Uncharted is a challenge series from Territory Run Co for the Greater Portland area that aims to get you out exploring new areas with pre-planned routes. While each area we highlight may not be new to you, we hope it inspires you to explore some lesser known areas.

HOW IT WORKS

1. Complete one of the listed routes below.

2. Log your run here. Once reviewed, you will receive an email with a merit badge. If you complete between the dates of November 1st - November 30th, this badge of completion awards you $10 in store credit for any Territory products.

3. For each challenge we will also offer a grand prize package. To be entered to win, complete the route between above dates, log it here, and tag us in a photo from your run on instagram.

4. To increase chances of winning grand prize you can also log that you visited post run locations listed below.

We will have Uncharted routes throughout the year and you will be able to collect merit badges from each. 

You can join the Uncharted Strava Group here.

MOLALLA RIVER BACKGROUND

Well, it's safe to say, the long, warm days of summer are past. What I love about Oregon trail running is our year-round access to phenomenal trails. As sad as I am to say farewell to the alpine trails until next June, I rejoice in the opportunity to explore the abundant lower elevation trails.

Moving into November I knew I wanted this months route to feature some fall foliage. I considered the usual suspects: the Saltzman area of Forest Park, Silver Falls State Park and the Tillamook Forest. As enticed as I was to return to these old familiar favorites, I was equally intrigued by the siren's call of a trail system I had not yet explored.

The Molalla River Recreation Area offers easy access, surprising solitude and a nice maze of trails and old forest roads. This area is administered by the Bureau of Land Management and is closed to mountain bikers and equestrians between October 15th and April 15th each year. 

The area experienced a bit of a gold rush from 1860 and into the early 20th century. In the 1940's the whole area saw immense logging. Much of this forest is second growth with a few pockets of old growth. This parcel of land shares a boundary with some operational timber properties as evidenced by clear cuts we will see.

There are lots of options one could explore in this area. For our route, we will be exploring the southern part of the trail network. I really enjoyed the trails here. They were semi-reminiscent of some of my favorite Forest Park or Tillamook Forest trails. I will certainly be returning for some winter running. 

THE ROUTE 

8 Mile Route GPX File

We'll begin our run from Hardy Creek trailhead off of S Fork Molalla Road. The Hardy Creek Trail begins at the back of the parking lot and quickly widens to an old forest road climbing steadily. The road bed is blanketed with big leaf maple leaves and the road is lined with some gorgeous vine maples that will be sure to be on full fall display.

We will soon come to a junction with another road bed on our left. This will be our return trail, but for now we will continue straight for just a bit longer until we reach the junction with the Rim Trail, taking a left to join it. 

This is a great section of single track that weaves along the outer boundary of the trail system. To your right you will see the daylight shining through from the clear cut lumber property to the west. 

The trails are well maintained and flanked by lush salal and sword fern. There are frequent thatch ant nests. We will see at least a dozen of them along our route. We are be going to stay on the outer Rim Trail until we loop back around. We will pass several trails on our left, but just stay straight on the Rim Trail. I noticed there are some trail junctions that pop up that are not on the map. Most trails end up in the same place so it'd be hard to get helplessly lost.

At one point the most defined trail doesn't quite line up with the Rim Trail on the map. Just follow the .gpx file and you will be fine. 

Eventually we will pop out of the forest and onto a road right on the edge of the clearcut. The road quickly returns to a more primitive path through a grassy patch on the forest's edge. As you continue on the trail you will dip back into the forest and be reassured you're on the right path with a sign indicating the Rim Trail ahead.

Once the Rim Trail intersects with the Bob Cat Rd Trail it's name on the maps randomly changes to Squirrel Creek Trail. I don't recall the signage reflecting this change- in fact I seem to remember several signs indicating that the Rim Trail is straight ahead. Regardless of the trail name at this point, we will begin dipping into a slightly burned portion of the forest. I believe it is another casualty of the 2020 Labor Day fires that plagued the state. Fortunately the trails are still decent here, but it is a little brushy in spots. 

The trail continues to descend and, once crossing Bob Cat Rd Trail again, features tighter switchbacks until it reaches the Huckleberry Trail. This descent has a stunning trio of ant hills that are a sight to behold.

