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  • Huxley Lake Trail

    Well, I took the day off to enjoy the beautiful weather and go hiking.  I decided to try the Huxley Lake trail, thinking that since it was off season during the week, hopefully I wouldn't run into any ATVs.  The good news is that I didn't run into any ATVs, but I was unable to find the side trail down to the lake.  I started at Lookout Springs, and hiked the whole trail (even hiked down 4611 a ways).  I looked for the side trail on the way down, and then on the way back, and couldn't find it.  The only side trail I found was one right after the long, steep downhill.  I hiked that for about 10 or 15 minutes, and since the description said it was only a .2 mile trail, I figured it was the wrong one.  I also explored an old road that was ripped up, and someone had replanted a bunch of seedlings (although they weren't doing too well), but that didn't seem to go anywhere either. I was looking for flagging or a sign, but didn't see any that looked anything like a trail.  To top it all off, I ended up losing my map while looking for the trail.....Good thing I knew how to get back to my truck!  All in all a wonderful day, but I would have really like to have seen the lake.  I also wanted to take Corral Springs to the edge of the canyon, just to see what the view was like, but the climb back out of the Huxley Lake trail was too much for me, so we just went back.  I think that section of trail beats the relatively short steep section on the Dickey Creek trail.  The trail is REALLY steep, and it just seems to keep going and going and going.....1000' gain in a pretty short stretch, and the trail is pretty much straight up (no switchbacks).

    I also drove up the 4610 road as far as I could just to do a little exploring.  I was hoping to get to the washed out part, but didn't get that far.  I got past Squaw Lake/Meadow, but got stopped by saplings that had "leaned" into the road too much.  The snow wasn't too bad.  It started about 4000' (just a little bit at Lookout Springs), and was melting quickly.  Mostly just in the shadows on the road, and there were good tire ruts to drive in.  There were places that still had 3-4" of snow.

    Anyone else get out today?  What a BEAUTIFUL day to go hiking!  I didn't think I would get another nice day....


    Can anyone give me a clue about that side trail?  Did I find it and not go far enough?

    Thanks

    Rob
    Huxley Lake Trail
  • Re: Huxley Lake Trail (#)
  • 10/24/07; 1:19:43 PM ¦ by Robert Koscik

  • Thanks for the report!  Heading out camping this weekend and have been worried about the snow level.

    Was Lookout Springs still clean?  Hauled out a lot of trash about 4 months back but usually it doesn't last long.  Also camped/cleaned Twin Springs last month, which is about a mile from Squaw.  The road is still passible thru those trees but it's close!  Never ceases to amaze me how steep that Roaring River canyon is, always barely avoid a heart attack.  Next time try the Plaza Trail down from Twin Springs.  It's vague in spots but has been cleared somewhat and flagged, about 2 miles or so down. 

    • Re: Huxley Lake Trail (#)
    • 10/24/07; 9:06:46 PM ¦ by Rob Williams
    • No, unfortunately there was quite a bit of trash, including a bunch of pop/beer cans.....Makes me sick when I see it.  I guess that is why I typically like the areas farther out, since they don't seem to attract as much trash.   As far as the trees go, the snow had made them fall into the road, so the road was narrower than usual.  I think before that it would have been OK.  The snow was starting to get a little deeper there, too, and the places to turn around seemed to be getting less, so I opted for the safe route, to turn around.  Didn't want to get stuck in the snow.....The Plaza trail sounds interesting.  Maybe next year...

      Thanks!

      Rob
  • Re: Huxley Lake Trail (#)
  • 10/25/07; 6:45:46 PM ¦ by Donovan
  • At the bottom of the hill keep left to follow trail along the canyon wall. After about a half mile trail enters the edge of a small clearing. The side route to the lake is on the left. Another half mile and after two small streams, the trail left goes down to 4611, or continues south towards Winslow Pit.
    • Re: Huxley Lake Trail (#)
    • 10/25/07; 9:15:46 PM ¦ by Rob Williams
    • Hmm, so that must be the trail at the bottom of the hill that I followed for a bit, but didn't take far enough.  I kept going straight and ended up on an old road (which was blocked off), which came out on another road, which I had assumed was 4611, but after looking at the map, and your directions, I may have wandered off onto the 4612-120 spur, and the road I saw was 4612, not 4611.  That kind of makes sense since it did follow a small creek, which could have been the beginning of Boyer Creek.  Now I really need to go back and see if I can find my way!  (and not lose my map this time)  Although I'll definitely go down to the 4611 end and try it from there, so I don't have to go up and down that steep hill...

      Thanks for the info.  It was still an interesting day!

      Rob
  • Re: Huxley Lake Trail (#)
  • 11/19/07; 11:59:28 PM ¦ by Alex Brown
  • Bark (not me, but a coworker) took students from the Lewis and Clark Outdoor School out 4611 toward the Huxley Trail on Sunday.  Snow started coming down hard by early afternoon.  Depending on freezing levels it might actually be there to stay.  If you don't know already, the Forest Service has slated 4610 and the LaDee area for a permanent off-road area.  The map can be seen at http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mthood/projects/travel-management/WebsiteMaps/Enclose5_LaDee_Area.pdf. ;

    We noticed pink flagging along the Huxley Trail.  It looked new.  The Forest Service map doesn't show a proposed ATV route on the Huxley Trail, but if anyone talks to any of the folks at the Clackamas District you might want to ask.  On the north side of the mountain parts of the historic Vista Ridge trail are proposed for motorcycle trails. 

    Have a great Thanksgiving, and if you head up onto the Roaring Plateau be prepared for snow!

    Alex
    • Re: Huxley Lake Trail (#)
    • 11/21/07; 11:17:49 AM ¦ by Robert Koscik

    • I sent em' a letter for what it's worth.

    • Re: Huxley Lake Trail (#)
    • 11/23/07; 8:40:20 PM ¦ by Tom Kloster
    • Thanks for the info, Alex. As you might know, a number of volunteers worked to re-open the Vista Ridge trail this summer, and while out there, we found a bunch of flagging along the east slope of Red Hill that was not related to the Vista Ridge trail work. I couldn't help but wonder if it was something related to the OHV plan, since there is a maze of trails proposed for that area. If so, I'm a little surprised the USFS would be so far ahead of themselves, since the EIS work is still underway. We also found OHV ruts all over the top of Red Hill - I documented them, and included them in my comments on the plan.

      Tom