Wednesday, May 6, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
11
Social distancing on Jack Creek Trail
By Craig F. Eisenbeis
Columnist
The coronavirus and social
distancing have affected us
all. Unlike downtown city
dwellers, however, we have
a lot more freedom to move
about, without risking that
dreaded human contact. My
hiking buddy and I resolved
not to let the current situation
completely freeze us out of
one of our favorite activities.
Still, virus cautions have
disrupted our usual routine.
For example, carpooling is
now out; so, more distant
destinations with two vehi-
cles are less attractive since
we can9t take turns driving
just one car. Car drops for
one-way hikes are also out.
As a result, we9ve been opt-
ing for shorter, closer out-
ings; and you can9t get much
closer or shorter than the Jack
Creek Trail.
The Jack Creek Trail is a
short, flat trail in a park-like
setting, with a truly remark-
able natural phenomenon
as a destination objective. I
have even seen families with
strollers on this trail. To the
hardcore hiker, though, it
might be a stretch to call it a
hike. Maybe an <outing in the
woods.=
Although often over-
looked because of the larger
and better-known Headwaters
of the Metolius, the birth-
place of Jack Creek has many
of the same qualities as its
more famous nearby sibling.
One difference, however, is
that it9s possible to walk right
up to the very spot where the
stream gurgles 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, doesn9t
simply run along the surface.
Rather, it seeps down through
the volcanic soils and rock to
emerge, years later 4 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 eleva-
tion 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 three trail options
to choose from. One is easy,
another is even easier, and the
third is really easy.
To take an easy three mile
round trip, leave your car near
the Jack Creek Bridge and
walk along the creek, then
through the campground.
The sound of the creek is
always within earshot, and
the forest is beautiful. For
a shorter, two mile version,
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.
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.
The 2003 B&B Fire
touched the area on the
north side of the creek, and
the effects are still appar-
ent. Several trees have fallen
upstream of the bench trail
junction and, as of last week,
had not been cleared. The
area along the creek itself is
unburned, and magnificent
old growth pines and firs
tower above the trail.
Deer and elk are some-
times seen in the area, and
wildflowers will soon be
blooming. Both trails are per-
fect for a relaxing stroll and
for introducing children to an
<outing in the woods.= The
trails are even suitable for
toddlers.
We were a little surprised
to encounter about a dozen
other people on this walk,
which is the most I9ve ever
encountered here. Apparently,
we weren9t the only ones
looking for an escape from
housebound seclusion.
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 just
over four miles. At that point,
the road curves to the right;
take the Jack Creek turnoff to
the left (Road 1230). It9s easy
to miss this turnoff if you9re
not paying attention.
This next portion of the
Jack Creek Road is ostensi-
bly still paved but is in hor-
rible condition, so drive with
great care. It soon crosses the
Jack Creek Bridge, and the
<pavement= ends. Park here
for the three-mile hike. For
the two mile option, turn left
after crossing the Jack Creek
Bridge onto Forest Road
PHOTO BY CRAIG F. EISENBEIS
Scenic Jack Creek gurgles fully formed from the ground.
1232, where a sign points
toward <Head of Jack Creek.=
This is a good gravel road.
Take the second turnoff into
the Jack Creek Campground.
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.
CLIMATE STRIKE
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