TAKE THE
WAGON ROAD!
Historic trail offers river views and old-growth forest
O
riginally the Santiam Wagon Road was built to
move wild horses from near Sisters to Halsey for
auction. It was also part of the fi rst transcontinental
car race in 1907; the Sevenmile Section near
Tombstone Pass was the steepest of the entire race.
Today the greater part of the Santiam Wagon Road
within the Willamette National Forest has reverted to a
single-track trail, though it’s obvious there is a roadbed
under the impressive layer of forest duff. Thankfully many
sections of the Santiam Wagon Road were spared from the
free-for-all clear-cutting that destroyed much of the ancient
forest that once covered a good chunk of the Old Cascades.
Relatively low elevation trails of substantial distance are
diffi cult to fi nd in Western Oregon. Thankfully, in under an
hour and a half from Eugene, you can fi nd yourself on either
the Santiam Wagon Road or the McKenzie River Trail.
Chances are you have heard of the McKenzie
River Trail, so to fi nd the Wagon Road go just past
the upriver terminus of the McKenzie River Trail,
where you will fi nd the Fish Lake Guard Station.
From the Fish Lake Remount Station continue 19.5
miles on the Santiam Wagon Road, down primarily
single-track trails, to the Mountain House Trailhead.
If you’re looking to set out and hike or bike both trails,
I suggest starting at the Mountain House Trailhead on the
Santiam Wagon Road. There is ample parking for fi ve
or more vehicles, and it’s farther off the road than the
lower McKenzie River Trail Trailhead. Potential water
sources are frequently available along both trails, and
camping is also easily found. As always, surface water
should be treated in a manner that makes you feel safe.
Hiking the entire trail might sound great, but some of us
WO R D S A N D P H O T O BY J O H N W I L L I A M S
DIRECTIONS FROM EUGENE TO MOUNTAIN
HOUSE TRAILHEAD: Follow I-5 north for 22.5
miles, exit onto Hwy. 228, follow east for 18.9 miles,
turn right onto Hwy. 20 and follow for 23.4 miles.
Parking is on the south side of Hwy. 20.
DIRECTIONS FROM EUGENE TO FISH LAKE
TRAILHEAD: Follow I-5 north for 22.5 miles, exit
onto Hwy. 228, follow east for 18.9 miles, turn right
onto Hwy. 20 and follow for 39.8 miles. Turn right
onto Forest Road 2672, follow for .1 mile; parking is
well-signed on the le .
DIRECTIONS FROM EUGENE TO CLEAR LAKE
RESORT: Follow Hwy. 126 east for 73.3 miles to
Clear Lake Resort. Park in the day-use area.
DIRECTIONS FROM EUGENE TO SAHALIE
FALLS/KOOSAH FALLS LOOP: Follow Hwy. 126
east for 72 miles to the Ice Cap Campground/Koosah
Falls sign. Parking is on the le .
DIRECTIONS FROM EUGENE TO TAMOLITCH
FALLS: Follow Hwy. 126 east for 64.5 miles, turn
le onto Forest Road 730, follow for .5 miles.
Parking will be on the right.
cannot escape “civilization” for three or four days. There
are some incredible points on both trails that are accessible
within a day’s hike, and not to be missed. The fi rst is
from Mountain House to House Rock Falls. You will pass
through breathtaking old-growth forest and go past a large
rock used by the Kalapuya and settlers for shelter, ending
at a small but beautiful cascade.
This round-trip trek is approximately 5 miles. Shortly
after Lost Prairie Campground lies the Fish Lake section
of the Santiam Wagon Road. Beautiful old-growth western
hemlock and Douglas fi r surround the trail to the historic
Fish Lake Remount Station.
On the McKenzie River Trail are a few more trail
options allowing for some spectacular loops for those
more inclined to drive to an easier hike. Clear Lake is
the headwaters of the McKenzie River and breathtaking
enough to spend a day simply walking around. There is
a 5-mile loop that surrounds the lake, the eastern half of
which is the McKenzie River Trail.
Just downriver lie the impressive Sahalie and Koosah
Falls. Sahalie Falls is the more famous of the two and, at
74 feet, is slightly taller. Koosah Falls is much wider and
slightly shorter at 64 feet. It is a short 3-mile loop to reach
both falls from Highway 126.
Another famous spot only a few miles down river is
Blue Pool or Tamolitch Falls. Depending on the amount
of snowmelt and rainfall, you might fi nd an incredible
shimmering dark blue pool or a waterfall.
Porous lava fi elds drive the McKenzie River
underground until it reemerges at Tamolitch Falls. Whether
you have the time to hike or bike all 45 miles of the
McKenzie River Trail and Santiam Wagon Road or you
can only make it out for a few sections, it’s worth the short
drive (or LTD bus ride) from the Willamette Valley.
Spring is here and the rivers are raging, so go explore
the land of falling waters. ■
EUGENEWEEKLY.COM • MAY 22, 2014
13