65. Metolius River Gorge

Summary

Length                                              3 miles one way

Difficulty                                           Moderate

Season                                             Spring to autumn

Elevation range                               2,760 feet – 3,040 feet

Human imprint                              Moderate (hikers, anglers, campground, roads)

Information                                      Deschutes National Forest (Sisters Ranger District)

Primary old growth features

Classic ponderosa pine old growth; huge pines.

Description

The middle segment of the East Metolius River Trail spotlights Metolius pines at their best, including a less-travelled portion of the trail in the scenic river gorge. Visitor use is clustered at both ends of the hike, near Gorge Campground at the south end, and Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery to the north. The hike can be started at either end, but is described here from the Gorge Campground trailhead.

Head north East Metolius River Trail and almost immediately come to an enormous ponderosa pine standing by the river. This gnarly survivor, along with other huge pines in the vicinity, are remnants of an age class much older than most pines in the Metolius area, most likely between 500-600 years old. Most of the old pines in the vicinity range from 250-300 years old, although there is tremendous range in the age of Metolius pines. The oldest pine measured in the nearby Metolius Research Natural Area is approximately 640 years old.

Admire the old pines near the campground, and then head up the trail to admire still more fine pines. The trail briefly skirts the top of the river gorge, then detours east around a parcel of private land before heading north-northeast across a flat occupied by a nearly pure forest of pretty pines. The trail then reconnects with the river via switchbacks down the gorge sidewalls back to the river.

The river alternates between placid and frothy in this less well-traveled section of the trail. Old Douglas-fir become prominent in the gorge where the gorge wall to the east provides a bit more shade. The trail continues north to the parking lot by Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery. Big pines again dominate after the trail emerges from the gorge, and stunning views of the river are frequent along this portion of the hike.

30 years of change

Portions of the forest on the flat above the river have had prescribed fire applied, reducing the amount of understory vegetation and maintaining an open stand featuring large ponderosa pine.

How to get there

From U.S. Highway 20, turn north onto Camp Sherman Road approximately 10 miles west of Sisters (10 miles east of Santiam Pass). Veer right onto FR 14 at a junction 2 ½ miles from the highway. Turn left toward Camp Sherman in about 3 ½ miles, and then turn right towards the campgrounds in a couple hundred yards. The Gorge Campground is about 1 3/4 miles from the junction, the last of a series of Forest Service campgrounds. Trailhead parking is on the left just before the campground entrance.