Hidden Lake – A Beautiful Hiking and Fishing Destination

On March 10, 2023 By Sasquatch ShaneIn Hiking/driving adventures, Wilderness2 Comments

Hidden lake is a great little 11 acre lake up the Cougar valley past the reservoir. The hike in from the road is a short half mile. If you are going early in the spring the shore line will be very marshy, and it will be difficult to make it to the lake without getting a bit wet. As with all high cascade lakes remember to bring mosquito repellent. The trail ends at the stream outflow to the lake with a nice deep inlet. The fishing is fairly good all year around in the lake. Walking around the lake is difficult due to brush so there is a low amount of fishing pressure. A float tube or a light pontoon boat would be ideal for fishing the lake. The largest fish I have caught from the lake was a nice 12″ cutthroat trout. The trout in the lake that are easy to catch on lures or flies. Supposedly there are trout up to 16″ in the lake. That would be nice to catch on a warm sunny day. Snow is usually on the ground until around June. This is one of the first high lakes in the area that you can get into. Due to the size I recommend catch and release to all fish. It would not take long to remove a large portion of the population.

Directions: From McKenzie highway 126 take the south fork of the McKenzie road up past Cougar Reservoir to Forest road 1980 (1/2 mile past French Pete campground). Drive west 3 miles on rd 1980 to a right angle intersection with Forest rd 231. Turn onto NF-231 until there is a left turn onto NF-230 which is the hard left at the intersection. There is a small sign on the left about 500 yards before the road dead ends that marks the trail into the lake. Using a forest service map of the area makes it easier to find your way there. The back forest roads are easy to get lost on if you are not careful.

Marshy edge of the lake.

Western lily

Several great books for the local areas:

Hiking Waterfalls in Oregon: A Guide to the State’s Best Waterfall Hikes https://amzn.to/3zKaM2K
Day Hiking Bend & Central Oregon: Mount Jefferson/ Sisters/ Cascade Lakes https://amzn.to/2VnaMa4
100 Hikes / Travel Guide: Central Oregon Cascades https://amzn.to/2V52a88
100 Hikes / Travel Guide: Oregon Coast & Coast Range https://amzn.to/3zVG9XY

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Top 5 Overnight hiking backpacks for under $200

On March 4, 2023 By Sasquatch ShaneIn Camping, Hiking/driving adventures, WildernessLeave a comment

Are you on a budget for your next overnight hiking trip but still need a reliable backpack? No worries! We’ve got you covered with the top 5 overnight hiking backpacks under $200 in no particular order

Teton Sports Scout 3400 Backpack

The Teton Sports Scout 3400 Backpack is an affordable option for those who need to carry a lot of gear. It has a roomy main compartment and several smaller pockets for organization. The backpack also has a built-in rainfly to keep your belongings dry in wet conditions.

Kelty Redwing 50 Backpack

The Kelty Redwing 50 Backpack has a spacious main compartment and several smaller pockets for organization. It also has a padded laptop sleeve and a front pocket with an organizer for smaller items. The backpack has a ventilated back panel and padded shoulder straps for comfort.

High Sierra Pathway 90L

The High Sierra Pathway 90L Backpack is perfect for those who need to carry a lot of gear on their overnight hiking trip. It has a large main compartment and several smaller pockets for organization. The backpack also has a hydration system compatibility and a built-in rainfly.

Outdoor Products Saguaro 2 in 1

The Outdoor Products Saguaro 2 in 1 Backpack is a great option for those on a tight budget. It has a spacious main compartment and several smaller pockets for organization. The backpack also has a ventilated back panel and padded shoulder straps for comfort.

Teton Sports Outfitter 4600 Backpack

The Teton Sports Outfitter 4600 Backpack is perfect for those who need to carry a lot of gear on their overnight hiking trip. It has a roomy main compartment and several smaller pockets for organization. The backpack also has a built-in rainfly to keep your belongings dry in wet conditions.

These are all great overnight hiking backpacks under $200. If you are on a budget or just starting out doing overnight hikes. One of these would be fit to start out. Each one has its own unique features, so choose the one that best fits your needs and budget. Happy hiking!

We receive a small advertising fee for anything purchased through links. Any fees go to more fishing trips, videos, and blog posts

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Spirit Lake Oregon – An Outdoor Enthusiast’s Paradise

On March 2, 2023March 2, 2023 By Sasquatch ShaneIn Fishing, Hiking/driving adventures, WildernessLeave a comment

Are you looking for a breathtaking destination for your next outdoor adventure? Spirit Lake, Oregon is the perfect place for hiking, camping, fishing, and more.

