Recommended Day Hikes

1. Old Peak Road eastbound

Begin from the gate at the parking area. A moderate road hike with nice views. Required: Annual permit from Starker Forests (address, phone, hours).

Driving directions for #1 and #2: From the west end of Philomath continue on Hwy 20 for 2 miles to Milepost (MP) 48. Turn left onto Woods Creek Road for 6 miles. On the left is a parking area where these hikes start.

2. Lower North Ridge Trail westbound

The LNRT hike goes by the kiosk from the parking area above and is fairly rugged. Enroute are views of Marys Peak. In spring this hike has amazing wildflowers. It ends at the upper Woods Creek Road parking area.

3. Sugarbowl Creek westbound from Burnt Woods

Drive 17 miles west on Hwy 20 from Philomath just beyond MP33. Turn left on Burnt Woods – Harlan Road, then go a half mile and turn left onto Shotpouch Road. Drive 4 miles, turn right to remain on Shotpouch Road, cross the bridge and go uphill for a half mile, then park by the four way junction. Hike straight ahead through the junction past the kiosk/gate for 1.4 mile on the closed road. At that point Sugarbowl Creek hike turns left downhill for 0.7 miles on a series of switchbacks. At the bottom the hike joins a Van Eck road and continues 1.1 mile to the Harlan Road at the Van Eck gate. Required: Annual permit from Starker Forests (address, phone, hours).

4. Sugarbowl Creek eastbound from Harlan

Turn left off Hwy 20 as above onto the Burnt Woods – Harlan Road, and drive 8 miles to Harlan. Turn left onto Harlan-Marys Peak Road for 3.5 miles. Park near the yellow gate on your left. Follow the above Sugarbowl hiking directions in reverse.

5. Grant Creek & Hogback westbound

Turn left on Grant Creek Road for 1.3 mi. There is a small pullout on the right. The hike begins at the kiosk following a small creek, then climbs a series of switchbacks for 0.7 mile. The Grant Creek hike crosses FS 31 to become the Hogback segment along the ridge for another 0.6 miles, ending back on FS31.

6. Branch Creek westbound

From the Grant Creek bridge turn right onto FS 31. Continue 2.2 miles to where the C2C trail crosses FS 31 at FS 3124. Park along FS 3124. The Branch Creek hike immediately heads up the hill to the right. Near the top is the “Toilet Bowl Landing,” named for the remains of a porcelain toilet bowl found there. The hike continues up to FS 3119 (Bullrun Road).

7. Bull Run westbound

Drive FS 31 for four miles from the Grant Creek bridge. Turn left onto FS 3119 (Bullrun Road). FS 3119 goes to the top of Branch Creek, Bullrun and Gopher Ridge hikes. Drive one mile to Branch Creek trailhead and park. The Bullrun hike starts 150 yards SE on 3119 beyond Branch Creek trailhead. After 0.6 miles cross FS3119 to continue on this beautiful trail with old growth trees that ends at Gopher Ridge FS 3120 trailhead and kiosk just off FS 3119. This hike can also be done eastbound from FS 3120 as described in the hike 7 driving directions.

8. Gopher Ridge (FS 3120) westbound

From Grant Creek bridge drive on FS 31 for 4 miles. Turn left onto FS 3119 and drive 2.4 miles to a right on decommissioned FS 3120, passing Branch Creek and Bull Run hikes on the way. The Gopher Ridge hike is on a beautiful old forest service road with climbs and descents.

9. Gopher Ridge eastbound from FS 31

From the Grant Creek bridge, turn left on FS 31 for 5.5 miles. Take FS 3125 (Gopher Creek Road), a sharp turn down to the left. The Gopher Ridge trailhead is 1.2 miles down FS 3125. There is ample room for parking by the kiosk. The Gopher Ridge hike goes directly uphill from the kiosk.

10. Gopher Creek westbound

Follow the driving directions above, 1.2 miles down FS 3125 and park by the kiosk. Gopher Creek hike starts left 0.2 miles back on the road east of kiosk, cross the lovely creek on step stones and go uphill.

11. Gopher Creek eastbound

Drive 6 miles west on FS 31 from the Grant Creek bridge. There is a wide paved pullout on the left where the hike starts down. Gopher Creek Trail is closed to all users from Nov 1 to Feb 28 to protect sensitive habitat.

12. FS 3127 & Palmer Mountain Trail westbound

Drive 7 miles west on FS 31 from Grant Creek bridge. FS 3127 is on the right, There is ample space to park. FS 3127 is a beautiful, decommissioned forest service Road. At 2.5 miles it becomes Palmer Mountain Trail which then ends at a berm and parking area at the end of FS 5083. There are views of Marys Peak and Toledo along this hike.

13. Palmer Mountain & FS 3127 eastbound

Continuing from the driving directions below, turn left on FS 5083. Hike or drive 3.5 miles up the rough FS 5083 to the parking area below a berm at the end of the road. Walk around the berm on the gorgeous trail just under Palmer Mountain. After hiking 1.5 miles the trail joins FS 3127. FS 3127 is a beautiful, decommissioned forest service road. There are good views of Toledo and Marys Peak along this hike.

Driving directions for #13 and #14: Drive on Highway 20 to Toledo Dairy Queen. Turn south onto Business Highway 20 for 1.2 miles to the first traffic light. At the light turn right onto A Street for 0.2 miles, then left onto First Street. Cross the railroad tracks, and immediately turn right onto Butler Bridge Road. Follow this road for 1.4 miles going past the mill and over the Butler Bridge. Turn right at the fork onto South Bay Road towards the airport. Travel for 1.2 miles. When the pavement ends, turn left onto 1000-Line Road and drive 4.3 miles to the 1000 Line/5083 junction.

14. FS 5081

Continuing from the driving directions in #13 above, from the 5083 junction with 1000 Line Road described above, FS 5081 is on the right 0.1 mile beyond FS 5083. Park near the 1000-Line/FS 5081 junction. Due to the closure at the far end, this is an out and back hike so turn around wherever you like. FS 5081 is gated about 100 yards in. Hikers are permitted beyond this gate. Hike on the road for 5 miles to its end at Peterson Creek trail. Return the way you came in.

15. Beaver Creek Road to Manulife Boundary

Turn left on Beaver Creek Road off of 101 at Ona Beach. Proceed 1.9 miles from 101 on Beaver Creek Road. There is limited parking on the right just beyond the trailhead gate on the left. Due to the closure at the far end, this is an out and back hike so turn around wherever you like. The hike goes 2.5 miles through private logging areas and ends at the far end of the Manulife Property. Pay close attention to C2C signs through here. Please, please do not proceed past the No Trespassing sign here. Return the way you came in.