Hood and Willamette National Forest map, which also includes the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness and the Bull of the Woods Wilderness. This is now the largest uncut watershed in the state! This hike “aggressively climbs” towards the ridgeline, rising almost 2,500 feet in 1.6 miles. Beachie, though smaller, is a challenging 1.7 miles and 900 feet to the south.For a 6-mile loop, Battle Ax trail 3340 switchbacks up through weather-stunted trees and sub-alpine wildflowers before reaching the 5,558’ summit. Turn right on Elkhorn Drive/Forest Service Road 201 and continue about ½ mile to the trailhead on your left.The Henline Mountain trailhead is on the north side of Forest Service Road 2209, about a mile and a quarter past the junction for Three Pools. The forest and all of its flora and fauna are a …

Turn left to follow trail 3369 across Battle Ax Creek and up the ridgeline, climbing 2,000 feet in a short 1.8 miles. From the lookout site follow a faint trail leading to the north ridge. At the ridgeline, an unmaintained trail continues to the northeast. On your left (north) take trail 3369 to climb up an old road towards Whetstone Mountain. The concrete foundation obstructing the trail at the falls once held the mine’s flume-powered generator. Update as of May 27. 97 and then merge onto US-20 west towards Sisters. This road continues through an ancient old growth forest for 2.3 miles. Opal Creek will begin welcoming cabin rentals June 5, 2020. This trail will take you directly into Jawbone Flats and back onto the main trail out to the gate. Jawbone Flats is privately-owned and maintained, and is surrounded by federal land managed by the Detroit Ranger District of the U.S. Forest Service. In the town of Gates turn right onto Gates Hill Rd.

(Total of 94.1 miles)From Bend drive north on Hwy. Opal Creek is an easy and historic hike in the Bull of the Woods Wilderness that takes you through an old mining area. These hikes are exposed to the elements, so remember sunscreen and avoid storms.From the Elk Lake campground junction, continue up the road on foot for .4 miles to the Bagby trailhead, trail 544. Beachie, crossing large rock slides where pikas sound out warning calls. Drive 0.8 miles and turn left onto road 4697. Plan accordingly; carry water and snacks with you and dress for the weather. Hood National Forests. Accessing the pools is a gift in and of itself – it requires an easy 7-mile loop hike through the Opal Creek Wilderness, a low-elevation ancient forest that represents the largest old-growth forest in the western Cascades. This short, easy hike through a classic second-growth forest ends in a spectacular 125-foot waterfall and crystal-clear plunge pool that is shallow enough for wading in the summer. Hood, Mt. We highly recommend that visitors carpool if at all possible. At the second flashing yellow light turn left onto Little North Santiam Fork Rd. About ½ mile from the gate, the road crosses Gold Creek on a 60-foot high bridge and begins to climb gradually. Opal Creek Trailhead From Oregon Hikers Field Guide.

Here you can enjoy a picnic lunch by the water or enjoy a quick swim in the cold water in the summertime. The clearest water and trees which are ancient reminders of a bygone era. At 2 miles you will reach the historic Merten Mill, built in 1943, a steam-powered sawmill that logged five of the surrounding acres. Above the pellucid emerald splendor of the Opal Pool, you can branch off from the popular lollipop … The summit was used as a fire lookout from 1912-1969. National television crews and thousands of visitors hiked to Jawbone Flats' rustic mining camp and scrambled over a rugged "bear trail" to view the endangered old-growth groves towering above this creek's green pools. Here you enter the Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area. Jawbone Flats is privately-owned and maintained, and is surrounded by federal land managed by the Detroit Ranger District of the U.S. Forest Service. were named for Opal Elliot, the wife of early USFS ranger Roy Elliot.

Hike 1.1 miles to Beachie Saddle, bypassing the trail 544 turnoff on your right towards Bagby Hot Springs. Pop up to the summit for a stunning view or simply continue along the ridgeline. You will be able to access Opal Pool by following the signs for Kopetski Trail.

(Total of 112 miles)To get a more in-depth and personal view of this hike, watch the YouTube video. At the flashing light turn Turn /Little North Fork and stay on this road for 14.8 miles then continue on NF-2207 for 1.6 miles. Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit with a base of operations in the historic mining town of Jawbone Flats in the Opal Creek Wilderness Area and an administrative office in Portland, Ore.