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!

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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:

Fishing beyond the road – Central Oregon’s Crescent creek

On August 1, 2021July 30, 2021 By Sasquatch ShaneIn WildernessLeave a comment

Some places just ask to be explored. Be it the small headwaters of a stream or a remote stretch of a creek far from any roads. Todays adventure is the later of the two. For years I have heard my father talk about the canyon area of crescent creek, and the fish that he would catch. This was my day for a solo adventure of fishing and hiking. Little did I know what I was getting myself into.

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

Crescent creek is a tributary of the little Deschutes river that flows through an assortment of meadows, canyons, and old growth pine trees. The area I am hiking through is part of the national wild and scenic rivers system. There are three species of trout that call this section of creek home. The native rainbow trout, and the two non-native brook and brown trout. From what I have seen the section of river from Highway 58 down to bridge by Crescent creek campground is primarily just rainbow trout.

Such a beautiful spot. I broke out my fly pole for this section of stream. It has been a long time since I have used it and really I should do more of it.

For the first half of my hike and fishing trip all was peaceful and relaxing. The first two mile of the stream is through a meandering stream bordered by willow and alders. After the first half mile or so all trace of people disappears and you either have to create your own trail or just walk through the water. For walking in any stream in Central Oregon I recommend tennis shoes and not any type of water sandals. Most of the streams have pumice and other lava rocks in them and if they get under a strap you will get blisters and cuts from them. I know this from experience sadly. About halfway through the meadow I was changing lures and a family of river otters came out of the grass about 10 feet from me. Once they saw me it was constant hissing from them until they swam upstream. Cute to see but I am glad they didn’t come out closer to me.

Near where the otters popped out of the grass. Wish I could have gotten a good picture of them before they swam off.

And now for the canyon part of the hike. Looking in from the edge of the meadow area looked nice and peaceful with a few rapids in view. Oh, this was so deceptive and so not peaceful. For the first 100 yards I caught a dozen fish or more and thought it was great. And then the rocks got bigger and were nearly impossible to go from one to another safely. No big deal I can just walk the edge around to each fishing hole. Nope that was not a good idea. The sides of the canyon are nearly strait up and the entire hillside has soft sandy dirt. On the positive side it is beautiful with old growth ponderosa pines growing. With the steep sides and no cell service my first thought was that if I fell and broke something that it would take days to find me. And then as I was going over a fallen tree, I saw what looked like dried blood on branches and across the log. What kind of hell did I get myself into? About 50 feet after seeing the blood I found a pile of fairly fresh black bear droppings. At least that gave me an idea of where the blood was from. Possibly a deer that was wounded by the bear.

I loved the beauty of this area, but with all the swift water, Rocks and heavy brush this area is extremely difficult to fish. The areas I could get to the water had plenty of small fish at least.

Finishing up the canyon and getting to an old road was such a great feeling. I don’t think I have been that tired in a long time. This was a beautiful hike but really it is a hike for the young. I am glad I did it once in my life. But this is the one and only time I will ever hike through the canyon.

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

Hydropack: https://amzn.to/2UZBq9c
Camera used: https://amzn.to/32c6pyc
Camera accessories: https://amzn.to/2CPcYOx
My favorite ultralight pole https://amzn.to/3yakKKO
Garmin GPS tracker: https://amzn.to/3x7TsD9
Waterproof nylon band: https://amzn.to/3zRjkFd

*Amazon Affiliate links*

Fishing beyond the road – Salt creek

On July 26, 2021July 31, 2021 By Sasquatch ShaneIn Fishing, Wilderness2 Comments

Oregon has so many rivers, creeks, and lakes that are just off any road or path and just waiting to be explored. This is the first in a series of hiking off the road, and into wild to find fish and adventures. Maybe this series will even include a float or two using the kayak’s and fishing major rivers.

