Maybe you all can help me answer some of these questions. There are so many things to be curious about...
1) How driveable is Road 4610? Like, is it going to destroy my low-clearance import if I drive it all the way to the Plaza Lake Trailhead? I've never been up this way and it sounds like fun.
2) Similarly, are there enough views / flowers / etc to make hiking the old 4610 Road worth hiking from either direction?
3) Was the Bagby Trail ever re-routed? When I was up there last year I noticed a well-defined trail paralelling the trail about 50 feet above.
4) Is there anything interesting or different about the Sugar Pine Botanical Area near Elk Lake Creek? I see it on the map but I've never heard anything about it. Should I even bother going up there before / after I return to Elk Lake Creek this summer?
5) About how long does it take to drive to Round Lake from Portland? Is it preferable to drive there from Estacada or from Detroit?
6) I'm planning on visiting Lake Lenore via Bull Of The Woods. What condition is the trail past Bull Of The Woods in and does anyone have an approximate on how much elevation you gain / lose past Bull Of The Woods? Additionally, my maps say that this would be approximately 12.4 miles round trip. Does this sound about right?
7) Was there ever a campground at Skookum Lake? My MHNF map says so but when i was there it seemed like such a remote place I couldn't imagine there ever being a campground there.
8) Has anyone ever been to Spinning Lake, just of FR4220 near Breitenbush Lake? I know it's right below Ruddy Hill and it looks like an interesting place to check out, considering it's only like a tenth of a mile off the road. I'm always looking for new and different viewpoints of Mount Jefferson.
9) Is it possible to stay in the lookout on Sisi Butte?
10) Even though they're just on the other side of the district line, has anyone ever hiked the Bald Mtn (Rapidan) or the Short Mountain Trails? I've never seen anything ever written about these anywhere and I'm wondering if these got abandoned a long time ago. Apologies if this is off topic due to being out the district.
11) Are there any other waterfalls in the district besides Pup Creek, Pegleg and Blister Creek? It seems almost impossible that there are only three named falls in an area the size of the Clackamas...
Thanks for any and all help you sage folks may bestow!
Matt Reeder said:
1) How driveable is Road 4610? Like, is it going to destroy my low-clearance import if I drive it all the way to the Plaza Lake Trailhead? I've never been up this way and it sounds like fun.
6) I'm planning on visiting Lake Lenore via Bull Of The Woods. What condition is the trail past Bull Of The Woods in and does anyone have an approximate on how much elevation you gain / lose past Bull Of The Woods? Additionally, my maps say that this would be approximately 12.4 miles round trip. Does this sound about right?
7) Was there ever a campground at Skookum Lake? My MHNF map says so but when i was there it seemed like such a remote place I couldn't imagine there ever being a campground there.
11) Are there any other waterfalls in the district besides Pup Creek, Pegleg and Blister Creek? It seems almost impossible that there are only three named falls in an area the size of the Clackamas...
Thanks for any and all help you sage folks may bestow!
I can't answer most of them, but I do have some info on a few:
1) I'm not an authority, but once you get too far on 4610, it really needs a higher clearance vehicle. I don't have a map in front of me and I'm not that familiar with that section of district.
6) It depends on your route in. Are you planning on taking the 550 trail up to the lookout and then on to the lake? I think the round trip would be a little farther than that, maybe like 14 miles. The last bit down to Lake Lenore is a pretty tough stretch of trail - narrow, steep and poor footing. I'm guessing there will be a lot of downed logs too, although they have done some trail clearing in the BOTW last fall. Some of the trails around the lookout were in pretty tough shape last fall with lots of blowdown. Lake Lenore is a beautiful place, though.
7) There used to be a road that came right up to the lake/campsite. I'm not sure when it closed, but it was quite a few years ago. You can still see the remnants of the road.
11) There are a few up the South Fork of the Clackamas, I know there is at least one up Fish Creek a ways, There is one near Hideaway Lake, and I'm sure many others.
My 10 cents:
1. 4610 is littered with potholes and gulleys from snowmelt. I'd not take a low clearance vehicle. It's also a very popular party road, so you won't get much peace.
2. It's mostly 2nd growth with lots of impact. Big logging camps there in the 20s-40s, fires too. Not a very interesting place to hike. Better trips in the TRAILS section.
3. The old maps show the trail in the same place. Minor reroutes happened though.
4. Not sure, but they are research study areas. Usually not terribly interesting and impacted by buildings, cutting, etc. I don't think it's active any more.
5. Round Lake is a long drive. I'd guess close to 3 hours.
6. All BOTW trails have been cleared last fall, at least of down logs. Expect brush.
9. I think SISI is still active, therefore no. http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/recreation/rentals/
10. no idea
11. Waterfalls are everywhere in the district. Most aren't marked. Look at topo maps, they often occur at steep canyons etc. and are often marked with a couple horizontal lines across the water course.
1/ You should be able to drive to Plaza Lake Trail. It is there that the road becomes pimitive. It is drivable from there to the next two trails, both off the system, but you cannot get through to the Salmon Butte trail.
2/ There are some views. If you chased around on the ridge above the road, there would be more flowers on in the openings. It is a fast way to walk acrross the heart of the Cascades.
3/ It used to run a little higher for a stretch and was heavily planked.
4/ Don't know. It is the norther limit of the Sugar Pine range.
5/ Long from both directions. I have only been there twice on account of that.
6/ Don't know.
7/ There is a nice little camp at Skookum Lake. Often littered by four-wheelers who like to leave unwanted gear behind.
8/ Don't know.
9/ You might be able to get the job manning the tower if they fill the position.
10/ Ten feet. Rapidan. It looked nice but never been up it. Have thought about chasing down the east west route along that divide. Would be an interesting project.
11/ Significant falls I know of are on the South Fork Clackamas, Three Lynx Creek, and Roaring River.