Manila Discussion archive for:

• Rho Ridge Trail 564

• Re: Rho Ridge Trail 564 (#)
• 6/23/07; 9:26:14 PM ¦ by Rob Williams
• Had a busy day exploring parts of the Rho Ridge trail.....My dog and I hiked the south end of the Rho Ridge trail, up to Hawk Mountain, then on the way home, I decided to hike up to Mt Lowe.  That trail was pretty difficult to find, since I thought it started from the 4670-220 spur, but it was the Rho Ridge Trail that ended up there.  I ended up just trying to hike up Rho Ridge, and then found the side trail that went up to Mt Lowe.
  
  Trail report:  We only hiked about 2-3 miles of the south end of Rho Ridge, and it was in pretty good shape.  The trail through the meadow is difficult to see in spots due to the grass growing in.  As you get into the woods, there are about 12-14 trees down over the trail, although most of them are small and/or easy to get over.  All in all, the trail is in very good shape.  The Lowe Mtn trail was in good shape, it was just difficult to find based on the FS info sheet.  There is no signed trail, except for the Rho Ridge Trail, which threw me.  I was expecting a sign for the Mt Lowe trail.
  
  One other note:  A good portion of the 6350 road and also the 150 spur road have been regraded and re-gravelled.  Very nice!  The upper end of 6310, however (past the paved section) gets pretty rough in places.  It doesn't look like that road gets too much traffic.
  
  A couple of questions for the guru's around here:
  
  • What is the deal with cachebox meadow?  I've heard/read it was an "ancient" clearcut, but why was it not replanted?  How old is "ancient"?  It does look like there was a meadow, and it got a lot bigger after the clearcut.
  • How did the Hawk Mountain cabin stick around when all the others were torn down?  It is quite a jewel, and pretty cool...I'm going to have to have an overnighter there some day....

• ORV use on Rho Ridge Trail 564 (#)
• 8/2/09; 2:04:01 PM ¦ by Doug Firman
• I didn't know until today that the Rho Ridge trail is open to off-road vehicles. As far as I can tell by looking at the FS website, this is the only trail in the Clackamas District on which ORV use is permitted. I am baffled by this and wonder why this one trail is singled out for this. It seems totally inappropriate to me.
  
  This came to my attention in a recent article in the Estacada News regarding restrictions due to fire danger.
  
  http://www.estacadanews.com/news/story.php?story_id=124907629062056000

• • Re: ORV use on Rho Ridge Trail 564 (#)
  • 8/2/09; 5:10:57 PM ¦ by Rob Williams
  • Wow, that seems totally inappropriate to me too!  I've hiked part of the Rho Ridge trail, and part of it has the spur that goes up to the Hawk Mtn cabin-I love that place!.  Great, now we will get OHVers trashing that place, too.......It apparently isn't the only trail in the Mt Hood Forest that OHVs are allowed (although it looks like the only one in the Clackamas district):
    
    
    All off-highway vehicles are prohibited from going off road and are also prohibited from using all national forest system trails including: the McCubbins Gulch Trail System (Trails # 575, 576, 577), Rocky Butte Trail #476, and N. Section Line Trail #451 located on Barlow Ranger District, and the Rhododendron Ridge (Rho Ridge) Trail #564 located south of Estacada. These trails will be re-opened later in the year when the fire danger has subsided.
    
  • • Re: ORV use on Rho Ridge Trail 564 (#)
    • 8/2/09; 8:59:29 PM ¦ by Donovan
    • It gets rare dirt bike use. When I learned about it, it was represented to me as a single track trail, dirt bikes. There was some history in the "Utility" trail classification and Urban Link funding that somehow allowed the dirt bikes.
      It is unfortunate that the press release mentions the trail because the classification hasn't been a problem, except one season a few years ago.
      
      It certainly would be appropriate to express your concern to the Ranger, etc..
      
    • • Re: ORV use on Rho Ridge Trail 564 (#)
      • 8/9/09; 12:50:00 PM ¦ by tempus fugit
      • I'm a long time dualsporter and I've known about this trail for some time but only rode it for the first time this year. Somewhat selflishly, I guess, I would also prefer that it not be widely publicized. I think there are a few reasons it's not used more. It's tight single track so that means not attractive to quads and very remote so that means pretty much dualsport only since not many are willing to trailer all that way for just one trail. It has a lot of blowdown also and that makes it too much work for most people on bikes. Anyhow, I am interested in helping to maintain this trail when the fire restrictions are lifted.
      • • Re: ORV use on Rho Ridge Trail 564 (#)
        • 8/10/09; 11:33:00 PM ¦ by Meistro60
        • As another longtime ds rider, hiker, camper and trail advocate I  would also be interested in  keeping this trail cleared. As you well know one winter season and all those trails can change. The dead fall and blow down can be daunting, and with all of the new rules & wilderness area plus the calls for obliterating the wonderful infrastrucure called roads into yours & mine beloved woods there will come a time when many of the trails will be gone, forvever lost and no way to get there.
          One of the reasons I like this group is the fact that  unbeknown to the Trail Advocates is that you share a similiar views with many dualsporters in that the trails must be at a minimum maintained by the human hand so that future generations can enjoy these same trails.
          
          The  statement on the front page of this website strikes a chord with me and many in the woods rider community.
          "Environmental groups will not protect your trails. They often work against them and do pitiful little to mitigate the negative impact on trails their agenda wreaks. Even Oregon's leading and otherwise venerable hiking club is not protecting your trails. It's up to you."
          "This wilderness expansion is really heartbreaking because we volunteers have worked so hard to recover most of these trails from years of neglect. We will continue to keep the non-wilderness trails nice."
          
          Sane trail management is key.
          I dont know if there are enough volunteers to do the work. I for one am impressed by the few people that do go out and clear the way after a long winter. Keep up the good work.  I know that a few cannot do it all.
          
          As for RhoRidge fear not. It is as tempus says, out of the way, remote. It is a beautiful trail. I feel privilged to be allowed to naviagate its course.
          I dont take it for granted.
          Keep it quiet, dont advertise.
          Maintain the single track.
          Maintain RhoRidge.
          
          I was born and raised here in Clackamas County. I am 4th generation Oregonian. 
          The land is wonderful. Keep it that way.
          
          
          
          
          

• Rho Ridge Trail 564 (#)
• 8/25/09; 9:33:19 PM ¦ by Zack Byerly
• Hiked from the north end down to around Fawn Meadow on Sunday. We have definitely hit prime time in the woods; no bugs (that includes people), lots of berries and the warm sun accompanied by a steady cool breeze. Trail is in beautiful shape, Thank You Volunteers!

• • Re: Rho Ridge Trail 564 (#)
  • 8/30/09; 6:59:46 AM ¦ by Robert Koscik
  • Hey, have you (or anyone else!) been to Cachebox Meadow?  Just wondering if there's any good camping right there for a trailwork basecamp.  A crossroads right thru the meadow, that can't be good...