Huckleberry Trail is actually an old road bed, reminiscent of Leif Erikson Road in Forest Park. Continuing on this peaceful road, we will eventually come across "Annie's Cabin", a little one-room structure that visitors are welcome to use. Inside, a little panel tells that Annie Miller, Jim Williams, and Annie’s daughter Squirrel lived here in the early 1990s while they worked as volunteers on cleaning up the area and brushing out the trails. Jim Williams died in October, 1993, and Annie and Squirrel soon moved out. The cabin was used as a living room, while the family slept and cooked in a trailer parked next to it.

We will continue along Huckleberry Trail, the hillside road that could easily pass as Forest Park. Continue along the road all the way until you return to the junction with the Hardy Creek Trail. Take the old road back down to the trail head. Right across the road from the trailhead is great access to the Molalla River. It's very lazy in this section and would be a great place to take a polar plunge post run should you be so inclined. 

Uncharted is a challenge series from Territory Run Co for the Greater Portland area that aims to get you out exploring new areas with pre-planned routes. While each area we highlight may not be new to you, we hope it inspires you to explore some lesser known areas.

HOW IT WORKS

1. Complete one of the listed routes below.

2. Log your run here. Once reviewed, you will receive an email with a merit badge. If you complete between the dates of October 1st - November 1st, this badge of completion awards you $10 in store credit for any Territory products.

3. For each challenge we will also offer a grand prize package. To be entered to win, complete the route between above dates, log it here, and tag us in a photo from your run on instagram.

4. To increase chances of winning grand prize you can also log that you visited post run locations listed below.

We will have Uncharted routes throughout the year and you will be able to collect merit badges from each. 

You can join the Uncharted Strava Group here.

BONNEY MEADOWS BACKGROUND

One of the things I love most about trail running is the sense of adventure when exploring a new area. There's an exhilaration that comes with the gamble of heading out to a remote trailhead and having no idea what the trail conditions will be.

For this month's Uncharted I was feeling the itch to get out and explore a little. While scouring some maps I came across a few trails I had never heard of in an area east of Mt Hood that I had only lightly explored. After cross referencing Strava and noticing that these trails had no heatmap, I was unsure of what I would encounter, but was elated that the gamble paid off. What I found was some incredibly maintained trails through beautiful landscapes.

Bonney Meadows and its adjacent campground are named for Augustus Bonney, a 19th century shepherd who let his sheep graze in the area. Standing above the meadows is Bonney Butte, an otherwise insignificant peak that sits at the convergence of several ridges in the area. Migratory birds follow these ridge lines as they migrate in the late summer and early fall, leading to one of the highest concentrations of migratory raptors in Oregon.

For this reason, since 1994, Bonney Butte has been the annual site of Oregon's HawkWatch. Every September and October, volunteers station themselves at the summit of Bonney Butte to observe, count and tag these migratory birds. The public is welcome to hike up and join in the watch. 

The trails in the area are (mostly) meticulously maintained by local mountain bikers and the 44 Trails Association. After a few scouting trips, I have put together what I think is the best route, but there are lots of other trails to be explored here, their quality and level of maintenance varying significantly.

THE ROUTE 

12 Mile Route GPX File

Our starting point for this route is a rather unassuming forest road junction. The road to this junction is entirely paved and although there is no true trailhead here, there is room for a few cars to park at the side of the road. We will start by heading a few steps down the more dilapidated road and will quickly see the trail beginning to our right. We start with a steady climb on a soft, duffy trail through deep forest.

This climb drags on for a little bit so break into hiking pace, bust out the poles if you brought them and settle in as you climb up through the dense alder- not forgetting to grab some berries along the way.

As we climb higher, you will hear the babbling of Bonney Creek off to your left, but never does the creek become visible. If you become desperate for water, the creek is a short trek from the trail and easily accessible as you near Forest Road 4891. As you reach the road, we will continue straight and continue climbing up until Bonney Meadows Trail intersects with Hidden Meadows Trail. This higher portion of the climb feels markedly different with a more open feeling, slightly rockier trail and the feeling that you are transitioning into a different, drier ecosystem.

