Calendar

Past Activity

West Metolius River Trail

  • Start date: 10/16/2021

  • Start time: 12:00 AM

  • End date: 10/16/2021

  • End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

Find out why the Metolius is known as "Oregon's most magical river." We will start this gentle, out-and-back hike at Lower Canyon Creek Campground and turn around when we hit the "Private Property" sign, after about 3.65 miles. The trail stays beside the river for nearly the whole time, and along the way we'll see springs gushing into the river, maybe ouzels, fall foliage (we hope) and the gaping mouths of a fish hatchery.

After completing our downstream/upstream river hike, we'll drive to the Head of the Metolius River for a quick walk (.5 mile RT) to pay our respects to the source of this beautiful river. Those who wish to can go on into Sisters for an optional dinner somewhere cute, although with the days getting shorter it will mean a long drive home after dark.

Technically, this should be labeled an Explora hike, because I've never done it, but it's a heavily trafficked trail that looks pretty straightforward, so I think we will be OK.

  • Event Leader: Carpenter Kathie

  • Assistant Leader:

  • Event category: Trips

  • Area Type: Mountain

  • Departure Location: Amazon Park, 28th & Hilyard entrance parking lot

  • Rating: Moderate

  • Roundtrip total drive miles: 240

  • Season: 2021

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required: Face mask for carpooling, water, lunch, etc.

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 7.3

  • Member Fees: 1

  • Elevation Gain: 270

  • Non-Member Fees: 5

  • Committee: Trips

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

Eleven Obsidians enjoyed a warm, sunny day exploring the sparkling Metolius River. Along the way, we stopped to check out springs gushing out of the hillside, a fish hatchery and fly fishers casting gracefully over the water (but never catching anything!)

We did this hike as an-out-and back, with a lunch stop after just under 4 miles. Another fun option would be to do it as a longer loop, crossing over from the west to the east bank at Lower Bridge Campground (6 miles RT, starting from the fish hatchery). Or you could do it as a lollipop starting at Lower Canyon Creek Campground, following the west bank all the way to Lower Bridge Campground (5.5 miles), crossing over to the east bank for 3 miles, and then crossing back to the west side at the hatchery, for a total of 11 miles RT.

After the river hike, we made a 15-minute trip to the Head of the Metolius park, for a beautiful view of Mt. Jefferson and some head scratching over the humble beginnings of such a lively river.

The drive to the trailhead was long but doubled as a fall foliage tour because the colors were just peaking.

Members & Guests signed-up & waitlisted

  • Number of spots on trip: 12
  • Number of spots available: 0
No. Status Full name Phone Transportation Needed? Trip Fee # Can Take?
1 Signed-Up Carpenter, Kathie 541-505-2370 N 1
2 Signed-Up Whitfield, Nancy 541-520-0450 N 1
3 Signed-Up Esch, Patricia 541-338-8280 N 1
4 Signed-Up Cooper, David 541-868-5427 N 1
5 Signed-Up Cooper, Carla 541-517-6785 N 1
6 Signed-Up Krentz, Holger 541-868-7792 N 1
7 Signed-Up Bennett, Brad 541-359-5198 N 5
8 Signed-Up Wolling, Sue 541-345-2110 N 1
9 Signed-Up Zhao, Mi 206-369-3644 N 5
10 Signed-Up Alexander, Joanna 458-209-7798 N 1
11 Signed-Up Bloomfield, Donna 831-818-2079 N 5
12 Signed-Up Christiansen, Lynda 541-912-9952 N 1
13 Signed-Up Gleason, Diana 541-786-3013 N 5
14 Signed-Up Gould, Whitney 510-368-8941 N 1
15 Waitlist Rice, Cindy 541-513-0131 N 1
16 Signed-Up Hawkins, David 541-505-0119 N 1
17 Signed-Up Ambrosini, George 541-680-0293 N 5