44. Larison Rock

Summary

Length – 4 ¼ miles one way

Difficulty – Easy to difficult

Season – Spring to autumn

Elevation range –1,200 feet – 3,607 feet

Human imprint – Moderate (managed landscape, mountain bikers, Oakridge traffic audible)

Information - Willamette National Forest, Middle Fork Ranger District

Primary old growth features

Readily accessible low-elevation old growth, including large sugar pine and incense cedar.

Description

An attractive forest of mixed lower-elevation old growth straddles the Larison Rock Trail (3607) just across the river from Oakridge. The trail stretches from the toe slope below Larison Rock up a side ridge to the summit, where the main view is of tree tops. A portion of the landscape to the west is visible though, highlighting Deception Butte and Patterson Mountain. Considering the ease of access the trail receives surprisingly low use from hikers, although mountain bikers regularly ride along this route.

From the lower trailhead, the trail crosses a powerline corridor and curls up a north-facing slope through old Douglas-fir, western hemlock, and western redcedar. A few large sugar pines punctuate the canopy, and incense cedar add diversity as the trail climbs. Scattered fire-scorched giants emerge above the general forest canopy.

The effects of the last major fire in this stand become more visible as you progress uphill and cross over to drier south- and west-facing slopes. Old growth first gives way to a younger forest overtopped by scattered fire survivors, before the old trees fade away completely over the last mile. Some of the warmer slope facets support a true Douglas-fir community, where Douglas-fir reproduces underneath itself alongside incense cedar and other dry-site plants.

The trail splits by the upper trailhead, the left heading to the trailhead, and the right curving around and continuing for another half-mile to the top of Larison Rock. The upper trailhead can also be used as a drop-off for a one-way downhill hike. Note: the old growth on the lower portion of the trail remains snow-free most winters.

25 years of change

The younger forest on the upper slopes is maturing, getting noticeably larger; a small low-severity surface fire left fire scorches on the lower trunks of many trees; regular mountain bike use now.

How to get there

To reach the lower trailhead, turn onto the west end of Laduke Road (FR 5852) from Highway 58, just past the Middle Fork Ranger District office and approximately 2 1/2 miles west of Oakridge. Pavement ends after 2 miles and the trail is on the right 2 ¼ miles later just after crossing the powerlines. The trailhead can also be reached from the east end of FR 5852. Turn right (south) on the Kitson Springs County Road just east of Oakridge, and turn right again a half mile later onto FR 21. In a quarter mile, turn right onto the South Bank Road (FR 5852) below Hills Creek Dam; the trailhead is 1 ¾ miles to the northwest.