Once you hit the trail junction, the trail flattens out and you will head left towards Bonney Meadows Campground. You will notice Bonney Meadows to your left and, on a clear day, views of Mt Hood looming over the meadows. We will quickly take a right onto the Forest Creek Trail and one more slight climb up to Echo Point. Echo Point is the start of a beautiful ridge system that is reminiscent of the Columbia River Gorge high country.

This trail is really awesome. It's in tremendous shape and has stunning views of the lakes below and eastward towards the golden hills of Maupin and Tygh Valley. The gentle downhill is also a nice respite from the steady climb we've had so far. 

Continuing on the trail you will eventually enter an area that was lightly scorched from a recent fire in the Badger Creek Wilderness. Below you will see the burn scar around Little Boulder Lake. Mountain bikers have done an amazing job keeping these trails clear despite the burn damage. The huckleberries were just starting to change into their autumnal colors when photographing this route- they should be on full display for October. 

We continue a little ways further on Forest Creek Trail until we intersect with a spur of Forest Rd 4881. We are going to take a left onto this road to begin descending to Little Boulder Lake. As we near the end of this road, be on the look out for the trail entrance to your left as it is easy to miss. Little Boulder Lake is a marshy, unassuming little lake, but still quite beautiful. The burn area is truly stunning to travel through. I would be careful here on windy days as who knows how sturdy any of these scorched trees really are. 

Uncharted is a challenge series from Territory Run Co for the Greater Portland area that aims to get you out exploring new areas with pre-planned routes. While each area we highlight may not be new to you, we hope it inspires you to explore some lesser known areas.

HOW IT WORKS

1. Complete one of the listed routes below.

2. Log your run here. Once reviewed, you will receive an email with a merit badge. If you complete between the dates of September 1st - October 1st, this badge of completion awards you $10 in store credit for any Territory products.

3. For each challenge we will also offer a grand prize package. To be entered to win, complete the route between above dates, log it here, and tag us in a photo from your run on instagram.

4. To increase chances of winning grand prize you can also log that you visited post run locations listed below.

We will have Uncharted routes throughout the year and you will be able to collect merit badges from each. 

You can join the Uncharted Strava Group here.

MOUNT MARGARET BACKGROUND

Located in the northern part of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, the Mount Margaret Backcountry covers rugged terrain that includes ridges, peaks, alpine meadows and lakes with elevations ranging from about 3,000 to over, 5,000 feet.

The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens dramatically altered the landscape, creating an other-worldly environment where you can observe the ongoing recovery and regrowth of vegetation and wildlife. Much of the flora and fauna is in various stages of ecological succession. You'll find a mixture of pioneering species such as alder, willow and lupine, along with more established species like Douglas fir and mountain hemlock. It also happens to have an abundant variety of wild berries including, huckleberries, thimbleberries, salmonberries, strawberries, blueberries, trailing blackberries, black cap raspberries and wild currants.

Our routes will start from Coldwater Lake which was created in the 1980 eruption. The natural outlet of Coldwater creek was blocked with volcanic debris. The US Army Corps of Engineers has done significant work through the years to ensure the stability of the lake. 

The 30 mile and 19 mile routes will also earn an incredible view of Spirit Lake. During the eruption, Spirit Lake received the full impact of the lateral blast of the volcano, causing a massive landslide that filled the lake with debris, raised its water level by over 200 feet and left thousands of floating logs on its surface. It's truly a sight to behold.

I would like to note, we are offering three distance options and those options truly increase in beauty as you bump up. If you are on the fence about which distance to do, I recommend going with the longer one as you will be greatly rewarded. Keep in mind that this is a remote backcountry area and water access is extremely limited. I recommend carrying lots of water and also bringing a water filter, like this one from Hydrapak we sell on our site that fits onto most standard running water flasks.

This area is wonderfully showcased by our friends at Daybreak Racing with their Backcountry Rise trail races. On the day we took photos for this installment of Uncharted we were reminded that the mountains make their own weather. Unfortunately this meant all of those photos were missing the best part of this area- the views. Thankfully Daybreak Racing and photographer James Holk were gracious enough to allow us to use some of their photos that showcase the stunning views. James's photos will be labeled as such when presented.

