 |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
 |
|||||||
|
Crabapple Creek Trails |
|||||||
|
Area Description: The Crabapple Creek area is a vast tract of wooded/logged slope between Logie Trail (on the south), Rocky Point Road (on the north), Skyline Boulevard (on the west) and US 30 to the East. The area is traversed by two year-round creeks: Crabapple Creek and Patterson Creek. The area can be divided into three parts: the area adjacent to Rocky Point Road, the area south of Crabapple Creek, and the southernmost portion south of Patterson Creek and abutting the Logie Trail. This is a view from Rocky Point Road looking SE up the Willamette river towards the north end of Forest park (ridge rising under small cloud in center) and Wildwood Golf Course at the bottom of the hill on the left. Skyline Rd. follows the ridgeline to the right. Note the clearcutting in the foreground and along ridge on right. Much more is not visible below. The lower elevations of this area are sparsely settled and/or developed making access into the higher slopes very difficult to locate without tramping through someone’s million dollar mansion complete with security gate. While accessible from Morgan Road, I wouldn’t recommend the area south of Patterson creek because access involves about 700’ of bushwacking up steep clearcuts that aren’t a lot of fun for you or the dog. It’s dominated by a large clearcut across most of the slope. All other access points to this area appear to be privately owned and hence inaccessible. The best access is either from the crest (off Skyline) or off Rocky Point Road to the north of the area. Distance: variable Travel time to trailhead: 30 minutes Walk duration: 1- 4 hours Conditions: Logging roads - mostly maintained stony surface, but some partially overgrown - no paths or thickets to contend with - unless you choose to.... Total elevation change: 400’ elevation up to 1300’ at the ridgetop ft. Some nice views! Brief summary: I’ve included four alternate routes through this basin. The first is a shorter loop extending from the Rocky Point Road gate. The second is a “two car loop” with 2.5 hr walk between the Skyline entrance and the Rocky Point Road exit. The 3rd walk is a back’n forth trek to the lower elevations of this tract, dropping down to the Wildwood Golf course. These hikes are not for the faint of heart, but they’re also tremendously rewarding in terms of remote beauty, lot’s of wildlife (keep you dog leashed if he tends to hunt), and breathtaking vistas of Mount St. Helens, Mt. Adams, Hood and Baker. Part of the area is dominated by some very large clearcuts that (all other considerations aside) provide sunny walking stretches with awe inspiring views along the Lower Columbia valley. If approached from the Rocky Point Road side at about the 600’ elevation level, the grade is relatively even as the logging roads traverse the slope. But these logging roads have been graded with some larger rock, so the walking is a bit stony in parts. Approached from Skyline, the path drops down sharply (about 600’ vertical drop to the point the road crosses Crabapple Creek) into the Crabapple basin along a little used fire trail/logging road. ________________________________________________________ Hike from Skyline to Rocky Point Road (“Cable Trail trek”): Distance: 5 miles one way Travel time to lower trail head (leave car 1): 30 minutes Travel time to upper trail head (leave car 2): additional 10 minutes Walk duration: 2 hours 30 minutes Conditions: Old logging road. One slippery rutted descent near the top, but otherwise still in good condition. Gradual descent, not too steep. Total elevation change: 600 ft. Mostly a moderate descent to Crabapple Creek and then a gradual rise to Rocky Point Road. Brief summary: Very remote walk through young (10 year) forest, some mature stands around Crabapple Creek and then 25 year-old stands of new forest trending to mature as you appraoch Rocky Point Rd. Breathtaking views on the way down into the basin, wide vistas across new clearcuts and views of the Columbia, Mt. Hood, Adams and St. Helens. Access: Drive north on US 30 past Linnton, Burlington and the Cornelius Pass intersection. About 13 miles north of Burnside you will see a weigh station on the right, immediately thereafter look for signs indicating Rocky Point Road on your left. Proceed up Rocky point road for about 2 miles until you come to the 1st gate on your left (you will already have passed a gate on your right - that’s the entrance to the Jones creek trail). If you come to a 180 degree hairpin turn, you’ve gone too far. Park your 1st car there and then proceeed on up Rocky Point Road to the crest and its intersection with the end of Skyline Boulevard (on the accompanying map this route is marked in yellow). Turn South on Skyline. Measured from the Rocky Point gate the trip to the gate on Skyline is about 5 miles. At this point you will have passed the intersection with NW Moreland Road and the Sky Ranch (look for horses in the pasture to your right). Drive past a modern house (20506 NW Skyline) on your left and 2 gates on either side of the road just beyond this driveway. The road now curves right and then swings to the left again. At this point the road curves sharply to the right and on the left is a gate - park here. After the gate the road splits. Follow the right hand road uphill to the next intersection. At that T intersection take the spur leading off to the right. About 100 feet down this road watch for an overgrown rutted road leading downhill on your right. This road is not as well maintained as the spur leading past it, but don’t be tempted to continue on - it dead-ends at the end of the ridge. Horses in the snow on Skyline. The road you’ve now entered is what I call the “Cable road”. For about 200 feet it proceeds steeply downhill with deep ruts through overgrown vegetation. This portion can be slippery, but cheer up it’s the most rugged part of the walk - and it’s downhill! For reference, the top reaches of Patterson Creek are burbling their way down the hill on your right - in the ravine that now separates you from the gate through which you entered. Below the slippery slope, the trail turns northeast and continues through young forest to the edge of the basin from whence you can get a great view of the Crabapple basin and road winding its way