By BEN OLSON/for The Herald — It’s hard to find any upside to the devastating wildfires that Oakridge residents had to deal with last summer and fall. The firefighting efforts did result in the noticeable improvement to a number of Forest Service roads. One of those roads was FS 207, the first road to cross Salmon Creek, just past mile marker 3 on FS 24.
Accessing the Eugene Crest Trail
Gone are the washouts and washboard corners all the way to the top of Aubrey Mountain. About 2 miles up the road on the left is an access to the Eugene Crest Trail. The trail heading toward the high country to the East is closed because of the fire activity last fall. The trail toward Oakridge is in fine shape, and that’s the one that my dog Bert and I hiked just the other day.
While we both enjoy the trails along Salmon Creek and the North Fork because of their proximity to the water, this section of the Eugene Crest trail has a different vibe. This trail follows along the steep hillside of Aubrey Mountain 1000 feet above Highway 58. Although the highway never comes into view, you can occasionally hear the sound of the trucks and cars below.
The trail follows the contours of the mountain, with very little change in elevation. Much of the trail passes through a mature Douglas fir forest, with little else growing on the shaded hillside. To me, it has a cathedral-like feeling, with the high canopy of the firs 150 above where you are walking. Shortly after you get on the trail, you will catch glimpses of Baby Rock, an imposing crag that you may have seen driving up Highway 58.
Views from the top
After walking about 40 minutes, you are rewarded with a view. The trail passes through a high meadow where you are out in the open for about 300 yards. Looking across the valley you will see Bald Butte, and Kitson Ridge further to the east. The only civilization that is evident is the transfer station about 2 miles to the southwest.
Just before you get back into the trees on the west end of the meadow, you can see a bit of the dam and the water in Hills Creek flowage. I have hiked to this meadow a few times by parking at the trailhead on Dunning Road. That hike only takes about 45 minutes each way, but there is a considerable incline between the start of the trail and the meadow.
Parking at the access on FS Road 207 makes the hike a much more enjoyable amble through the woods. Although the Eugene Crest Trail is a popular bike trail, originating at the juncture of the Pacific Crest Trail near Willamette Pass, there won’t be any bikes coming from that direction any time soon.
It is a wonderful thing that we can hike year-round here in Oakridge. Dress for the weather and let someone know the trail on which you’ll be hiking.
George Custer lives in Oakridge with his wife Sayre. George is a former smokejumper from his hometown of Cave Junction, a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. and ran a construction company in Southern California. George assumed the volunteer duties as the Editor of the Highway 58 Herald in 2022. He loves riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, building all things wood, and playing drums on the weekends in his office.
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