11 Mile Route GPX File

Starting from the Coldwater Boat Launch, we will begin our route along the north shore of Coldwater Lake. This trail will look flat on the elevation profile, but it undulates as it moves through forest, fields of grass and creek drainages. This trail is beautiful, but it is not nearly as good as the rest of the trails in this area in terms of views and beauty. We will continue on this trail until we reach the Coldwater Trail on our right. This trail takes us across a bridge over Coldwater Creek and to the start of our big climb for the day. This creek will be your last reliable water option so if you need to top off, now's the time.

This climb drags on for a little bit so break into hiking pace, bust out the poles if you brought them and settle in as you climb up through the dense alder- not forgetting to grab some berries along the way.

As the climb begins to let up and break out of the dense vegetation, we will be taking a right onto S Coldwater Trail. This Trail will take us back to towards Spirit Lake Highway. Along the S Coldwater Trail you will see some nice views of Coldwater Lake below. You will also see some logging equipment from before the 1980 eruption that was abandond here. The photos here were taken by Steven Mortinson at the 2023 Territory Run Camp.

As you continue to descend, you will eventually make it to the S Coldwater Trailhead. This trailhead is currently closed to cars because of a washout on the Spirit Lake Highway. Take a right on the road from the trailhead and continue back past the gate. Continue on the road until you reach the Coldwater Lake Boat Launch on your right to return to your car. 

19 Mile Route GPX File

Our 19 mile route option also begins at Coldwater Boat Launch. Follow the trail along the lake until reaching the Coldwater Trail. Take a right and cross the bridge across Coldwater Creek. This climb is long and arduous- our biggest of the day by far. Where the 11 mile route turns off at S Coldwater Trail, we continue to climb. You will, however, be greatly rewarded for your efforts. The top of this climb offers some unbelievable views and landscapes. As I mentioned in the introduction, we got completely socked in when shooting photos for this route, as can be seen here:

I am going to move on to the beautiful photos taken by James Holk for Daybreak Racing's Backcountry Rise demonstrate the incredible area from here on out. As you climb past S Coldwater Trail and up to Ridge Camp, the terrain opens up to some beautiful alpine views. The lack of tall trees make the vistas spectacular. After climbing out of Ridge Camp you will eventually come to a corner over a little rock ledge. As you turn the corner you will see off into the distance a saddle that you are aiming towards. 

Photos courtesy of James Holk / Daybreak Racing

You will continue to wind around the the hillside and eventually pop up onto the sandy bench with a great view of Mount St. Helens. It will look like the trail goes in both directions here, but the continuation of the trail is only to your left. The right facing trail appears to be a social trail to a peak. Continue left towards another saddle visible off in the distance. I have commonly seen herds of elk and mountain goats in the drainage below. If you look closely you will see an impressive network of game trails formed by elk and goat. 

Photos courtesy of James Holk / Daybreak Racing

Climb up to this next saddle and you will get even better views of Mount St Helens, as well as views of Mt Hood to the south and Mt Adams to the east. You will see our next junction straight ahead with Boundary Trail. At the Boundary Trail we will take a right. There is a great view of St Helens Lake here, complete with its floating logs from the eruption. These logs float across the lake throughout the day and will change positions as the wind blows the water. 

Photos courtesy of James Holk / Daybreak Racing

Continue on the Boundary Trail with St Helens Lake below you on your left. You will eventually reach an epic keyhole in the rock that beautifully frames Mount Adams in the distance. Pass through the keyhole and climb up the ridge, Spirit Lake eventually revealing itself it all of its glory. 

30 Mile Route GPX File

This is the crown jewel route. Perhaps my favorite route in all of the PNW. It's hard, but it's worth it. The views are simply unparalleled. The fact that this landscape is in constant transition as it recovers from the 1980 eruption make it an even more spectacular adventure, one I find myself returning to year after year. Once again, water is very scarce on this route. Plan ahead and bring plenty of water with you.

Starting from the Coldwater Boat Launch we will continue along the edge of the lake. Once we reach the Coldwater Trail we are going to continue on the Lakes Trail heading up towards Snow Lake. 