through the area. On your way to this point you will notice an old logging cable lying in the grass across the trail - hence the name of the trail. From here on the walk is easy to follow. At the base of the hill you see a spur off to you right; it dead ends about 100 feet back in the woods. A couple more spurs on your right lead into this young forest, but all dead-end shortly. Follow the main road along the base of the clearcut winding back around below it. Flanked by mature timber, the road now turns north rising gradually until it turns due eastwards. Loki heading down the “cable trail”. Note the clearcut in the distance. Here another spur leads off up the hill on your left between tall stands of mature timber. This spur leads up to a two fine vantage points - the first one faces northeast across a clearcut and out towards Sauvie’s Island, and the second about 100 yards further looks out over the clearcut you’ve just walked below. I call this short road, “ Eagle Point spur” as I was recently “buzzed” there by a big baldie who presumably didn’t like me in his living room. If your legs are up to it, the 10 minute detour is delightful, and keep your eyes peeled for our fine feathered friend. Retracing our steps to the main logging road, we proceed downhill past the “Eagle Point” spur and reach a three way intersection in about 100 feet. We will proceed along the left hand road. The right hand trail heads down the valley to the Wildwood Golf Course (see the Wildwood Golf course trek for details on this route). Shortly after turning left on this road we walk over the head waters of Crabapple Creek. Continue walking gradually up this road for another hour, ignoring the spurs on either side (the uphill ones loop around through higher timber, the downhill one also wends its way to the Golf course). Eventually you will pass under the power lines, over the next ridge and then the logging road swings back westwards as it ascends the southern flank of the ravine that also conveys Rocky Point Road up this hill. Finally, passing below the power lines again, the road swings northeast again and in the distance you’ll see the 1st of the two blue gates that mark this trails juncture with Rocky Point Road. By now you and your companions should be well excercised. _________________________________________________ Upper Crabapple loop Distance: 3 miles round trip Travel time to Rocky Point Road gate: 30 minutes Walk duration: 2 hours Conditions: Old logging road. Total elevation change: 300 ft. Brief summary: Very remote walk on logging road through 25 year-old stands of new forest trending to mature trees nearer to Rocky Point Rd. Access: Drive north on US 30 past Linnton, Burlington and the Cornelius Pass intersection. About 13 miles north of Burnside you will see a weigh station on the right, immediately thereafter look for signs to indicating Rocky Point Road on your left. Proceed up Rocky point road for about 2 miles until you come to the 1st gate on your left (you will already have passed a gate on your right - that’s the entrance to the Jones creek trail). If you come to a 180 degree hairpin turn, you’ve gone too far. Park near the blue gate - there’s another set of gate posts just beyond the first set.
Loki sniffing the air from the top of a clearcut overlooking the Crabapple basin! But the next intersection presents you with a Y. The left hand road will lead you down into the Crab apple basin (see Cable Trail Hike). On your return you will approach this intersection from that road. However, at this time, we will proceed to the right following the Upper Road. Following this road will lead you up into the higher reaches of this forested basin. Near the top of this trail you’ll pass by a nice beaver pond on your right. There’s actually another one a bit higher up the slope as well. After winding around these ponds the road comes out at the base of a massive clearcut. Hug the road to the left along the verge of the forest. various spurs lead off down the slopes into the clear cut valley, but keep to the edge of the forest on your left. Eventually the road shows less signs of travel as it actually slips northwards over the ridge line of this clearcut valley - keep following. But just a word here before you abandon the vistas of the clearcut valley. Take the time to spot the eagles nesting in the trees across from you on the other side of the valley. It’s also a beautiful view down into the valley - save your lunch to eat on one of the many giant stumps that bear mute testimony to might trees that once covered this ground. Now back to that elusive logging road that was winding its way in a northerly direction along to the ridgeline and then over the crest into the next drainage to the north (not far, but just over the crestline). Follow this road down and beware the clinging himalayan blackberry vines. A few mintes later the road appears to turn abruptly to the right and then ends in a clearing dominated by an old blue tarp. No, don’t despair. Carefully backtrack a few feet to where the trail turned. Proceed to the end of that trail where it bumps into the forest at its extreme eastward facing terminus (ignoring the possible left hand spur that leads to the tarp). You should now be looking downhill into a forested valley that parallels the clearcut valley you just left earlier. Now carefully look to your right - into the trees and you’ll see a small trail that winds neatly through these trees in a southerly direction - back towards the clearcut valley you just left. Follow this hidden trail down, and you’ll discover that it parallels the clearcut valley, just inside the forested area steadily dropping altitude until it comes out into a a small copse of deciduous trees on somewhat flat ground. Wend your way through these trees and you’ll suddenly emerge on a another logging road. This is an access road to the lower portion of the clearcut valley - immediately to your right. Follow this road to your left, downhill and it will presently intersect with the main road that traverses the entire basin. Turn left on this well travelled gravel road and it will eventually return you to the uphill road you originally selected to enter the Upper Crabapple Loop. From here on back it’s merely a case of retracing your steps along the Crabapple Creek logging road - all the way back to Rocky Point Road.
