Trip Report

We caravanned from SEHS to the Horse Rock Ridge trailhead, and thanks to Michael as lead driver and Marguerite's expert navigation we were the first group at the trailhead and were able to find parking easily. Several groups came after us, and the good spaces filled quickly, because this is a popular hike. The trail was icy and a bit treacherous - we had one fall, but once again Marguerite saved the day by throwing her body under our falling comrade, so there was no serious injury. The panoramas were spectacular, with clear views of the Sisters, Mt. Jefferson, Diamond Peak and Mary's Peak. This would also be a very pretty hike in the spring because it's prime wildflower terrain.

The McDowell Creek County Park loop was lush and lovely, and the waterfalls were splendid among the ferns and moss. For future reference, I'd recommend making the loop counter clockwise, so that you go up the long slippery staircase by Terrace Falls first.

These two very pretty hikes are on the short side, and are not too far out of town. Each would be perfect for making out-of-state visitors jealous that you live in Oregon, or for convincing reluctant children that they really do like hiking after all. Together, they made for a wonderful but not too demanding day, and showcased the variety of Oregon landscapes.

Tips o' the day: We found Sullivan's driving directions to be a lot more helpful than Google Maps. And, these are not hikes that are well known to most Obsidians, so future leaders should make sure all participants know where the trailheads are.