Photos courtesy of James Holk / Daybreak Racing

Snow Lake marks the beginning of the lakes basin. This section is really what makes this area so incredible in my opinion and why I encourage you to try do the full 30 mile loop. These lakes will have you in disbelief that you are just a couple hours away from Portland. The views feel like something straight out of Jurassic Park. Continue along the trail passing above Shovel Lake as you take in the views.

Photos courtesy of James Holk / Daybreak Racing

The lakes keep coming at this point as we pass by Panhandle and Obscurity Lakes. We continue to weave our way through the basin. This area can get a little brushy, a testament to its remoteness. Eventually we will come to Grizzly Creek and then to Grizzly Lake. This is an important water refill spot. Be certain to top of your bottles here.

Continue climbing up to Bear Pass. This climb drags on a little, but you'll be done with it soon enough. As you crest the pass, you will be greeted with a gorgeous view of Mt St. Helens and Spirit Lake.

Photos courtesy of James Holk / Daybreak Racing

As you intersect the Boundary Trail we will begin wrapping around the south side of the Mount Margaret Backcountry. Here we will be treated to sweeping views of the Cascade Volcanoes as well as a diverse landscape marked by craggy peaks and stunning colors of autumnal huckleberry.

As you pass Bear Camp, there is a seasonal spring. Do not depend on this for water, but if it happens to be running, make sure to take full advantage. This is your last available water for the whole run.

As you continue on Boundary you will be passing several camps. The only trail junction you will encounter is Whittier Ridge. Make sure not to mistakenly take this trail as it is an unmaintained mountain pass with narrow, rugged trails and steep, exposed drop-offs. A fun adventure, but not recommended for those afraid of heights.

 Photos courtesy of James Holk / Daybreak Racing

As you continue along the Boundary Trail, take in the views of Spirit Lake below. After the 1980 eruption, the natural outlet of Spirit Lake was blocked by debris, raising the water level and creating a flood risk. To prevent a potential dam failure and catastrophic flooding, the US Army Corps of Engineers built a 2.5-mile-long drainage tunnel in 1985 to Harry's Ridge. This tunnel allows water to flow out of Spirit Lake into the North Fork of the Toutle River, controlling the lake's level. This is vitally important as it protects downstream communities from severe flooding.

Uncharted is a challenge series from Territory Run Co for the Greater Portland area that aims to get you out exploring new areas with pre-planned routes. While each area we highlight may not be new to you, we hope it inspires you to explore some lesser known areas.

HOW IT WORKS

1. Complete one of the listed routes below.

2. Log your run here. Once reviewed, you will receive an email with a merit badge. If you complete between the dates of August 1st - August 31st, this badge of completion awards you $10 in store credit for any Territory products.

3. For each challenge we will also offer a grand prize package. To be entered to win, complete the route between above dates, log it here, and tag us in a photo from your run on instagram.

We will have Uncharted routes throughout the year and you will be able to collect merit badges from each.

You can join the Uncharted Strava Group here.

Paradise Park Background 

Paradise Park, located in the scenic Mount Hood National Forest, is a breathtaking alpine destination renowned for its stunning vistas, vibrant wildflower meadows, and idyllic setting. Situated on the southwestern slopes of Mount Hood, this picturesque area is a truly special place. If you've spent many summers in Oregon, you've no doubt heard of it.

Its trails wind through diverse landscapes, from dense forests to open meadows, offering panoramic views of Mount Hood and the surrounding Cascade Range. During the summer months, the meadows burst into a kaleidoscope of colors with a variety of wildflowers, creating a tapestry of beauty abuzz with pollinators rushing from flower to flower. 

For this month's Uncharted we are going to try something a little different- offering a "Standard Route" and an "Adventure Route". Our Standard Route is a beautiful and fulfilling day with relatively easy navigation. The Adventure Route, while a little shorter, features more route finding and elevation gain, but I can assure you it is more than worth it. 

THE ROUTES

12 Mile Standard Route GPX File

Starting from the iconic Timberline Lodge, we will be making our way up to the Timberline Trail. There are a myriad of ways to get up to the Timberline Trail and, truthfully, I've probably never taken the exact same way twice. For this route I have us starting up the gated service road at the Salmon River Overflow Parking, just to the East of the lodge. Very quickly you will intersect with the Timberline Trail and take a left.