Here’s a map that shows both the Upper Crabapple Loop Trail and the Runaway Ridge Trail. _____________________________________________________
Runaway Ridge Trail. Distance: about 3.2 miles Travel time to trailhead: 30 minutes Walk duration: 4 hours Conditions: Logging roads - mostly maintained stony surface, but some partially overgrown - no paths or thickets to contend with - unless you choose to.... Total elevation change: 350’ elevation up to 750’ near Rocky Point Road Brief summary: Very remote walk through young (15 year) forest along a north-south ridge (keep you dog leashed due to lots of game), and then 30-40 year old stands of forest trending to mature as you approach Rocky Point Rd. Heavy wildlife population, winding roads, a few south facing views of the Crabapple basin. Access: Drive north on US 30 past Linnton, Burlington and the Cornelius Pass intersection. About 13 miles north of Burnside you will see a weigh station on the right, immediately thereafter look for signs to indicating Rocky Point Road on your left. Proceed up Rocky point road for about 2 miles until you come to the 1st gate on your left (you will already have passed a gate on your right - that’s the entrance to the Jones creek trail). If you come to a 180 degree hairpin turn, you’ve gone too far. Park near the blue gate - there’s another set of gate posts just beyond the first set. Proceed along the logging road heading southwest into the “elbow” of the ravine and then southeasterly as you traverse the flank of the ravine on the other side. Eventually the road passes under power lines. On your left you’ll see a logging road proceed further along the flank of the hill, while the main trail bends to the right as it ascend the ridge - before descending into the Crabapple basin. You will eventually return by way of this left hand road, but for now pass on by this spur and follow the main road as it crests the summit of the ridge before dropping into the Crabapple Creek basin. On your way down the hill you pass under the power lines again. About a half mile on, the road forks and you will take the left hand fork that descends the hillside (as if it were leading you down to the Wildwood golf course). In actual fact the trail did once go that far, but they no longer do. This trail now descends to about the 350 ft elevation, before climbing back up along the south face of the slope that forms the northern edge of the Crabapple basin. This is a lovely trail with evidence of much deer, coyote and even cougar tracks. The trail continues to weave up and down along this slope with two dead end spurs that branch off the right. Keep tacking the leftmost options and eventually you will find yourself heading north up the backbone of what I call “Runaway Ridge”, because my dog took off here for a good two hour deer chasing episode! This uphill ascent begins at the point where the second spur leads off to the right. Shortly past that intersection you’ll encounter a third spur off to the right (again a dead end), but proceed stolidly up the ridge until the trail appears to end...Take heart and angle into the woods at the left hand side of this cul de sac and you’ll discover an older covered trail that leads off in a leftish direction along the side of the ridge. Follow this onwards and eventually you’ll emerge near the top of the ridge. Here the trail winds through some glens and clearing - keep going in a generally uphill direction following the vague trail through increasingly older trees and more open space...and presto you will suddenly find yourself emerging unto a logging road that runs directly across your path along the far side of the ridge. If this sound tough don’t worry; the undergrowth in this portion of the forest has been thinned and you only need to keep moving uphill until you crest the ridge and you can’t miss the road beyond the crest. If you wish you can explore this road to it’s apparent end a few dozen feet to the right. (Actually, this road doesn’t end here; there’s a hidden extension just beyond the piled logs and branches, but save that for another day). If you follow this same logging road to the left of where you emerged from the Runaway ridge you will shortly rejoin the original entry road that brought you to the lip of the Crabapple basin. From here it’s 10 minutes back to the car! Golf Course Trek Here’s another one way route to consider, if you want to get down to the Golf course: Use the same entry from Rocky Point Road, following the loggin road up over the crest of the ridge into the basin, passing under the power lines, and this time ignore the left hand turn off that takes you back to Runaway Ridge. Continue onwards, turning in a rightish, or westerly direction.
On this hike, we’ll choose the left hand option turning downhill and winding our way down to what was originally the only logging road in the area. But today it’s just a turn in the road, with an overgrown spur heading westwards into the elbow of a ravine. Originally this road connected through to Logie Trail; but not anymore! Instead of taking this side spur, stay on the main road and proceed downhill. Another quarter mile will reveal a new side spur leading to a recently logged clearcut off to your right. Shortly beyond that you’ll arrive at the gate to the Golf Course. Take a break and watch the grass grow - it’s still a 90 minute hike back to Rocky point Road. This beaver pond is located up the valley to your left as you face the golf course over the gate. A short road leads up the valley, before being thoroughly swallowed by blackberries too thick to penetrate - believe me I tried for two hours to find a way through, but instead I did find this beaver pond. Note Loki wading in the distance - glad to get out of the brambles! |
|||||||
