Accessible Trails in Willamette National Forest

The Willamette National Forest stretches for 110 miles along the western slopes of the Cascade Range in western Oregon. It is easily accessed from the Salem, Albany, and Eugene areas of the Willamette Valley. Four important highways cross the Forest: U.S. Route 20 and Oregon State Routes 22, 58, and 126-cross the Forest. Two Forest highways, Aufderheide Memorial Drive and the McKenzie Pass/Santiam Pass Loop, are National Scenic Byways.

Unfortunately, high mountains, narrow canyons, cascading streams, and wooded slopes tend to limit the number of accessible trails for persons with disabilities, but there are a few good ones. Additionally, some easy trails are listed below for those looking for more strenuous hikes, but are not rated accessible for wheelchair users.

Remember, weather conditions may quickly make a forested path unaccessible. It is strongly suggested that you contact the appropriate ranger district prior to taking these trails.

Silver Falls State Park

Directions:

Coming from south on I-5 - Take the third Salem exit (#253), drive 10 miles east on North Santiam Highway 22, turn north at a sign for Silver Falls Park, and follow Highway 214 for 16 miles to a large sign pointing left to the South Falls parking area.

Coming from the north on I-5 -Take Woodburn exit 271 and follow Highway 214 southeast through Silverton for 30 miles.

Park at the far end of Parking Area C in the South Falls parking lot.

Features:

The park is Oregon’s largest at 8,700 acres and boasts eleven waterfalls, as well as an array of other sights.

The pathway to each waterfall has a designation for degree of difficulty. South Falls is designated as “easy access” and is the most accessible. Even so, It’s a long, somewhat winding descent to the 177-foot-high waterfall, and this trail (as well as several others) allows you to walk behind the falls.

Some other possible options: A paved bike path that follows the creek 0.5 mile from the campground to the South Falls Picnic Area; a nearly level trail extends 1.2 miles along the highway to a 1.9-mile loop. Another option is a gravel path from the North Falls parking area that leads right for 0.1 mile to a falls overlook and left under the highway bridge for 0.2 miles to Upper North Falls.

See William Sullivan's Web page about hikes at the park including a map.

Hoover Campground on Detroit Lake

Directions:

Located in Willamette National Forest's North Santiam travel corridor, Hoover Campground is located 3 miles from Detroit. From Detroit, travel east on Hwy 22 for 2.5 miles to Blowout Road #10. Hoover Campground is ahead 0.5 miles on the right.

Features:

Accessible facilities at Hoover Campground include a nature trail (short), boat launch, viewing/fishing platform, 2 restrooms, 13 campsites, picnic table, compacted rock/dirt access routes. Open April thru September.

Other:

The nearby Oregon State Parks Detroit Lake Recreation area has a larger campground with accessible camping spots (including full hookups) and an accessible fishing dock.

Upper Arm Day Use Area on Detroit Lake

Directions:

From Detroit take Breitenbush Rd 46 for 1 mile to Upper Arm Day Use Area on left

Features:

Upper Arm is situated on a quiet cove of the Breitenbush Arm of Detroit Lake away from motor boating activities. Fishing opportunities abound along the shoreline trails and from the accessible wooden fishing pier. Enjoy calm water at the sandy swimming beach with a wheelchair ramp. Observe various species of waterfowl and birds from the accessible wildlife viewpoint.

Accessible facilities include a fishing pier, swimming area with wheelchair ramp, picnic sites, group picnic area, and accessible trails surfaced with firm-packed crushed rock and have safety rails on the steeper sections. The trails are 4 to 5 feet wide and range from 2 to 8 percent grade. The paved parking area provides easy access to restrooms and other facilities.

Walton Ranch Viewpoint

Directions:

From Sweet Home, travel east on Highway 20 for 19.8 miles to the Trout Creek trailhead. The Walton Ranch Interpretive Trailhead is located next to Trout Creek trailhead across the highway from the campground.

Features:

Walton Ranch Interpretive Trail is a short 0.3 mile accessible, compacted gravel trail to an overlook of the Walton Ranch and the South Santiam River. The trail uses a bridge across Trout Creek and two switchbacks up a moderately steep slope with grades between 5 and 8 percent to a large viewing platform. Walton Ranch, a historic homestead along on the old Santiam Wagon Road, is managed as meadow habitat for local elk herds.

Interpretive signs on the viewing platform share information about elk management and prehistoric use in the South Santiam watershed.