Video journey through the wilds

The first stop on my journey is to Salt creek. Salt creek is one of many tributaries to the Willamette river. Salt creek can really be divided into two different sections that can be fished. the first section is below Oregon’s third highest waterfall. This steep canyon area has little to no access until the creek comes out miles below and borders the highway. The lower section contains mainly native rainbow trout. For this fishing trip I focused on the area above the waterfall which is mainly meandering meadow areas. I say meadow area but really it is brushy, horribly brushy. The headwaters of Salt creek is Gold lake. The creek outflows the lake, and meanders several miles until it flows under the highway and enters a meadow area that is extremely brushy and difficult to get through. This is the target I picked for the day. yes I know it is a bit crazy, but all the small Brook trout are fun to catch

After several scratch’s I was able to push my way through the brush and mosquitos to a nice tranquil creek. Now the fishing can begin. Salt creek is currently open for the use of bait, with no restriction on size or quantity of brook trout kept. Brook trout preproduce in such high numbers here that they really overwhelm the available food. There are also native rainbows in the stream, but I have rarely caught any due to the large quantity of Brook trout that inhabit this stretch of creek.

Nearly the entire section of stream has heavy Alder and Willow brush. Be prepared to get scratched walking through it.

This section of stream has some deeper holes with lot of fallen logs creating hiding places for the fish.

All the fish I have ever caught in this section are small brook trout.

Over the years that I have fished in this area I have never caught a fish over 10 inches in length. There may be some in there, but they are few and far between to catch. The best way to catch them is to use small spinners or a fly pole. Whichever method you use though the brush along the stream can cause a lot of trouble placing the lure/fly where you want. You can use worms or other bait in this section, but with brook trout they tend to just swallow any food and the mortality rate on release is very high.

Garmin GPS tracker: https://amzn.to/3x7TsD9
Waterproof nylon band: https://amzn.to/3zRjkFd
Camera used: https://amzn.to/32c6pyc
Camera accessories: https://amzn.to/2CPcYOx
My favorite ultralight pole https://amzn.to/3yakKK

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.

Silver creek south falls and lower south falls

On September 1, 2013 By Sasquatch ShaneIn Hiking/driving adventures, WildernessLeave a comment

Silver creek has a total of 10 falls inside the state park. The trail of 10 falls is a mild 8.7 mile loop with only 600 ft elevation change. Next time I go I would like to do the entire loop. For this trip we only hiked the first two falls. It would have been a bit difficult once we got to the stair to take the strollers down to the base of lower south falls. The first 2 falls are an easy two-mile hike down and back that is very easy for children.

South falls as you hit the first fork in the path

Getting There: From Interstate 5 exit 253 in Salem, drive 10 miles east on North Santiam Highway 22, turn left at a sign for Silver Falls Park, and follow Highway 214 for 16 miles to the park entrance sign at South Falls.

The short hike: From the South Falls Picnic Area C parking lot, follow a broad path downstream a few hundred yards to historic Silver Falls Lodge, built by Civilian Conservation Corps crews in 1940. After inspecting this rustic stone-and-log building, continue a few hundred yards to an overlook of 177-foot South Falls. From here take a paved trail to the right. Then switch back down into the canyon and behind South Falls.

A few hundred yards beyond South Falls is a junction at a scenic footbridge. Don’t cross the bridge unless you’re truly tired, because that route merely returns to the car. Instead take the unpaved path along the creek. This path eventually switchbacks down and behind Lower South Falls’ broad, 93-foot cascade.

My sister on a log that crosses the creek

The lower south falls near the base of the staircase

Both of the first two falls have a path that goes behind the waterfalls

Elk Creek trail #3510 into the Mink lake basin

On August 19, 2013October 15, 2019 By Sasquatch ShaneIn Camping, Hiking/driving adventures2 Comments

Me at the 4 mile mark hiking in to the Mink lake basin

A journey for my birthday this year. Our original goal was to hike all the way into mink lake. But we only made it to Junction lake before we collapsed from exhaustion. Next time we will start from a different starting point. There are a lot of mosquitoes in this area so bring lots of bug repellent

Trail name: Elk Creek Trail #3510
Distance: 7.6 miles to Junction Lake
elevation gain: 2000 ft (2950 to 4970)
Difficulty: Difficult

Directions:
From Blue River proceed east for 4 miles on Hwy 126, turn right on Rd 19 (Cougar Dam) and continue for 22 miles, turn left onto Rd 1964 for 2.7 miles, then turn left onto Rd 456 to Elk Creek trailhead ½ mile.

