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Rock Creek Trail - No. 823

Contact Info
Ochoco National Forest
7803 Beaver Creek Road
Paulina, OR 97751

Phone:
541-477-6900
Basics
Length:
6.7 miles
Difficulty:
Difficult
Time:
4 - 5 hours
Trailhead Elevation:
4820 feet
Elevation Range:
4820 feet to 5500 feet
Elevation Change:
680 feet
Season:
Summer to Fall

Description

Descending from the Potter Meadow Trailhead to cross the bouldery, perennial Rock Creek on a wood footbridge, Rock Creek Trail then descends with the stream for approximately 2¼ miles between willow and alder thickets, dense lodgepole pine forest, and onto open ponderosa pine slopes. Two and a half miles from the trailhead, the trail begins to follow the E.O.Waterman mining ditch, built in the late 1800s. With rough footing, but an easy grade along the ditch bank, the trail route contours out onto the steep Rock Creek canyon wall as the stream drops away below. For another 4.5 miles the ditch and trail contour across steep terrain, in and out of three perennial stream drainages through a diverse mosaic of dense mixed conifer and open ponderosa pine forests, and open grass and shrub covered slopes. Rock Creek Trail ends in a small, flat saddle with large, scattered ponderosa pine and room for primitive camping. In the future, Rim Trail will begin at this point, climbing steeply eastward toward Spanish Peak. Trail is maintained to primitive standards each year.

Rock Creek Trail is not open to horse use in order to protect the historic ditch features from damage through excessive stock use. The trail is designed, cleared, and maintained only to accommodate hiking use. Alternative routes into the Spanish Peak area and upper slopes of Rock Creek for riders are provided by Apple Trail No. 817 and primitive Forest Road No. 3800-200.

Details

Length:
6.7 miles
Difficulty:
Difficult
Time:
4 - 5 hours
Trailhead Elevation:
4820
Elevation Range:
4820 feet to 5500
Elevation Change:
680
Season:
Summer to Fall

Map + Directions

Basic Directions

From Paulina, continue east on Paulina-Suplee Highway 3½ miles to Beaver Creek Road. Turn north (left) onto Beaver Creek Road 7½ miles to Forest Road 42. Follow FR #42 1.5 miles to FR #3810. Take FR #3810 6.5 miles to FR #38 at the end of FR #3810. Turn east (right) onto FR #38, following it approximately 3.5 miles to trailhead at Potter Meadow. Trailhead is signed and marked by an information board. There is a small developed parking area on the north side of FR38.


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