2C
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2016
North Fork John Day provides early season exercise
head out, liberally apply bug
repellent. And be sure to wear
pants, a long-sleeved shirt and
a hat, bring extra bug spray
By TIM TRAINOR
for future doses and check
yourself and your hiking part-
East Oregonian
ners closely at the end of the
f your summer goal is a trip.
The second downside is
weeklong backpack in the
Eagle Caps or the Elk- that the angling — one of the
horns, you may be looking main draws of the river during
for early season opportuni- the majority of the year —
ties to stretch your legs and ranges from poor to impossi-
your mileage without having ble during the spring runoff.
to posthole your way through A kayak would be more useful
HTXLSPHQW WKDQ D ¿VKLQJ URG
high country snow.
The North Fork John while the water is at its most
Day River Trail offers an turbid.
A third downside is that
alternative.
Warm, scenic and mostly crossing the river is not possi-
ÀDWWKHPLOHWUDLOPDNHVD ble. A jaunt up Cougar Creek
good choice for a long spring Trail, for instance, requires
day hike or an overnight back- fording the river. That is not
possible until at least mid-May.
pack trip.
<HW WKHUH DUH VRPH SRVL-
The trail begins with about
PLOHVRIHDV\ZDONLQJDORQJ tives too.
an old road that skirts along-
side the North Fork John Day.
Wander off trail
It then diverges at a large, open
<RX FDQ ZDQGHU RII WUDLO
camping spot where Big Creek for some favorite Eastern Ore-
and its trail pours into the John gon spring outdoor hobbies,
Day fork. This is where the as both antler and mushroom
wilderness area begins, and hunting can be very good.
only horses and hikers can
$ERXW PLOHV LQ MXVW DV
continue along an old min- the trail crosses Corral Creek,
ing road route that follows the WKHUH LV D ULYHUVLGH ÀDW XQGHU-
river. It becomes more narrow neath towering ponderosas.
and more scenic as it gets more Turning around here would
remote.
make for a good hike of 10.4
The trail is classic Eastern miles — a good training day for
Oregon. Hot and dusty mid- those double-digit alpine hikes
day. Lots of ponderosa and that await this summer.
lodgepole pines mixed with
Those with greater ambi-
'RXJODV¿UDQGODUFK:LOORZV tion, or who had a more active
¿OOWKHULYHUERWWRPV<RXFDQ winter, can continue for miles
catch glimpses of plenty of more. There are dispersed
mule deer rear ends, bound- campsites all along the river,
ing away into the surround- with very little chance you’ll
ing hills. The water, where rel- have human company any-
atively calm, is covered with where nearby.
mergansers. Canadian geese
If you plan ahead, you can
have coupled off and built leave a shuttle vehicle at the
their nests on river islands.
other end of the trail at the
<HW WKHUH DUH VRPH GRZQ- North Fork John Day Camp-
sides to this trail that must be JURXQGDERXWPLOHVDVWKH
mentioned.
river and the trail winds. But
even if it is a simple out-and-
back, the North Fork John Day
Beware of ticks
7KH¿UVWLVWKHQHDULQIHV- Trail has plenty to offer close
tation of ticks. Before you to home.
Trail is classic
Eastern Oregon
I
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP:
The North Fork John Day
River trail is a simple, easy
walk through a wilderness
area that can be completed
while most high country
hikes are still stacked with
snow.
The North Fork John Day
is riding high against the
banks during spring run-
off. Hiking along it can be
a fun early-season adven-
ture.
Big Creek rushes into the
North Fork John Day River,
about 2 miles from the trail-
head.
Photos by Tim Trainor
EO Media Group
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