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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 21, 1987)
^Mhi^niounds Following the McKenzie “What nature delivers us is never stale liceause what nature creates has eternity in it Isaac Hashes is Sniper Spring in Oregon is the out door lover’s paradise. Opportunities abound lor enthusiasts to till their leisure time hiking, fishing ami camp mg. ami threaten to infringe on non-leisure time as well A short drive from Kugene can transport one to a place perfect for such outdoor pursuits the utopia that is the McKenzie River frail Hu ill as a National Recreation Trail in 1976, it was the first of its kind in Oregon The 26.5 miles of riverside pathway pro vidcs access to several breathtaking sights and also to the Paradise. Olallie. I rail Bridge, lee Cap and Cold water Cove campgrounds The trail begins 55 miles east of Fugenc on Highway 126. 15 miles past the hamlet ol McKenzie Bridge, and ends one mile from Clear lake on the Old Santiam Wagon Road A gentle l.5<X> climb awaits the hiker, ami not to worry, the trail is elosed to ail stock and motorized traffic Near the end of the trail a recent addition adds another 5 miles by circling Clear lake The trail has a long history, stretching back 5.(XX) years Ac cording to Phil Raab of the IJ.S. Forest Service, the area below Koosah Falls has yielded some archeological finds known as "lilhic scatter sites." These sites have produced a variety of small objects, including pieces of obsidian left front tools manufactured by early inhabitants The Tamolitch Valley also contains evidence of the trail be ing used as an important travel corridor in earlier times About ten years ago. the U S Forest Service began construc tion on what is now the lower half of the trail The upper half was built in I WO Over three miles of the con necting loop around Clear l-akc were built by a lone volunteer. Raah says. The entire lo»>p will he dedicated and the volunteer identified in a formal ceremony June .V Use of the trail varies from section to section Raab estimates that 1,000 hikers per year use the full route, " and that's an optimistic outlook." he adds. The stretch between Ice Cap Campground and Clear Lake has 5,000 users per year But use of the trail near McKen zie Bridge by joggers and sum mer residents adds to the figure As for trail facilities, tradi tionally ill campsites are open by Memorial Day weekend Many open with reduced sei vices in time for fishing season, then expand to full service by the holiday. Raab says Small por lions of the trail close during winter snows, but it is rare to find the entire trail closed, Hquipmcnt required for the hiking trail includes only the basics For the upper end of the trial, Kaab recommends sturdy hiking shtx*s. a day pack with minor essentials, anil, of course, a map of the trail The lower portion, from the trailhead to Paradise bridge, can he hiked in tennis shoes. For the hiker coming from town. Lane Transit District of fers buses that go to the McKen zie Ranger Station in the morn mg and return in the afternoon “It gives the hiker that doesn't want to drive up an opportunity to get in five or six hours of hik ing," Raab says “It's a neat concept The trail is a raw gem waiting to be discovered." Rut statistics alone cannot convey the sense of peace one can find on the trail That is an experience all its own The adventure begins with a relaxing drive through such pro verbial “wide spots in the road” as Walterville. Ixaburg and Vida, twisting beside the McKenzie's course and offering spectacular views of rushing water, the Goodpasture Covered Bridge, and occassionally the Three Sisters peaks when the sky is clear The trail officially begins at an unpretentuHis little sign just over a mile past the McKenzie River Ranger Station A few steps off the highway lakes one into what appears as the heart of the wilderness, and only the roar ol the ri ver breaks the silence The trail is narrow, but the vegetation has been trimmed enough to allow hikers to travel single file As the sun filters through the magnificent old growth, a lull range of typical Western Cascade slope flora and fauna thrive below Thitnblcbcrry, sallal. trillium and the fragile lady's slipper orchid can be spotted At this time of the year. Oregon grape and wild rhododen dron are in full flower. Lichens cover the rocks with their mosaic patterns while the mountain runoff creates tiny grottos, teeming w ith life. Lull is also a spectacular time on the trail, when magificent color abounds Wildlife watching is sporadic on the (rail, but you can see coyote and an occasional black bear now and then Deer and elk Photo by John Giustina koosuh Falls (above) is one of two spectacular falls on the McKenzie River Trail. The narrow Trail Bridge (below), was built from a single log. It is located above Sahalie Falls. arc common during winter mon ths and migrating ducks use the reservoirs as stopovers. Squir rets and other small mammals are year round sights At the six mark the trail crosses Buck Bridge and swit ches to the other side of the river. Farther up you discover the Hugenc Water & Electric Board's spawning channel, and lust past the channel you find the rustic Trail Bridge, created Iron) a single log Below, the river is w ide and turbulent, hut the clari t> of the water is remarkable due to the filtering performed b\ the volcanic rocks on the bottom. The most breathtaking sights on the trail, and well worth the 21 mile hike to get there, are the Koosah and Sahalic waterfalls. If you happen to possess a faint heart or are “weak of sole", however, you can gain highway access to Sahalic around the 22-nnle mark An ominous thunder w arns the approaching hiker, and suddenly the McKenzie spills over a sheer drop into a violent, churning pool The wind wafts a cooling spray upward, refreshing the air The water at the bottom of the pool appears carbonated, a mass of bubbles. The aquamarine blue of the pool seems almost artificial, but you’ll find nothing like it outside of nature. The trail climbs precariously between the falls, much steeper and more winding than its previous miles, bui alter scarce ly a mile, awe inspiring Sahalie Falls appears The trail ends at Clear Lake, aptly named for the visibility that divers claim extends to 2(X) feet. Fishermen sometimes com plain that the divers are all too visible to the fish inhabiting the icy waters, hampering the area's angling Other sights along the trail in elude the numerous bridges, the Fish l.akc Guard Station, which was originally built as a pack station for horse travelers, and the wild rhododendrons that embellish one of Oregon's most scenic and rewarding areas - MKLISSA St'HUKAK Photo by John Giustina
