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William
Sullivan's Oregon Hikes
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The
Old Salmon River Trail winds through old-growth forest as
it stretches for 2.6 miles near Mt. Hood.
Photo by William Sullivan
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Another
Salmon to Enjoy
The
Old Salmon River Trail provides an easy hike through old-growth
forest
About the Hike: A few miles upstream from the Wildwood Recreation
Area, this quiet riverside path traverses an old-growth forest with
10-foot-thick red cedars and leads to small sandy beaches with deep
green pools suitable for a chilly summer swim. Because a paved road
parallels the route, it's easy to arrange a car shuttle so you can
hike the 2.6-mile trail one way.
Difficulty: An relatively
easy, 5.2-mile hike along the river gains just 100 feet of elevation.
Season:
Open all year.
Fees:
A Recreation Fee Pass (Northwest Forest Pass) is required to
park here. The pass costs $5 per day or $30 per season.
Hiking
Tips: From the Old Salmon River Trail parking pullout, the path
promptly descends to the river-a clear, 40-foot-wide mountain stream.
In this ancient forest, huge Douglas firs filter sunlight for an
understory of vine maple, sword fern, shamrock-shaped sourgrass,
and deep green moss. Look for "nursery logs," fallen giants that
provide a fertile platform above the brush for rows of seedling
trees to catch light and take root.
Many
side paths lead to the water's edge from the heavily used main trail.
After 0.5 mile a particularly noticeable cross-path leads to a beach
beside a 10-foot-deep pool in the river. Just upstream from this
pleasant picnic site the river tumbles over two four-foot falls.
Continue
on the main trail to the 1.3-mile mark. Then watch for another worthwhile
side trail to the right. This one crosses a bouldery, mostly dry
oxbow slough to a forested island with pebbly river beaches.
Just
250 yards after the side trail to the island, the main trail joins
the paved road. Walk along the road's shoulder 200 yards until the
riverside trail continues. After another half mile you'll pass the
campsites of Green Canyon Campground. Stay on the graveled path
past the campground and an adjacent picnic area. Another 0.2 mile
beyond, the trail joins the paved road for 200 yards and then ducks
back into the woods for 0.2 mile to an upper trailhead parking area
at the Salmon River Bridge.
Getting
There: From Portland, take Highway 26 toward Mount Hood for
42 miles. At Zigzag turn right at a sign for the Salmon River Road
and follow this paved route 2.7 miles. Two hundred yards beyond
a National Forest boundary sign, park at a pullout on the right
for the Old Salmon River Trail.
History:
An Oregon Trail shortcut, the Barlow Road, passed nearby along the
Sandy River in pioneer times.
Geology:
Mt. Hood has not had a major eruption in written history, but the
adjacent Sandy River valley bears testimony to gigantic mudflows
and lava flows in the recent geologic past. The Salmon River, in
a side canyon, has been largely protected from these changes.
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