We'll be on the Timberline Trail for awhile here, passing below ski lifts and dodging tourists hiking from the lodge. After passing Little Zigzag Canyon, the number of other trail users quickly declines. We are now making our way the the real Zigzag Canyon, but make sure to take in the beautiful views of the canyon below before your descent through the forest. 

There will be an easy rock up across the Zigzag river at the bottom of the canyon and then we begin our climb up to the junction with Paradise Park Trail. As you begin to crest the climb out of the canyon there will be a trail to your right that continues up even higher. This is the beginning of the Paradise Park Loop and we will take this trail up and above tree line. Soon the forest gives way to meadows of beautiful wildflowers. Lupine, beargrass, paintbrush, pasqueflower and others are abundant here. As you meander through the fields, soon Mt Hood reveals itself right before you. 

The trail begins to level out as we traverse the Paradise Park. Water is abundant with crystal clear streams running out of the mountain. It's beautiful surroundings makes this area an incredibly popular camping spot. We are going to continue on the trail and soon Split Rock, a giant split boulder, will become visible in the distance.

We're nearing the end of Paradise Park here. We will take the trail all the way back as it descends back down to the Timberline Trail, being sure to take a left here to return back the direction of the lodge. From here we will briefly enjoy a section of Timberline Trail we haven't yet seen today before returning to the same junction we began our loop with. Continue back to the lodge staying on the Timberline Trail. 

10 Mile Adventure Route GPX File

Our Adventure Route starts the exact same as the Standard. Beginning from Timberline Lodge we will take the Timberline Trail all the way to the junction with Paradise Park, climb up into Paradise Park and then continue to Split Rock. Split Rock is significant for this route as it marks our path up and above Paradise Park. We are going to be climbing up to a massive rock formation called Mississippi Head- entering an otherworldly landscape.

 As you climb up and out of Paradise Park, the vegetation slowly subsides until you are on nothing but rock, sand and snow. Continue picking your way through the faint path eventually coming to an overlook with a two-tiered waterfall coming straight from the glaciers above. You will see Mississippi head to your right. As you climb up to Mississippi head the route becomes more rugged. Choose the path of least resistance being careful of loose rock.

Once you get up and atop Mississippi Head, you will think you want to start traversing back to the lodge, but we still have more climbing to do. We need to runout Zigzag Canyon which you will see below. Keep climbing up rock bands and carefully crossing snowfields. Although mostly benign, there are small sections of snow that have open cracks forming- there are still technically glaciers in this area. They are easy to see and easy to avoid by staying on the rock bands, and crossing the snow in strategic places. Eventually we will be above Zigzag canyon and are rewarded with a gorgeous view below us.

From the top of Zigzag Canyon, it's pretty much all down hill. We are going to be traversing through snow fields towards the ski lifts ahead of us. Soon the lodge will come into view. Continue under the ski lifts, or if the lifts are running, climb up and behind the Palmer lift house to avoid the skiers. Once you've traversed to the east side of the lifts, it is a "choose-your-own adventure" back to the lodge- which will remain in view the whole time. 

No adventure is complete without some celebratory food and drink. We've included a few of our favorite spots in the area to check out post-run.

Uncharted is a challenge series from Territory Run Co for the Greater Portland area that aims to get you out exploring new areas with pre-planned routes. While each area we highlight may not be new to you, we hope it inspires you to explore some lesser known areas.

HOW IT WORKS

1. Complete one of the listed routes below.

2. Log your run here. Once reviewed, you will receive an email with a merit badge. If you complete between the dates of July 1st- July 31st, this badge of completion awards you $10 in store credit for any Territory products.

3. For each challenge we will also offer a grand prize package. To be entered to win, complete the route between above dates, log it here, and tag us in a photo from your run on instagram.

4. To increase chances of winning grand prize you can also log that you visited post run locations listed below.

We will have Uncharted routes throughout the year and you will be able to collect merit badges from each.

You can join the Uncharted Strava Group here.

