61. Trappers Butte

Summary 

Length –                                            3 ¼ miles one way

Difficulty –                                         Moderate

Season –                                           Summer to early autumn

Elevation range –                            3,290 feet – 4,920 feet

Human imprint –                              Moderate (mountain bike use)

Information -                                   Willamette National Forest (Sweet Home Ranger District)

Primary old growth features

Impressive Douglas-fir and noble fir old growth.

Description

The trail up to the top of Trappers Butte traverses a mix of Middle Santiam old growth featuring a long stretch of ancient Douglas-fir and majestic noble fir. The trail is one segment of a longer, 28-mile loop popular with mountain bikers known as the Old Cascades Crest Trail. Trail use seems to be concentrated on summer weekends though, and a mid-week visit usually offers solitude.

Head north on the Scar Mountain Trail (3402) through mature Douglas-fir. An older cohort of big Douglas-fir soon makes an appearance, and waxes and wanes in abundance over the first ¾ mile. The trail switchbacks up to the ridge dividing the Middle Santiam watershed from the North Santiam and heads due north.

The finest old growth stands along the next mile of trail, where huge noble fir mixes with equally large Douglas-fir. Pockets of old western hemlock also reside in the flats of a small saddle along the ridge. Some of the huge, broken-topped, gnarly Douglas-fir appear to be very old, similar to other Douglas-fir in the area I’ve aged at over 650 years.

The trail continues gently up and down the ridgeline through mixed old and young forest for another mile, including some impressive noble fir. Older Pacific silver fir and mountain hemlock make an appearance before the trail bends to the northwest and starts the climb towards Trappers Butte. Long-distance vistas briefly open up at various points along the ascent, revealing Coffin Mountain over to Mount Jefferson, south down to the Three Sisters, and around to the Three Pyramids and Middle Santiam. Views from the top are limited. Return as you came, or continue another couple miles over to Scar Mountain for a different vantage point.

30 years of change

Very little change, except for noticeable erosion on switchbacks from increased mountain bike use.

How to get there

From Highway 22, turn west onto the Parrish Lake Road (FR 2266) off of Highway 22, approximately 7 and a half miles north of Highway 20 (23 miles south of Detroit). Note that the road sign is misspelled as “Parrish” should be “Parish”. Trailhead parking is up a short spur road to the left 4.5 miles from Highway 22 by a North Pyramid trail sign. FR 2266 is paved for the first 3.2 miles, then graveled for the remaining 1.3 miles. The trail is across FR 2266 to the north.