Fish Creek Mountain

[Don Nelsen]

This one was completely off my radar since the maps I have don’t show a trail and I simply didn’t take time to research it. Kelly asked me about it and said she thought there was a trail so, after a little guide book research, sure enough, a trail. To top it off, a very nice trail, hardly any rocks and only a dozen fallen trees to step over or duck under. Nice. Also, lots of really picturesque old-growth to admire and views of Jefferson, Hood and the even the Sisters (though you have to work to get that.)

The trail starts out with 6/10 of a mile through an ancient old-growth grove then transitions to an abandoned logging road for the next 4/10 mile. After that, it’s a delightful ridge hike, sometimes on an almost knife edge too.











The summit once hosted a fire lookout, now removed and near there is a rocky outcrop, good for taking a lunch break or just enjoying the ambiance.

On the way back, to round out the day I did a short bushwhack along a ridge adjacent to the trail to see if I could get some better views. I found a spot at the southern end, but alas, nothing I couldn’t see from the regular trail.
An easy hike, only a few short steep spots and then there’s those trees to step over, but easy enough.

6.7 miles RT, 2,268’ EG

The map:


Directions:
Take Hwy 224 through Estacada and turn right on forest road 4620 at MP 45.8. Follow this for 7.7 miles, paved at the start, then gravel, and park on the left. TH is on the right of the parking area. Room for a half dozen cars or so.

[RobFromRedland]

Don, there is more info on the TrailAdvocate page here: https://www.trailadvocate.org/trails/541-2/

That first section is a segment of the old Cold Springs trail that takes you up to the old road that was abandoned after the '96 floods. The original trail was shorter (just the spot where it takes off between the two old roads).

Looks like there is some new logs down - last time I hiked it, it was pretty much clear of logs, but last winter was a tough winter for downed logs.

The side trip down to high lake is highly recommended as well. High lake is a really cool alpine lake.

[justpeachy]

That's a nice hidden gem. We did it back in 2014 and were pleasantly surprised by what a nice hike it was. Nice wildflowers in June.

At the National Archives in Seattle I found a photo of the lookout that I included in my book. As with many of these lookout sites, it looked WAY different back then without all the trees grown up!



It's in the Field Guide, if anyone wants more info on the route: https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guid ... ntain_hike

[TwoPaw]

Take Hwy 224 through Estacada and turn right on forest road 4620 at MP 45.8. Follow this for 7.7 miles, paved at the start, then gravel, and park on the left. TH is on the right of the parking area. Room for a half dozen cars or so.

What's the road like? FS Interactive calls it a Low Standard, meaning High Clearance Only. Is it really that bad? I've been wanting some new areas to explore.

Looking at the map it would be neat to connect a trail down to Indian Henry campground.

[RobFromRedland]

What's the road like? FS Interactive calls it a Low Standard, meaning High Clearance Only. Is it really that bad? I've been wanting some new areas to explore.

Looking at the map it would be neat to connect a trail down to Indian Henry campground.

I don't recall any significant washouts or anything - my recollection is that it is a pretty standard FS gravel road that gets light use.

Connecting a Trail down to Indian Henry would be quite difficult I think - that is steep country and much of it has been thinned in the last several years, meaning the underbrush has grown up quite a bit. Not easy walking.

[Don Nelsen]

I agree with Rob - pretty standard for such roads. Minor potholes in a few spots but nothing even a low clearance car couldn't handle easily. Looking back at my GPS track, I drove the 7.7 miles in 22 minutes at an easy, safe pace.

[Don Nelsen]

Don, there is more info on the TrailAdvocate page here: https://www.trailadvocate.org/trails/541-2/

That first section is a segment of the old Cold Springs trail that takes you up to the old road that was abandoned after the '96 floods. The original trail was shorter (just the spot where it takes off between the two old roads).

Looks like there is some new logs down - last time I hiked it, it was pretty much clear of logs, but last winter was a tough winter for downed logs.

The side trip down to high lake is highly recommended as well. High lake is a really cool alpine lake.

Hi Rob,

Thanks for the comment and the info. I'll check that lake out next time I'm in the area.

dn

[leiavoia]

I agree on the lake. It would be a sort of ho-hum hike without it. I camped there on the 4th of July a few years back and had it all to myself, and 1.2 billion mosquitoes.

The summit was overgrown when i was there last there and i didnt get much of a view either.