My friend and I discussed this map is the one reason I have not switched entirely to Gaia, but still use my Garmin 62s. The trail to the falls was pretty easy. We first arrived at a small cascade. Around the bend was a beautiful falls with logs stuck across the rocks. We then backtracked a bit and steeply up a rocky ridge. This led back to our original road. Parts were green and overgrown, other times dry and dark. We found some evidence of wildlife. Passed by the car and then into a clearcut. We intersected a new looking gravel road. We followed it uphill to great views of Table Mtn and the ridge where the PCT turns west. Looked like we could follow the road to Three Corner Rock, but walking on a gravel road was not appealing. We turned southeast and had a hard time finding the old road which goes south parallel to Hardy Creek. After heading up to the powerlines and back down, we walked into the brush where the road should be and soon found it and a couple of flags. Shortly, the route was obvious, although much more overgrown than the route north. There were a couple markers on the trees. We arrived at the gate. The trail had less brush and overhanging vine maple at this point. Soon, we arrived at another old road and headed down to the Hardy Creek bridge. And, then back up again to Phlox Point. We saw a few other groups as we headed up. We had lovely views. We bushwacked down. Didn't see a path. When we reached our road back, this stump marked our exit. Not sure if it is the same stump from the previous post.
On our way back down we met another hiker, Eric Peterson, whose gorge mapset posting led us to the waterfall! Thank you Eric, it was a great detour to the falls.