Other:

Trout Creek campground offers a couple of campsites with graveled surfaces, a day-use picnic shelter, and accessible toilets. See map and description of trails and campground.

Yukwah Campground

Directions:

Take Highway 20 east of Sweet Home for 21 miles.

Features:

Yukwah Campground is located in a second growth Douglas-fir on the banks of the South Santiam River. The Menagerie Wilderness is to the north. A 0.3 mile interpretive trail goes along the river's edge to an accessible fishing pier.

Other:

The river is stocked with rainbow trout.

There are accessible restrooms and 15 campsites. Sites are flat, spacious and private and can accommodate large RVs.

Hackleman Creek Old Growth Trail

Directions:

The trailhead is located at mp 69 on Highway 20 and approximately 1.5 miles west of Lost Prairie Campground. From Sweet Home, travel east on Highway 20 for 37 miles. Parking and trailhead are on the right.

Features:

Two short loop trails take you through a classic old growth stand of Douglas fir, western red cedar, and mountain hemlock. Several trees are more than 500 years old. One loop winds along Hackleman Creek. The other loop is designed for people with disabilities. Wheelchair access is considered difficult due to grade. Although touted as barrier-free, this is a challenging 1.0-mile loop trail that is surfaced with compacted gravel and meanders through a mixed-conifer old-growth grove. The trail has a 36-inch tread, and extended sections with grades between 5 and 8 percent. Numbered posts located along the loop trail link to an interpretive brochure (available at the trailhead).

The trail winds up at a viewpoint next to Hackleman Creek at the half-way mark before climbing back up to the trailhead along a section of the old Santiam Wagon Road.

Other:

Washouts may make this trail rough. Hackleman Creek is home to a distinct subspecies of cutthroat trout that has become isolated from McKenzie River populations by lava flows within the last 10,000 years. Lost Prairie campground offers accessible campsites and restrooms. See Hackleman Old-Growth Trail Description and Map.

Beaver Marsh Viewpoint at Carmen Reservoir

Directions:

The Carmen Reservoir is located about 50 miles east of Sweet Home. Head east on Hwy 20 for about 42 miles then turn south on OR-126 toward Belknap Springs.

Features:

A wheelchair-accessible viewing platform overlooking a marsh in the upper McKenzie River basin that is home to several beavers. Interpretive panels explain how the marsh was formed and how it will eventually evolve into forest, and talk about the value of wetlands in general. The viewing platform is built on the large earthen berm that forms the reservoir. You can see beaver mounds from the platform. Elk as well as beaver can often be seen in and around the marsh, catch them moving at dawn and dusk.

Clear Lake

Directions:

Clear Lake is 35 miles east of Sweet Home. From McKenzie Ranger River Station, take Highway 126 east 17-1/2 miles to Clear Lake Resort. The Clear Lake Loop Trail can be accessed from the day use area (Clear Lake Resort) or from Cold Water Cove Campground on the east side of the lake.

Features:

Although not considered an accessible trail, this is a popular, fairly level trail around a crystal alpine lake so clear that petrified trees can be seen under 100 feet of water. William L. Sullivan rates this as an easy hike in his book, 100 Hikes in the Central Oregon Cascades. Some parts of it MAY be accessible for some slow walkers, but personally check this out at the ranger station before trying it!

A Willamette National Forest information receptionist said "I can tell you the West side of the trail, that being the portion closest to the Clear Lake Resort , is relatively flat for a little ways. The East side of the trail travels through lava fields and is not recommended for people with disabilities.  I can not tell you whether or not the trail is wide enough for a wheel chair.  I would venture to say no. If you want to visit, I would still highly recommend Clear Lake area (for persons with disabilities).  You can use the day use area at the resort and can even rent a row boat if so desired and go out onto the lake".

For slow walkers, a hike around the north end of the lake goes to Great Springs, where the clear water flows out of the rock. If starting at Clear Lake Resort going clockwise the lake narrows and the trail enters old-growth Douglas-fir forest. Some of the firs are huge, many bearing fire scars from past wildfires. From time to time you get a view of the clear, blue lake or of the three sisters towering above the lake. It's an easy trail, relatively level until you reach old lava flows where the lake starts from underwater springs. The trail leaves the forest and crosses onto the open lava flow. (The trail is paved across the lava flow but is dirt elsewhere). The open terrain gives expansive views of the lake and its remarkably clear water. Continue through the north Lava fields studded with vine maples. At about 3 miles a bridge crosses the MacKenzie River and the trail starts a gradual rise back to the resort.