Trail map in reverse direction but it shows the trail well

The first three miles of the path up from the parking area are the most brutal of this climb. 1600 foot climb in just under three miles. Well it was brutal for the two of us. We got passed by a group up near the three mile mark and it didn’t even look like they had even broke a sweat. After reaching the top of the plataeu the path is mostly small rolling hills for the rest of the way in.

The end of the hill climb is in sight

Most of the path is flat the rest of the way as it alternates between central oregon dry and western Cascade forests — Most of the path is flat the rest of the way as it alternates between central Oregon dry and western Cascade forests

Just past the five mile mark you will reach a trail crossing the path. The intersection has a well marked sign on what is each direction. The trail to Mink lake is on the northern trail (turn left)

The first lake you come to is Rock lake. There are no fish in the lake, but it is a nice spot to stop and take a break.

Our camping spot for the day ended up being Junction lake

By the time we made it to Junction lake we were barely moving still. In hindsight doing a eight mile hike as our first backpacking trip was probably not my best idea. But it was a good measure of how good of shape we are in and how far we still need to improve. For me losing a bit more weight will make a big difference. By my 40th birthday next year I want to be in good enough shape to hike up to the top of South Sister mountain. Which is a 11.5 mile round trip with a 4900 foot elevation climb. There are supposed to be Cutthroat and Rainbow trout in Junction Lake, but we did’t have any bite or see any raising to the surface. We were on the shallower side of the lake so the fishing might be better around the back of the lake. We were just to tired to walk around to the other side.

Friendly giant toad we found in the mountains

Day trips and hiking places in Oregon

Several great books for the local areas

Hiking Waterfalls in Oregon: A Guide to the State’s Best Waterfall Hikes

Day Hiking Bend & Central Oregon: Mount Jefferson/ Sisters/ Cascade Lakes

100 Hikes / Travel Guide: Central Oregon Cascades

100 Hikes / Travel Guide: Oregon Coast & Coast Range

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Salt Creek Falls

On August 7, 2013August 7, 2013 By Sasquatch ShaneIn Hiking/driving adventures, WildernessLeave a comment

This easy to get to waterfall is the second highest in Oregon. The path to see the falls is a short 256 feet from the parking lot. But if you would enjoy a longer walk you can do a short half mile hike down to near the base of the waterfall. The path does not go all the way to the base but if you are adventurous you can scramble down the loose slate rock to the plunge pool. Salt Creek creates one of the most impressive waterfalls in Oregon as it hurdles 286 feet into a gaping canyon near Willamette Pass. The size of the falls isn’t terribly notable in the area, but rather the process by which the falls were formed. Glaciers scoured the valley out during the last Ice Age, then following their retreat, lava flows filled in a portion of the valley, creating the narrow canyon walls composed of columnar basalt that are now seen at the falls.

The trail to the falls is wheelchair assessable

Salt Creek Falls was discovered by Anglos Frank S. Warner and Charles Tufti, his guide, in March of 1887. Salt Creek is named after a series of springs with a high salt content, which is often used as salt licks by wildlife. The falls were named for the creek. Though the falls are located within relatively close proximity to Eugene, this area was more or less wilderness for quite some time. The original viewpoint of the falls was from a pullout along the old Willamette Pass Road, directly across the canyon from the falls, You can still look at the falls from that perspective, but there is nowhere to park, so you have to walk along the road from the current viewing area. But if you want to go that way you might as well walk to the base of the falls. Walking the highway there is dangerous due to many people not expecting to see pedestrians in the area.

Located west of Willamette Pass, just off of Highway 58. The Salt Creek Falls day use area is located 21 miles east of Oakridge, or 5 miles west of Willamette Pass. The parking lot is well signed from the main road, and eastern travelers will undoubtedly see the falls through the trees before reaching the turnoff. The first viewpoints are handicap accessible, with the trail to the base being easy, but with numerous stairs. There is a $5 per day fee to park at the viewpoint or have a Northwest forest pass to use (currently $30 per year as of 2013)