Donate
Calendar

Past Activity

Koosah Falls to Clear Lake

  • Start date: 10/24/2021

  • Start time: 12:00 AM

  • End date: 10/24/2021

  • End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

We'll follow a big lollipop route on this classic fall hike, starting at Koosah Falls, passing to admire Sahalie Falls and then looping around Clear Lake before heading back the way we came.

Easy drive for all vehicle types.

The long range weather forecast says that rain is likely for this day, but I'll send more accurate updates as we get closer to the departure day. We may be too late for fall foliage, but there's only one way to find out!

  • Event Leader: Kathie Carpenter

  • Event Leader Phone: 541-505-2370

  • Event Leader Email: kathiec@uoregon.edu

  • Assistant Leader:

  • Event category: Trips

  • Area Type: Mountain

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

  • Rating: Moderate

  • Roundtrip total drive miles: 148

  • Season: 2021

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required:

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 9.5

  • Member Fees: 1

  • Elevation Gain: 600

  • Non-Member Fees: 5

  • Committee: Trips

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

Sunday dawned dark, rainy and cold. There were high wind warnings, and thunderstorms were forecast. Worst of all, a bomb cyclone was headed for Eugene, and none of us knew what a bomb cyclone is.

It was the perfect day for a hike.

We circled Clear Lake counterclockwise, through light rain, heavy rain and sometimes no rain. The fall foliage was breathtaking, and yellow leaves glowed against the firs and darkened skies. We lunched at the log shelter by the resort, where we enjoyed Vern's homebaked oatmeal cookies. (Thanks, Vern!) As long as we kept moving, we didn't get cold.

At Holger's suggestion, we decided to add the loop down the other side of the McKenzie. We crossed back over at the reservoir and returned upriver to Koosah, taking our originally 8.4 miles up to 9.5. All the hikers were good sports about the weather and the extra distance, and together we agreed on the wisdom of that old Nordic saying: "There is no bad weather, only the wrong clothes."