Located in the heart of the Cascade Range, Spirit Lake offers visitors stunning views of the surrounding mountains and crystal-clear waters. Whether you’re an experienced hiker or a beginner, you’ll find trails of varying difficulty levels to explore.

The lake itself is a popular spot for fishing, with an abundance of trout waiting to be caught. If you’re a fan of water sports, you can also enjoy kayaking, paddle boarding, or even swimming in the lake’s refreshing waters. As long as you don’t mind the short hike to carry them in.

For those looking for a more immersive experience, there are several campsites in the area where you can pitch a tent and spend the night under the stars. Just be sure to pack warm clothes, as the temperature can drop significantly at night.

Spirit Lake is also home to a diverse array of wildlife, including elk, deer, and various bird species. Keep your eyes peeled for these majestic creatures as you explore the area.

Spirit Lake, Oregon is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. From hiking and camping to fishing and water sports, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Plan your trip today and experience the natural beauty of this stunning destination.

Directions: Proceed east from the Oakridge Ranger Station on Hwy. 58 to Oakridge. From downtown Oakridge proceed east on Salmon Creek Road (24) for about 13 miles to the junction of Road 2422. From here proceed left on 2422 for 9 miles to trailhead on right. Across from the Waldo Meadows Trailhead.
Difficulty: Easy
Recommended Season: June – October
Elevation change: 169 feet

Hiking books for the area:

Day hike or overnight gear on the cheap side: not the lightest but great for getting into hiking

The view of the lake as you come to the end of the trail.

Interesting tree growing in the meadow. looks like it had fallen down and then grown up from the fallen trunk — Interesting tree growing in the meadow. It looks like it had fallen down and then grown up from the fallen trunk.

Lots of fallen trees in the water.

Katy all ready to return back to the car for lunch.

Several great books for the local areas

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Flooded Oregon – Blakelyville (Eula)

On February 1, 2022March 2, 2023 By Sasquatch ShaneIn Hiking/driving adventures, WildernessLeave a comment

The Willamette valley is home to 13 major dam’s in the Willamette basin. Most of these dam’s are used for flood control, power generation and irrigation. But in the time before these dam’s were built there were many small towns that dotted these area’s and once the dam’s were completed they were swallowed up and lost to time and all that is left is the history of the location and a few pictures that may have been taken.

While out on a fishing trip this January I stumbled across the foundations of what was once the little town of Blakelyville. With a little research it looks like there were five towns at one point under what is now Lookout point reservoir. Carter, Eula, Landax , Signal , and Blakeyville have all been flooded, and become one with the mud of the lake bottom. The first settler in the area was John Blakey who was a stowaway on a ship from Ireland at the age of 12 in 1829 to the United States and then settled in Oregon . He found his way to set up his homestead between Lowell ,Or. and Oakridge along the Willamette River in 1867 . The community which he called Blakeyville covered an area of five or six miles. A post office was established and ran from 1910 to 1918 in what was once the general store ran by John Clark. During this time the postal officials renamed it Eula which was the name of the Blakely’s daughter. Later the railroad changed it again to Armet because Eula was to much like Eola located in Polk County.

Old graded area which I used to think was the old road but it was for the old railroad

Really not a lot left that the mud has not reclaimed.

Edge of what I assume was a boardwalk at the old Armet train station

Just a little bit of Oregon history that is only uncovered in rare low water times at the reservoir. Most of the other 12 reservoirs in the Willamette basin also have flooded areas under them that can sometimes be seen in extreme low water. With as much mud has built up around the remaining foundations in the last 70 years it does not look like it will really be much longer before they are completely covered and lost to history. Hopefully at least these picture and others like them will remain and show a reminder what was once a thriving community.

A longer article on the area with some pictures:

https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/downloads/kw52j8202

And if you are interested some books on Oregon’s history:

Fall fishing 2021 at Lookout point

On December 19, 2021March 3, 2023 By Sasquatch ShaneIn Fishing, Hiking/driving adventures, WildernessLeave a comment

If you have been reading my blog or watching my YouTube channel you have probably heard me say that I am not a bass fisherman. But I keep trying and learning more. Today’s adventure was back up to lookout point reservoir. Somewhere in that lake I know there has to be something bigger then the pikeminnow I caught during the summer.

I have realized this year that I need to get more exercise other then kayaking. Even though I love to kayak it doesn’t ever really give you a good workout unless you are going fast which makes it a bit useless for fishing. On today’s adventure we found a random pullout on the road and hiked down to the lake. This time of year the reservoir is dropped down to a low level in case of a massive storm to control flooding. Fun fact of the day before the dams were built in the Willamette basin most of the valley would flood every year. The dams hurt the salmon runs but were very effective on reducing the floods. Sadly they were also very effective in destroying most of the native salmon runs in the water basin.

