7. McQuade Creek

Summary

Length – 6 miles one way (1 mile option to Chimney Peak)

Difficulty – Difficult

Season – Summer to autumn

Elevation range –2,660 feet – 4,330 feet (4,900 to Chimney Peak)

Human imprint – Moderate (older plantations)

Information - Willamette National Forest, Sweet Home Ranger District

Primary old growth features

Large patch of remote old growth; big western hemlocks.

Description

The McQuade Creek Trail (3397) visits the remote headwaters of Gregg Creek, an area that feels like it is part of the adjacent Middle Santiam Wilderness. Although the first 2 ½ miles are in younger forest, the second half of the hike traverses a long sideslope through gorgeous old growth. Ambitious hikers can continue another mile over to Chimney Peak for a raven's-eye view. The trail is infrequently used and maintained, and prone to large trees across the trail on the steep sideslopes.

The first half mile requires bridgeless crossings of the two forks of McQuade Creek, although neither should pose a problem during the summer and fall low-flow seasons. The trail climbs a steady, moderate grade through fast-growing plantations and a younger, fire-initiated stand through the McQuade Creek drainage and over into the Gregg Creek watershed.

Old conifers begin to dominate the forest shortly after the trail rounds the ridge. The forest varies from lush and large in the moist, protected draws to sparse and shrubby on the drier, less productive side ridges. The finest old forest is located in the upper reaches of the basin where large western hemlock grace north-facing slopes. Remnants of the old cabin, a third of a mile from the ridgeline, provide a pleasant camping or turnaround spot surrounded by titanic hemlocks.

If you want to peer into the Middle Santiam Wilderness or visit Chimney Peak, continue on to the ridgeline trail junction and take a right on the Chimney Peak Trail (3382), reaching Chimney Peak two-thirds of a mile later.

25 years of change

Trees in the plantations and young forest are much larger now.

How to get there

From U.S. Highway 20 by the upper end of Foster Lake (4 miles east of Sweet Home), turn north onto the Quartzville Road and head toward Green Peter Lake. Drive well past the reservoir, staying right on FR 11 at a fork in the road 24.7 miles from the highway, then turn right onto FR 1142 about 2.6 miles later. The trailhead is on the left, 4 miles from FR 11.