Cast Creek - Horseshoe Ridge Loop

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Sugar Pine
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Joined: April 28th, 2017, 12:23 pm

Cast Creek - Horseshoe Ridge Loop

Post by Sugar Pine » July 11th, 2022, 8:28 pm

Great hike along the Cast Creek - Horseshoe Ridge trail last Friday.
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View of Mt Hood and East Zigzag from Cast Creek trail
Rhodies were blooming at about 3500’ on Cast Lake Trail. We found avalanche lilies and mosquitoes near the Cast Creek - Zigzag Mtn trail junction.
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We did not venture to East Zigzag Mtn but did check out Cast Lake. There is no sign at the Cast Lake turnoff.
There was some snow on the trail around Cast Lake and the trail was marshy on the south side. Camp spots on the north side of the lake looked dry, snow-covered on the south. No mosquitoes.
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Cast Lake
More snow near Zigzag Mtn above 4700’. Easy enough to navigate, but some snow bridges across the trail. Also blowdown on the Zigzag Mtn Trail.
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Great views from the unnamed peak on Zigzag Mtn trail.
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Mt Jefferson in the distance
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Mt Adams and Mt St Helens was out there somewhere
Hike mystery: We found two trees with these blazes. Both trees were dead. Both had blazes on the uphill and downhill sides. On the Horseshoe Ridge trail, the blazed tree was just inside the wilderness boundary. Not sure about the tree on the Cast Creek trail. Just seemed odd that we saw no other blazes.
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bobcat
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Location: SW Portland

Re: Cast Creek - Horseshoe Ridge Loop

Post by bobcat » July 12th, 2022, 6:49 am

Good to see a report on that loop.

I believe the horizontal blazes are survey markers, so it makes sense the one is on the wilderness boundary (and maybe the other, too). To find others, you would need to go off-trail along the boundary. There were always two, to show they had some intention and import rather than someone taking some random swipes with a Pulaski.

Natmospheric
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Joined: September 26th, 2021, 10:52 am

Re: Cast Creek - Horseshoe Ridge Loop

Post by Natmospheric » July 12th, 2022, 7:49 pm

Thanks for the report! How was the Lost Creek crossing on the Horseshoe Ridge trail?

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Sugar Pine
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Re: Cast Creek - Horseshoe Ridge Loop

Post by Sugar Pine » July 14th, 2022, 8:43 pm

Natmospheric, there was a big log we used to cross the creek. I believe as we got close to the creek the trail split, we went right and then crossed on the log. It was a bit high off the creek, but solid.

Bobcat, thanks for the intel on the blaze. Not sure when I'll be back there, but will definitely look for more blazes on the boundary.

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retired jerry
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Re: Cast Creek - Horseshoe Ridge Loop

Post by retired jerry » July 15th, 2022, 4:56 am

you can cross Lost Creek on the car bridge, into Riley campground, then walk along Lost Creek down stream until you hit the Horseshoe Ridge trail. There's sort of a trail.

lgr9675
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Joined: August 12th, 2022, 10:56 am

Re: Cast Creek - Horseshoe Ridge Loop

Post by lgr9675 » August 12th, 2022, 11:11 am

Hiked the Cast Creek - Horseshoe Ridge Loop yesterday (8/11/2022).
The unmarked trail head is on the right just past Riley Horse Camp at a wide spot just before the road narrows.
Cast Creek Trail is in great shape. Ran into a forest service crew who said they'd cleared it last year.
Trail to Cast Lake is unsigned but obvious. Hiked around lake, seems marshy section has dried out.
Crew was working on Zig Zag Mtn Trail 775 which is quite over grown and has lots of small downed logs as does the higher sections of Horseshoe Ridge.

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retired jerry
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Re: Cast Creek - Horseshoe Ridge Loop

Post by retired jerry » August 12th, 2022, 12:48 pm

thanks for the report

any mosquitoes???

it must be about time for the mosquitoes to dissipate, although what we really need is some freezing nights

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