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  • Trail question

    When my daughter and I were hiking this weekend, a question occurred to me:  When were most of these trails created?  I know some were re-done old indian trails, etc.  My guess is that the bulk of the trails in this district were created in the 30's and 40's?  Most of the blazes look REALLY old.

    Does anyone know?  I bet Donovan does....
    Trail question
  • Re: Trail question (#)
  • 7/12/09; 11:04:02 PM ¦ by Donovan
  • Well, I have an account of an inspection tour in 1911 where the FS and SP men rode up Elk Lake Creek to Elk Lake Ranger Station. Then they went up to Battle Ax and on out to Bagby. So those were there then. But as has been noted, some of Elk Lake Creek trail was moved around later.

    Generally, the lookouts and the trails to them were established with the Forest Reserves. The Depression provided the opportunity to reconstruct and add towers and fill out the trail system.

    By 1902, there was trail from Bagby to Pansy Lake to Twin Lakes to Elk Lake according to a Forest Reserve map.

    Info is hard to get, or I haven't tried that hard, but the Mollala and Klamaths had a route through the Bull along the Santiam/Clackamas watershed divide starting from Burnt Mountain. So some of our trails may run along that general route in places, like saddles.


  • Re: Trail question (#)
  • 7/15/09; 4:52:32 AM ¦ by Bill Cattrall
  • Rob,
    I found this on the most excellent OSU library site.  It is about Oregon National Forest Vacation lands 1919.  The section on the Oregon National Forest, now Mt. Hood NF starts on pg. 29.  This is on pg. 31.

    "The upper waters of the Clackamas River consist of eight large branches, each
    of which has numerous tributaries. A comprehensive trail system covers this
    entire watershed and makes accessible many fine camp sites. The region is ideal
    for walking or pack trips. It is heavily timbered mountain country, intersected
    with picturesque streams, and affords good hunting and fishing. The Austin and
    Vacation LandThe National Forests in Oregon Thirfy
    Thirty-
    One
    Vacation LandThe National Forests in Oregon
    Bagsby Springs, two medicinal hot springs, may be reached by trail from Estacada.
    These springs are distant two and three days' travel, respectively, from Portland.
    A good trail, beginning at Dodge, a post office 9 miles north of Estacada, cxtends
    along the west boundary of this part of the Oregon National Forest and
    follows the high divide southward at Elk Lake and North Santiam River. The
    High Camp, Red House, and Skunk Cabbage Trails, which enter the Forest from
    towns along the Molalla, lead into this trail from the west. It passes through an
    area which is very rugged and scenically beautiful. One can go in a week of easy
    riding from Estacada by the Dodge Trail to Elk Lake and return down the Clackamas
    River. This trip takes in the high divide between the Clackamas and Molalla
    Rivers, Bagsby Hot Springs, and Battle Axe Mountain with its wonderful view of
    the Cascade Range panorama. Those who want to extend the trip and do not
    mind some rough traveling may branch off at Elk Lake, take the Old Indian Trail
    over the Scorpion Mountains to the summit of the Cascades, and return to Estacada
    by way of Clackamas Lake and Squaw Mountain."

    It sounds like a great trip to me. Here is a link to the listing.
    https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/jspui/handle/1957/10918?mode=full

    Bill
    • Re: Trail question (#)
    • 7/15/09; 8:56:23 AM ¦ by Rob Williams
    • Nice find.....If you find more stuff on the Clackamas area, I'd love to see it.

      Thanks
    • Re: Trail question (#)
    • 7/15/09; 9:35:39 PM ¦ by Donald Presley
    • I was on an old section of that trail from Clackamas Lake to Squaw Mtn last summer when I was exploring the Roaring River area for old trails. It parallels the 4610 road or Abbot road, and was wiped out by the road in places. Has a wide tread, but also has trees of good size growing in it. Had some nice rockwork through one talus slope section we hiked on. Would like to hike it through to at least Hambone Springs, maybe later this summer, if I can pull myself away from other trail work projects.