36. Eagle Creek
2024 Status
The hike description below is provisional. I plan to field check in 2024, and will update the hike description, and add photos and a map later in 2024.
Summary
Length 5 miles one way
Difficulty Moderate
Season Spring to autumn
Elevation range 1,600 – 2,280 feet
Human imprint Low (old road in beginning, Salmon-Huckleberry Creek Wilderness)
Information Mount Hood National Forest (Zigzag Ranger District)
Primary old growth features
Multi-generation Douglas-fir old-growth in a low-elevation, riparian environment.
Description
The Eagle Creek Trail (501) samples luxuriant, riparian old growth in the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness near Estacada. This low-elevation hike highlights the role repeated but infrequent fires have historically played creating a complex canopy of Douglas-fir, the dominant tree species. An older cohort of Douglas-fir that regenerated following one or more fires 4 or 5 centuries ago, was impacted by more recent fires that burned from 1850-1900. These fires left scattered, live old Douglas-firs (4-7' thick) along the stream, and lots of large dead wood. Most of the large green trees in this forest now regenerated after these later fires, and rapidly grew to a large size (3-4' thick) in this rich and productive environment.
Head downhill from the parking area passing a junction with the Douglas Trail (781) before reaching Eagle Creek after a mile and a half or so. Elements of two distinct generations of forest form a unique and enticing streamside forest for the next couple of miles. The hike can be taken for any length, but the best old growth is in the first two miles along Eagle Creek. The trail ends at a junction with the Eagle Creek Cutoff Trail (504) about 6 ½ miles from the trail head.
30 Years of Change
Trailhead access has changed. Vehicle access from the north via the Douglas Trail is no longer feasible because the access road has been closed. The Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness has been expanded to the west up to the National Forest boundary. I plan to re-hike and update in 2024.
How to get there
Turn right at Shorty’s Corner onto SE Firwood Road off of US Highway 26 approximately 2 ¾ miles east of Sandy. Stay on SE Firwood Road ¾ mile later by taking the third right. Turn right onto SE Wildcat Mountain Drive a little over 2 ½ miles later. Follow SE Wildcat Mountain Drive for a mile and a quarter, then turn left onto SE Howlett Road. After another quarter mile continue on SE Eagle Fern Road. Follow this for 2 ¾ miles and continue onto SE George Road. Follow this for just over 2 ½ miles and turn left to stay on SE George Road. After another approximate 3 ½ miles, turn right onto SE Harvey Road. Trailhead parking is a little over 1 ¾ miles later.