35. Old Salmon River Trail

Summary

Length                                 2 ½ miles one way

Difficulty                             Easy

Season                               Year round

Elevation range                1,450 – 1,600 feet

Human imprint                  High (hikers, campers, mountain bikers, paved road)

Information                       Mount Hood National Forest (Zigzag Ranger District)

Primary old growth features

Immense Douglas-fir and western redcedar.

Description

Easy access from Portland to giant trees and a beautiful river practically guarantees company on the Old Salmon River Trail (742A). This well-known and heavily used trail is an easy stroll through striking old forest, and suitable for walkers of all ages. Low elevations mean the trail is generally open year-round. The trail follows the east bank of the Salmon River in a narrow, roadside strip nearly surrounded by the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness.

The trail travels through a lush riverside forest dominated by large Douglas-fir and scattered western redcedar up to 8 feet in diameter. Portions of the forest show evidence of a mid-1800s era fire where mature Douglas-fir are common, and a few stumps indicate a little historical roadside plucking. Pockets of deciduous red alder and bigleaf maple intermix with the towering conifers.

The trail briefly joins the road about 1 ¼ miles from the lower trailhead, and then comes to the Green Canyon Campground in another half mile or so. The Salmon River Trail (742) picks up from the campground and continues upriver until it intersects the Salmon River Road a half mile later. Each of these spots provides an option for a shorter hike, or a potential drop-off point for a one-way hike with a shuttle.

The Salmon River Trail (742) continues on the south side of the road another 13 or so miles upriver into the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness. The trail follows a fairly level grade near the river for the first couple of miles, and then veers upslope away from the river through mostly younger forest. A couple of nice patches of old growth stand on riverside terraces below the trail in the first mile or so from the road.

30 Years of Change

The forest has changed very little in 30 years.

How to get there

Turn south onto the Salmon River Road (FR 2618) from U.S. Highway 26 in Zigzag approximately 29 miles southeast of Gresham. Park on the right just after entering the national forest 2.7 miles from US 26. The trail can also be accessed in several places farther up FR 2618, including from Green Canyon Campground (approximately 4.6 miles from the highway) and by the Salmon River bridge (5 miles from the highway).