All along the reservoir there is a lot of tiny pullout spots to park and walk down to the water. Until this trip neither of us realized there is a nice path running along the edge of the high water mark over half the length of the lake. We just stopped at a random spot and walked down along the path.

As always walking around on the loose rock and mud you really have to watch you feet. On a bonus note when you are walking and watching your feet it makes it easier to find agates and Jasper. Found a nice piece of a blue agate as we walked along the edge.

Nice blue agate I stepped on while walking

As much as I like to look for rocks to polish up our main goal is fishing for some late fall small mouth bass. Today was a bit of an experiment for both Jeremy and I. I used a jig with a curly tail grub and Jeremy used a larger brass mepps. With as many stumps as there is along the lake we didn’t want to lose a fortune in lures to the stumps.

After several miles of walking the shore and casting we finally started catching bass. Not that the three total we caught in three hours is really what I would call impressive. But all three were over 14″. I have noticed that walking the shores of the lake produces larger bass then when we troll in the kayaks. My thoughts are that the bigger fish are hugging the shore and the stumps and we are just a bit to far offshore when trolling and hit the schools of small ones that are away from the bigger ones. Something to experiment with next year

Sadly this is our last fishing trip of the year. The holidays and wet weather make it a bit difficult to coordinate and get out to fish. My goal for the next year is to get out and fish more and do more blogging and more videos.

Willamette river float from Hyak park to Albany for small mouth bass and agates

On August 25, 2021August 27, 2021 By Sasquatch ShaneIn Fishing, Hiking/driving adventures, WildernessLeave a comment

Some days during late summer nothing sounds as good as a float down a lazy river on a weekend. And of course fishing makes it better. The wife and I found a nice section close to home that looked promising on the map. Hyak park is along Highway 20 between Corvallis and Albany. Floating from Hyak towards Albany has three possible pull out locations. Bryant park and Takena park are both on opposite sides of the river at the northwest side of Albany. But since that was the shorter of the trips we picked the longer spot of Bowman park.

For the first mile it was flat and surprisingly not as deep as I expected. For most of this section I could see the bottom and none of it was over 10 feet deep according to my fish finder. Which made for some poor fishing since there was no structure in the area for any fish. I did have a bite at the ramp but it appeared to be a fairly small fish. Moving down stream there was a nice rock structure towards the middle of the river. As I floated past one side I finally caught my first fish using a swim bait.

By far not my largest smallmouth but it was a good fight and just the one fish was worth the float. Now for my wife this was not a fishing trip but more of an agate finding trip. She cruised the shallows and filled up her kayak with rocks for me to tumble. Most gravel bars along the upper Willamette (and maybe lower) are great places to find agates. My largest find so far over the years was a blood agate up towards Harrisburg that was nearly the size of my fist. From Albany upstream I have mostly found shades of red towards clear along the gravel bars. But from where the Calapooia river meets the Willamette there is a chance to find an agate called a holly blue agate.

For the rest of the trip until we made it to Albany the fishing was slow, but once we made it to the hwy 20 bridge down to Bowman boat launch the river deepened up and the bass were more active. The final count for the float was four small mouth all from 10″ to 14″ There are by far bigger in the river but since it was a float and not really a dedicated fishing trip I didn’t stop to fish as much as I could have. There were several spots by the bridges that I saw some very large carp swiming around. Soon I am going to go back out and attempt to catch one from teh kayak. I imagine it is like catching a salmon from a kayak and it will pull it around a bit. Should be some fun to do before summer ends.

I do need to try some other floats along the river. From Harrisburg down is a good location for trout and over the years I have caught some very large river rainbows from the bank in that area.

We receive a small advertising fee for anything purchased through links. Any fees go to more fishing trips and more videos and blog posts

*Amazon Affiliate links*

Camera used: https://amzn.to/32c6pyc
camera accessories: https://amzn.to/2CPcYOx
pole holder: https://amzn.to/3njNefF
gear-head track adapter: https://amzn.to/34yrQLg
Fish finder: https://amzn.to/3holqpC
Fish finder track mount: https://amzn.to/2Uw7sZy
my favorite ultralight pole https://amzn.to/3yakKKO

Fishing Beyond the road – Central Oregon’s Odell Creek

On September 4, 2020July 30, 2021 By Sasquatch ShaneIn Fishing, Hiking/driving adventures, Wilderness2 Comments

There are so many great places to fish in central Oregon that it is hard to choose where to go. Luckily most of the small streams in the area are managed so that the native fish will not be depleted and people can enjoy to fish in them for years to come. Odell Creek is currently catch and release for all trout and limited to using fly or lures.