Salmon River Background

Nestled into the deeply wooded ridge lines southwest of Mt Hood, the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness is a lesser-visited gem with great adventure potential. Pockets of old growth timber,unique rock formations, abundant rhododendron and lush, mossy trails make this area one we keep returning to summer after summer.

The Salmon River's headwaters begin on the flanks of Mt Hood, not far from Timberline lodge. It's circuitous route down to the Sandy River (and eventually the Columbia) twists and turns through the craggy canyons of the wilderness. The Salmon is named a National Wild & Scenic River and is great habitat for Steelhead, Coho and Chinook Salmon.

A NW Forest Pass is required. The parking here has a reputation for car break-ins. Park smart and don't leave any valuables in the car. If you are extra diligent, you may consider parking on the other side of the bridge closer to Salmon Butte. There is less evidence of break-ins in this area.  

THE ROUTES

8 Mile Route GPX File

Starting from the Salmon River Trailhead, our 8 mile route is a peaceful and forested trail along the banks of the Salmon River. It starts slightly uphill, but quickly relents to an inviting trail through moss-laden trees and a dense sea of sword fern, Oregon grape, Salal and rhododendron. 

The trail quickly opens up right next to the river, offering a beautiful view of the river canyon. You'll often see fly fisherman angling in the shallow river here. As the trail bends with the bank of the river, it plunges back into the deep forest, slowly climbing up above river level.

The route stays deep in the forest for some time, but one of the great gems of this trail is when the trail exits the forest and has you on a large rock out cropping studded with wildflowers like lupine, columbine and paintbrush. At this point you are high above the river looking at a deep canyon carved into an ancient mountain range over millennia.  

This route is an out and back, meaning you could decide your own turnaround point. My personal preference is to make a trip to the oft-missed Frustration Falls, a lesser known falls that may be one of my favorite places in the northwest. The user trail down to view the falls is a little rugged and a little steep, so you use your best judgement if it is within your abilities, but it is a worthwhile side trip or turnaround point.

At about 4 miles into the trail, there will be a faint user trail that goes down slope to your right. Be careful and follow the most clear path. The trail terminates at a cliff overlooking Frustration Falls. There is a great place to sit and rest along a creek just above the falls.

From the falls (or wherever you make your turnaround point) just head back the way you came. 

15 Mile Route GPX File

Our 15 mile route begins the same as our short, but it continues a little further along the Salmon River Trail and then climbs up to the high ridge line above.

As you keep running the Salmon River Trail you will eventually see a trail to your left signed as "Kinzel Lake Trail No 665" and the continuation of the Salmon River Trail ahead of you becomes much more primitive and faint. We will take the left onto the Kinzel Lake Trail and begin hiking up the steep trail, trying to gain the ridge.

As you get higher, the rhododendron and bear grass become more abundant creating a trail experience that feels distinctly "Mt Hood."

Eventually you will pass the turnoff to Kinzel Lake. In my opinion it is not really worth the detour, but it is a short one if you choose to do it. Keep going until you reach Devil's Peak Trailhead and continue to your left on the gravel road to quickly reconnect to your trail. As you get up higher, there are some beautiful rock outcroppings on the ridge and a stunning view of Mt Hood. Right after passing the junction with Cool Creek Trail, we will take a short detour to our left up to the Devil's Peak Fire Lookout. This is an old fire look out that is open to the public on a first come, first serve basis.

 

After continuing on from the Devil's Peak detour, we are now on the Hunchback Trail on Hunchback Ridge, a large ridge line visible from highway 26 . This trail can get a little more rugged with downed trees and overgrown sections. There are also a few pretty meadows you will cross along this ridge.

Be on the lookout for Green Canyon Way on our left. The trail entrance is badly overgrown and starts out with a big downed log so it would be easy to miss. Don't be deterred, though, the trail is actually in great shape beyond this. This decent is a bit of a long one so you'll be sure to get a good quad workout making your back down to the road.

To complete the loop we will run to the bottom of Green Canyon Way and run a short distance back to our car on Salmon River Road.

No adventure is complete without some celebratory food and drink. We've included a few of our favorite spots in the area to check out post-run.