Phantom Natural Bridge Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: French Creek Ridge Trailhead
- End Point: Phantom Natural Bridge
- Trail Log:
- Hike Type: In and out
- Distance: 4.6 miles
- Elevation gain: 1,540 feet
- High Point: 4,535 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Seasons: Summer through Fall
- Family Friendly: Yes
- Backpackable: Yes: can be extended east or west
- Crowded: No
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Description
This hike heads west from the French Creek Ridge Trailhead, making an undulating path along a rugged ridge crowded with features and views. Old growth trees and blooming wildflowers complement the rock formations, the last of which is a fifty-foot high natural arch which frames the montane woodlands. Don’t let the short 4.6 mileage fool you. The trail has a lot of steep up and down in both directions, and as of 2019 more than a third of the route is quite brushy.
Head back to the road from the parking area and go left for about 40 yards before picking up the signed French Creek Ridge Trail #3349. The path rises among huckleberry, bear-grass, Alaska yellow-cedar, and mountain hemlock. Soon it enters a shady forest of old growth Douglas-fir, silver fir, and noble fir. Seasonal seeps foster the lushness of this slope. The trail rises to the ridge crest and then drops off its north side before passing along a talus slope below Dog Tooth Rock. You will rise through a dense thicket of thimbleberry, salmonberry, and goat’s beard before dropping steeply to find yourself on the ridge crest again. At 1.1 miles the path rises below a rocky prominence. A short spur trail leads up to this viewpoint, which offers an excellent vista north over the Opal Creek Wilderness, including Opal Lake, and back to Dog Tooth Rock, Mount Jefferson, Mount Washington, Three-fingered Jack, and the Three Sisters.
From this vantage point, the main trail drops down to a saddle which cradles little Cedar Lake. Here also is the point where the French Creek Ridge Trail ends at its junction with the Elkhorn Ridge Trail, which heads down the north slope of the ridge to FR 2207, whence you can access the Opal Lake Trail 0.3 miles down the road. You will continue steeply up the ridge from Cedar Lake to an open knoll. The trail undulates along this plateau-like crest, which sometimes offers views north to Whetstone Mountain and Mount Hood. From this area, the trail drops steeply down through mountain hemlock and Alaska yellow-cedar to an abandoned road spur (an old trailhead) at two miles, then rises along a ridge blooming with stonecrop and Oregon sunshine. The path loops over to the to the south side of the ridge, and again there are great views of Mount Jefferson and the central Cascades. After the tread reenters forest, you will come to a large fallen tree. From here, a use path leads up the slope on your right to the Phantom Natural Bridge. You can scramble about here although there is no angle that can do the arch justice in a photo, but you can enjoy the view to Opal Lake and the solitude of this rarely-visited place.
Note:
You can extend your hiking day by heading east from the trailhead to do the Mount Beachie via French Creek Ridge Hike and/or head down FR 2207 for the Opal Lake Hike.
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- none
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
- Green Trails Maps: Battle Ax, OR #524
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness, Bull of the Woods Wilderness, Opal Creek Wilderness, Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area
- Geo-Graphics: Bull of the Woods and Opal Creek Wilderness Map
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Willamette National Forest: Detroit Ranger District
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Willamette National Forest
- Pacific Northwest Recreation Map Series: Willamette Cascades
- National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: Mount Hood
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Phantom Natural Bridge
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Phantom Natural Bridge
Guidebooks that cover this destination
- 101 Hikes in the Majestic Mount Jefferson Region by Matt Reeder
- 100 Hikes in the Central Oregon Cascades by William L. Sullivan
- 50 Old-Growth Hikes in the Willamette National Forest by John & Diane Cissel (map)
- Oregon's Columbia River Gorge: Camping & Hiking by Tom Stienstra & Sean Patrick Hill
- Pacific Northwest Hiking by Scott Leonard & Megan McMorris
More Links
- French Creek Trail #3349 (USFS)
- Elkhorn Ridge Trail #3347 (USFS)
- Leap of Faith at Phantom Bridge (The Bulletin)
Page Contributors
- bobcat (creator)