Wednesday, June 22, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
21
Jack Creek Trail is option for family outings
By craig f. eisenbeis
Correspondent
Quite often, I am asked to
recommend a hike that can
be enjoyed by small children
or people with limited mobil-
ity. So, occasionally, I like to
feature a hike that is hardly
a hike at all. Let’s call it an
“outing in the woods.”
The Jack Creek Trail is
probably the premier local
hike in that category. It offers
a short, flat, obstruction-free
trail in a park-like setting,
with a truly remarkable natu-
ral phenomenon as a destina-
tion objective. I have even
seen families with strollers
on this trail.
Although often over-
looked because of the larger
and better-known headwa-
ters of the Metolius, the
birthplace of Jack Creek has
many of the same qualities
as its nearby more famous
sibling. One big difference,
however, is that it is possible
to walk right up to the very
spot where the stream gur-
gles fully formed from the
hillside.
As with the Metolius
River and most of its other
tributaries, Jack Creek has its
origins in the winter snows
of the Cascade Range. The
snowmelt, however, doesn’t
simply run along the sur-
face. Rather, it seeps down
through the volcanic soils
and rock to emerge, years
later — usually many miles
from its origin.
In the Metolius Basin,
basalt lava flows have been
overlaid by alluvial depos-
its of sediment and gravel.
Cracks in the underground
basalt layers serve as aquifers
to bring the Cascade melt-
waters back to the surface.
In the case of the Metolius
Basin, these cracks tend to
deliver their water flow all
at about the same elevation
level, in this case, about
3,200 feet. Most of these out-
lets, like Jack Creek, are on
the west side of the Metolius
River.
To observe this interesting
phenomenon and get a close-
up look at the headwaters,
there are two trails to choose
from. One is easy, and the
other is really easy.
To take the easy trail for a
round-trip walk of about two
miles, park at the west end of
the Jack Creek Campground
and follow the wide, flat,
smooth trail upstream for one
mile. The trail is not paved,
but it is about as close as you
can get to a sidewalk in the
woods. It should be noted,
that as we get farther into
summer, the trail can become
dry and dusty.
To lengthen this hike to
about a three-mile round
trip, you can leave your car
near the Jack Creek Bridge
and walk along the creek and
through the campground.
The sound of the creek is
always within earshot, and
the forest is beautiful.
For the really easy walk,
there is another access point,
from which the headwaters
can be reached at the end of
a well-maintained trail that is
only about a half-mile from
the parking lot. This trail
joins the main streamside
trail near a rustic log bench.
Turn right here, and con-
tinue upstream toward the
headwaters.
The 2003 B&B Fire
touched the area on the north
side of the creek, and the
effects are still quite appar-
ent. Quite a few trees have
fallen, but the Forest Service
has done a good job of clear-
ing the deadfall to provide
easy and barrier-free access.
The area lining the creek
itself is verdant green, and
there are many unburned
— and mammoth — old-
growth pines and firs tower-
ing above the headwaters and
the access trails.
Deer and elk may be seen
in the area, and wildflowers
are blooming. Both trails are
perfect for a relaxing stroll
and for introducing children
to an ‘outing in the woods.’
The trails are even suitable
for toddlers.
Unfortunately, a scenic
foot-bridge near the head-
waters was damaged and
removed four years ago,
so the Forest Service asks
that visitors not try to cre-
ate crossings or additional
trails. Still, there are many
opportunities to enjoy this
beautiful stream and the lush
undergrowth on the way to
the headwaters.
To find these relaxing
little hikes, drive west from
Sisters on Highway 20 for
about 12 miles. Turn right
onto the (paved) Jack Lake
Road (Forest Road 12).
Do not take the subsequent
Round Lake turn-off (about
a mile on the left); instead,
continue on Road 12 for a
total of a little more than four
miles. At that point, the road
photo by craig F. eisenbeis
the headwaters of Jack creek appear to flow from the roots of this tree.
curves to the right; take the
Jack Creek turnoff to the left
(Road 1230). It is easy to
miss this turnoff if you are
not paying attention.
The Jack Creek Road
crosses the Jack Creek
Bridge, and, in a short dis-
tance, the pavement ends.
Park here for the three-mile
hike; this area is not marked
as fee-use. For the two-mile
option, turn left after cross-
ing the Jack Creek Bridge
onto Forest Road 1232,
where a sign points toward
“Head of Jack Creek.” This
is a good gravel road. Take
the 2nd turnoff into the Jack
Creek Campground and park
at the trailhead at the west
end of the campground. This
is marked as a fee-use area.
To reach the trailhead for
the very-easy short stroll,
drive about a mile farther
west on Road 1232 and
watch for well-marked junc-
tions bearing left to “Head
of Jack Creek.” Follow the
signs to the parking area on
Road 400. This site has a pit
toilet and was formerly a fee-
use area, but the fee-use signs
and deposit box had been
removed as of last week.
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