Other:

The east side of the lake, where Cold Water Cove Campground is located, is especially lovely with vine maples and lava. See Willamette National Forest Service Web page. An interpretive brochure is available at the McKenzie River Ranger Station, Clear Lake Resort and the Coldwater Cove boat launch. Cold Water Cove Campground has some ADA facilities: 4 restrooms, 2 campsites, picnic table, all with paved access routes.

Delta Old Growth Trail

Directions:

Drive east on Highway 126 from Eugene/Springfield to Blue River. From Blue River, travel 4 miles east on Highway 126 to the junction of Forest Road 19. Travel about ¼ mile on Road 19 and turn right into Delta Campground. Drive 1 mile into the campground and park in the Nature Trail parking area located about halfway through the campground.

Features:

The accessible 0.5 mile interpretive nature trail loops through the Delta Old-Growth Grove. This is a diverse, ancient, and beautiful forest trail with a variety of giant conifers like Douglas-fir and hemlock. The trail crosses beautiful side channels and streams, which braid through the McKenzie River delta full of deciduous trees including vine maple and birch, shrubs and groundcover plants. A brochure is available at the trailhead that leads hikers to several special interest spots. Some of the trees are 650 years old and tower to heights of over 200 feet.

Other:

The Delta campground is open all year. It has six campsites and two toilet facilities that are accessible to people with disabilities. The wide, hardened paths into the amphitheatre are also accessible.

For a car tour, you can continue on Road 19, which is also called the Aufderheide National Forest Scenic Byway, for 43 miles for non-stop beauty in all directions. Take this trip in the Fall when foilage colors are spectacular. This road closes from November to May.

Sahalie Falls

Directions:

From Interstate 5 exit 194a in Eugene, drive McKenzie Highway 126 east 68 miles. Beyond McKenzie Bridge 19 miles, near milepost 5, pull into the large, well-marked Sahalie Falls parking area.

Features:

An accessible paved 100-yard trail leads to viewpoint of Sahalie falls with an interpretive kiosk.

Other:

Accessible restrooms.

See Willamette National Forest service Website and William Sullivan's Web page for additional information and a map.

Lower Erma Bell Lake

Directions:

This trail is in the Three Sisters Wilderness Area near Oakridge.

From Willamette Highway 58 - take the Westfir exit opposite the Middle Fork Ranger Station near Oakridge, follow signs 2 miles to Westfir, and continue straight on Aufderheide Road 19. Follow this paved route for 31.9 miles to a pass just before the historic Box Canyon Guard Station and turn right on gravel Road 1957 for 4 miles to Skookum Campground.

From McKenzie Highway 126 - take the turnoff for Cougar Reservoir (5 miles east of Blue River, between mileposts 45 and 46). Follow paved Aufderheide Road 19 for 25.6 miles to Skookum Campground.

Features:

This wide flat dirt trail traverses a Douglas-fir slope, with slight grades, until Lower Erma Bell Lake. The portion of the trail, from Skookum Creek Campground to the Lower Erma Bell Lake, is wheelchair accessible (rated as challenging). From the campground parking lot, the trail crosses the Skookum creek on a large foot bridge. After 0.6 mile go straight at the trail junction for another 1.1 mile. A short side trial to the left leads to Lower Erma Bell Lake.

Other:

See Willamette National Forest Website for more information and a map.

Black Canyon Campground

Directions:

West of Oakridge, 8 miles on Hwy 58.

Features:

The Black Canyon Campground has 7 barrier-free campsites and a 1-mile nature trail along the Middle Fork of the Willamette River.

Other:

Accessible facilities include: 4 restrooms, campsites (4 paved, 3 rock), picnic table, paved/compacted rock access routes, nature trail, grills

Salt Creek Falls

Directions:

Located 23 miles southeast of Oakridge. Drive Hwy 58 to milepost 57, a mile east of the highway tunnel or 5-miles west of Willamette Pass. Turn off at FS road 5893 at a sign for Salt Creek Falls and follow the paved entrance road to a turnaround with an information kiosk, restrooms, and picnic tables.

Features:

A short 50 yard concrete trail from the picnic area leads to an viewing platform of Oregon's second tallest waterfall. The viewing platform has rails specially designed for viewing the falls from a wheelchair.

All the facilities at the Salt Creek Falls Observation Site, with the exception of the trail leading to the base of the falls, are accessible to wheelchair users.

See Willamette National Forest Web page for more info.