For every trip I take like this I always have a checklist of things to bring with me. For anyone hiking remote areas you should always have a backup plan for emergency. The main three to always focus on are shelter, water, and food. And always in that order. There is no need to buy the fancy expensive hiking ones. But even something as simple as a life straw can mean the difference of being stranded and waiting for help and waiting for help and having any type of intestinal issues from drinking unpurified water.

Hydro backpack: https://amzn.to/3fc1nsO
Emergency Tent: https://amzn.to/3zYak13 This is a nice cheap and light emergency one
Garmin GPS watch: https://amzn.to/3rGMTX4 I use this on all hikes. It has a track back feature in case you ever get lost
Some type of emergency food even if it is only a couple granola bars
Water filter: https://amzn.to/2Vo0hmD or life straw: https://amzn.to/2UYmNmA

Odell creek is a small stream flowing from Odell Lake down through mostly thick timber down to Davis lake. In low water years like this year is turning out to be the upper end by Odell lake is very shallow with few places for fish. The lower end closer to Davis lake picks up some water and has some decent rainbow trout fishing. The size varies year to year depending on the water levels in the area. In early 2005 a fire swept through the area and the removed all the heavy timber in the last few miles of the stream going into Davis lake. No shade for fishing or to keep the water cooler. Still chilly even without the shade.

90+ temps but still fun

Towards the area outside of the fire burn.

Since I was a teen I have always enjoyed fishing this gem of a stream. In the really hot years once Davis lake gets warm the larger trout can swim up into some of the deep holes in the creek. Sadly the large fish in Davis are not what they used to be. Bass were illegally introduced in the mid 1990’s and that has hurt the trout population. For avid bass fisherman this is a great thing, but for those of us that love the trout it is a sad change. You can still find these bigger trout but since the fire I have noticed less of them going very far up into the creek.

At the edge of the old burn line the smaller brushy river alders are making a comeback

Closer to the lake the banks are still bare of any sized trees. There are a lot of smaller ones coming up now.

In my last couple of trips to the creek the average size has been around 6″-8″ with the occasional larger fish. I normally spin fish with lures but this is a great creek to fly fish in. Just lots of brush and logs in the water to make it a bit challenging.

Since It was a nice day this last time I also made a short fishing video. Not a lot of fish caught but it is a great hike along the creek.

We receive a small advertising fee from Amazon for anything purchased through links. Any fees go to more fishing trips and more videos and blog posts

Camera used: https://amzn.to/2TWCHxg
Camera accessories: https://amzn.to/2VoXCsX
My favorite ultralight pole https://amzn.to/3yakKKO

Compact DIY Emergency fishing kit

On November 8, 2019November 9, 2019 By Sasquatch ShaneIn Camping, Fishing, Foraging, Hiking/driving adventures, Survival tips, WildernessLeave a comment

No one can predict when an emergency will happen. It can be anything from as simple as having your vehicle break down, to a natural disaster that effects the entire area you are living in. One thing that is good to keep in a vehicle just for an emergency is a small kit filled with basic fishing supplies. For this kit I use a small metal altoid can. But any container that is small enough to fit in a glove box will work. The nice thing about these little metal boxes is that they can be used for several purposes once you have removed the fishing supplies. This also makes a great 5 minute craft to put together with children

Simple kit with basics in it. I do recommend more hooks and weights then what is shown in the picture.

Possible list of what you can put into your box:

Container to hold all of the gear (for me the trusty altoid tin)
Minimum of 50 feet of fishing line
Package of hooks. Size depends on what kind of fish are in your area
package of weights. If you don’t have enough room anything heavy that you can tie to the line can be used
small jigs or lures
Duct tape or Gorilla tape

Still some room that more weight and hooks can be added and a small folding knife

This list is for a very basic kit and can easily be customized to whatever works for you. As you can see from the pictures there is still lots of space inside the tin to add some other things to the kit. One additional thing that would be good to have in this kit is a compact knife. I always carry a belt knife so it is not needed for my kit. this would be very useful for gutting any fish and cutting a pole to use as a fishing rod.

The best way to store the line is to wrap it around the box and then secure it with tape. For this kit I am using 100lb nylon braid. Very strong and can also be used as cordage for any needs.

Wrap multiple layers of tape around the kit to secure the line and also to use in an emergency.

