49. Middle Fork - Sacandaga

Summary

Length – 2 ½ miles one way

Difficulty – Easy

Season – Spring to autumn

Elevation range – 2,470 feet – 2,560 feet

Human imprint – Moderate (FR 21 and other roads close by; nearby plantations)

Information - Willamette National Forest, Middle Fork Ranger District

Primary old growth features

Upslope and riparian old growth in the dry mixed conifer forest type.

Description

The section of the Middle Fork National Recreation Trail (3609) stretching east from the Sacandaga Campground offers an easy and scenic stroll through contrasting upslope and riparian old-growth forest types. The first mile follows the old Oregon Central Military Wagon Road, initially built in the mid-1860s to carry livestock from the Willamette Valley to miners in eastern Oregon. The road served as a primary route across the Cascades until the 1920s. This is a beautiful fall hike when vivid vine maple and bigleaf maple frame adjacent conifers.

Start off on the wagon road through upslope forest typical of the dry mixed conifer type in this area. Scattered open-grown Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, incense cedar and sugar pine now persist over a dense midstory and understory of grand fir, Douglas-fir and incense cedar. Many of these older legacy trees are being out-competed by younger trees, especially the old pines which are dying out.

Cross FR 2143 onto FR 280 after approximately a mile and immediately turn right back onto the trail. Head towards the river and turn right where the trail hits an unsigned dirt road. Follow the road a few yards and turn left continuing towards the river. Go left at a junction by the river and continue up the Middle Fork. Alternatively, there is a large open campsite to the right at the junction; if the campsite is unoccupied, it makes a great break spot right on the river bank amid huge Douglas-fir.

Gorgeous riparian old growth featuring large Douglas-fir straddles the trail upriver past Swift Creek until reaching another dirt road in about a mile. The trail continues, but the best of the old growth is behind you.

25 years of change

Older ponderosa and sugar pines are dying out.

How to get there

Turn right (south) onto the Kitson Springs County Road towards Hills Creek Dam off of Highway 58 less than 1 mile southeast of Oakridge, and turn right again a half mile later onto FR 21. Follow FR 21 around the west side of the Reservoir, and turn right towards Sacandaga Campground about 25 miles later. Park by the trail sign between the forks of the road before entering the campground.