Difference between revisions of "Lower Wenaha River Hike"
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
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* Trail Log: [[Wehana River Hike/Log|Trail Log]] | * Trail Log: [[Wehana River Hike/Log|Trail Log]] | ||
* Hike Type: Out-and-back | * Hike Type: Out-and-back | ||
| − | {{Distance| | + | {{Distance|5.4 miles}} |
* High point: 1,900 feet | * High point: 1,900 feet | ||
{{Elevation gain|600 feet}} | {{Elevation gain|600 feet}} | ||
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=== Hike Description === | === Hike Description === | ||
| − | When the mountains are still buried in snow, the Wenaha River Trail makes for a good early season spring trek. | + | When the mountains are still buried in snow, the Wenaha River Trail makes for a good early season spring trek. In spring you may see balsamroot, desert parsley, larkspur, shooting stars, Dutchman's breeches, and ballhead waterleaf in bloom. Watch for bighorn sheep high on the canyon walls. |
| + | The hike starts out in meadows blooming with wildflowers in the spring. Ponderosa pines dot the hillsides around you. Some of these trees were burned in a 2015 wildfire. At 1.1 miles you will pass through a gate. Be sure to close it behind you. | ||
| + | |||
| + | At 1.9 miles cross a decommissioned road. The old road crosses the trail and continues down to a large flat area along the river that makes for a good campsite. The trail continues beyond the road, staying high above the river and offering dramatic views up and down the canyon. | ||
| + | |||
| + | At 2.7 miles you will reach the Umatilla National Forest boundary, marked only by an old weathered fallen-down sign. This is a great turn-around point for a day hike. There are rocks here for sitting and admiring the view across to where a creek flows in from Dry Gulch. | ||
| + | |||
| + | EXTENDING YOUR HIKE | ||
| + | |||
| + | 6.5 miles from the trailhead you will reach Crooked Creek, which makes a good turnaround point for a longer day hike, or a destination for an overnight backpack. There is plenty of room for camping here. Although the Wenaha River Trail continues upstream for a total of 31 miles, the footbridge across Crooked Creek was burned in 2015 and later removed, making that stream crossing difficult. | ||
=== Fees, Regulations, etc. === | === Fees, Regulations, etc. === | ||
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=== More Links === | === More Links === | ||
| − | * [https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/ | + | * [https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/umatilla/recarea/?recid=56893 Wenaha River Trail #3106 (USFS)] |
* [https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/wenaha-river-trail-3106 Wenaha River Trail (WTA)] | * [https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/wenaha-river-trail-3106 Wenaha River Trail (WTA)] | ||
Revision as of 15:18, 30 April 2019
- Start point: Troy Trailhead
- Trail Log: Trail Log
- Hike Type: Out-and-back
- Distance: 5.4 miles
- High point: 1,900 feet
- Elevation gain: 600 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Seasons: Year-round
- Family Friendly: Yes
- Backpackable: Yes
- Crowded: No
Contents |
Hike Description
When the mountains are still buried in snow, the Wenaha River Trail makes for a good early season spring trek. In spring you may see balsamroot, desert parsley, larkspur, shooting stars, Dutchman's breeches, and ballhead waterleaf in bloom. Watch for bighorn sheep high on the canyon walls.
The hike starts out in meadows blooming with wildflowers in the spring. Ponderosa pines dot the hillsides around you. Some of these trees were burned in a 2015 wildfire. At 1.1 miles you will pass through a gate. Be sure to close it behind you.
At 1.9 miles cross a decommissioned road. The old road crosses the trail and continues down to a large flat area along the river that makes for a good campsite. The trail continues beyond the road, staying high above the river and offering dramatic views up and down the canyon.
At 2.7 miles you will reach the Umatilla National Forest boundary, marked only by an old weathered fallen-down sign. This is a great turn-around point for a day hike. There are rocks here for sitting and admiring the view across to where a creek flows in from Dry Gulch.
EXTENDING YOUR HIKE
6.5 miles from the trailhead you will reach Crooked Creek, which makes a good turnaround point for a longer day hike, or a destination for an overnight backpack. There is plenty of room for camping here. Although the Wenaha River Trail continues upstream for a total of 31 miles, the footbridge across Crooked Creek was burned in 2015 and later removed, making that stream crossing difficult.
Fees, Regulations, etc.
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Lower Wenaha River Hike
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Lower Wenaha River Hike
Guidebooks that cover this destination
- 100 Hikes / Travel Guide Eastern Oregon by William L. Sullivan