If making your own mini kit is not something you would like to put together then there are several pre-built kits available on Amazon that can be purchased.

This is a good list of books that are fairly compact and can be carried in the glove box or in an emergency bag.

All That the Rain Promises and More: A Hip Pocket Guide to Western Mushrooms by David Arora (smaller pocket guide that is excellent to use)

The Forager’s Harvest: A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Edible Wild Plants

Pacific Northwest Foraging: 120 Wild and Flavorful Edibles from Alaska Blueberries to Wild Hazelnuts (Regional Foraging Series)

SAS Survival Handbook, Third Edition: The Ultimate Guide to Surviving Anywhere This is the go to guide for most people looking into survival

And some good survival gear

There are also several E-books that can be found on Kindle unlimited

Goodman Creek trail

On March 15, 2014March 15, 2014 By Sasquatch ShaneIn Hiking/driving adventures, WildernessLeave a comment

Now that the weather has changed towards spring it is time to do some more hiking adventures. This is a new hike for us, with a bonus that it is still fairly close to Eugene, and there is a waterfall near the end of the hike. For me this is a very easy hike. Not so much for Staci. She didn’t yell at me at least this time. I normally do almost this much during my lunch hour at work. Granted that is walking on pavement though. The path is nice and wide as it meanders through the forest. The path was very muddy in spots. As it dries out this would be a great hike to take kids on. Not too steep and lots of wildflowers and scenic forest to explore.

interesting to see how the hike plotted out on google maps — Interesting to see how the hike plotted out on Google maps.

Goodman creek Trail: A well wooded trail that runs along side an inlet. After a brief climb, the trail crosses a few small creek beds before taking you through tall trees and fern lined views. Just short of two miles in, you will come across a small waterfall, that is very rewarding to your hike. Continue to the right just a few hundred yards to a large log bridge and Goodman Creek. Great picnic spot and turn around.

Distance: 4 miles round trip
Elevation gain: 300 feet
Difficulty rating (in alltrails): Medium (easy must be flat only)

How to get there: Take HWY 58 off I-5, just south of Eugene. As you approach Dexter Lake, and the small town of Lowell, keep your eyes out for a turnoff between mile post 20 and 21. There is a decent size parking lot to the south side of the road. The trail head is near the road and the sign will read Hardesty Trail, with mileage for Goodman Creek Trail junction as well. After a short hike through the trees, you will come to the junction for Hardesty Mountain going to the left, and a right going to Goodman Creek Trail. The waterfall is before you get to a log bridge across the creek.

goodman sign — I always wonder how old these signs are when I see them.

IMAG0630 — Staci walking down the trail. We are almost to the waterfall at this point.

Trilium — One of hundreds of Trillium blooming along the trail

IMAG0635 — The waterfall at the end of the our hike. The trail continues in a loop that can be walked or biked.

Siuslaw river

On October 23, 2013 By Sasquatch ShaneIn Hiking/driving adventures, WildernessLeave a comment

One of my favorite rivers for all seasons is the Siuslaw River in western part of Oregon. The Siuslaw River is nearly 110 miles long. It drains an area of approximately 773 square miles in the Central Oregon Coast Range.

steep banks in places make for some interesting tree shapes

The river has historically been a spawning ground for Chinook and Coho salmon. And at one time was the only river in Oregon that had a higher return of salmon was the Columbia. Although the Chinook population is substantial, Coho numbers have declined from an annual average of 209,000 fish between 1889 and 1896 to just over 3,000 fish between 1990 and 1995. Since the early 1990’s the Coho have slowly been increasing in number, but they still have a long ways to go before returning to historic numbers. The estuary of the river is surrounded by extensive wetlands that are a significant habitat for migratory birds along the coast. It is one of the very few Western Oregon Rivers where all major forks are undammed.

There are lots of boulders throughout the lower river

During the summer months the river is a great place to swim and get away from the high heat of the Willamette valley. Even though the water can be very low there are many deep holes throughout the length of the river that can easily be over 10 feet deep. Also during the summer there a many crawfish that call the river home that can be easily collected and eaten. We made a crayfish alfredo one year that was wonderful. After the first heavy rains of fall the Chinook and Coho will start running up the river to their spawning grounds. Fishing is currently open for salmon until the middle of November. But always check online for updates and changes to the season and catch quota. As you move into winter and spring a very large run of Steelhead will run up the river. Most of them are hatchery fish that only go up as far as Whittaker creek.

The drive along the river is a beautiful one no matter what time of year you go. Enjoy the beauty of the coastal valleys and sample some of the fares of the wilderness.