Afoot and Afield: Portland/Vancouver. Douglas Lorain

Moderate Note Good in cloudy weather

      HIGHLIGHTS Although unsigned and unofficial, the path up Step Creek is a fun and relatively easy hike that is well worth finding. The lovely forest and creek setting is reason enough to visit, but for those who want a more identifiable destination, a good stopping point is a small meadow where quiet hikers stand a good chance of seeing elk.

      DIRECTIONS Drive U.S. Highway 26 west from Portland to a junction a little past milepost 38. Turn left (south) on Timber Road, drive 3.1 miles, and then turn right on Cochran Road, which starts as pavement but soon changes to good gravel. At 2.5 miles from Timber Road and 0.1 mile past the turnoff for Reehers Campground, turn left into the signed parking area for the Reehers Campground Trailhead and day-use area.

      From the east side of the trailhead parking lot, ignore the main Gales Creek Trail, which curves downhill to the west (see Trip 16), and follow instead a trail that goes east toward Reehers Campground. After 100 yards, turn right (downhill) on the signed Nehalem River Access Trail. This path descends 0.15 mile to the banks of the beautiful and clear Nehalem River, which here is really just a creek. Walk downstream along the trailless bank for about 0.1 mile, crossing the flow on any of several possible logs. When the river makes a fairly sharp turn to the right, take a jeep track that goes up the south bank.

      Follow this jeep track uphill for 0.2 mile to a crossing of the Tillamook Railroad, and then pick up the trail angling to the southeast (slightly left) on the other side of the tracks. The trail is now wide and easy to follow, as it travels through a very attractive second-growth forest of Douglas firs with the usual tangle of sword fern and Oregon grape carpeting the forest floor. About 0.3 mile from the railroad tracks the trail begins to cross a hillside above the rollicking waters of unseen Step Creek on your left.

      At 0.7 mile is a junction. An all-terrain vehicle trail angles to the right, but you take the left fork and soon hop across (greatly overstated) Plenty Big Creek. Beyond here the gently graded route continues south, mostly in a relatively open deciduous woodland where you can see down to joyfully cascading Step Creek. At about 1.1 miles you cross a trickling side creek, and then at 1.4 miles the trail curves uphill to the right away from Step Creek. Instead of taking this route, leave the trail here, and follow a use path that goes downhill to the left. In about 100 yards this route leads to a beautiful marshy meadow. Enter the meadow quietly and you may spot elk, whose tracks and droppings are everywhere, or beavers, whose activity is quite noticeable on the creek. This is the recommended turnaround point.

      Chapter 2

      Southwest Washington

      With countless streams, forested ridges, waterfalls, and rocky viewpoints, southwest Washington has all of the same attributes possessed by other favored hiking areas near Portland. Due to misguided state pride, however, hikers living south of the Columbia River rarely cross the bridge and explore the many scenic trails in the Evergreen State. Vancouver residents appreciate the solitude, but if you are one of those overly provincial Beaver Staters, it is time to take a look at what you’re missing.

      Siouxon (pronounced soo-son) Creek features easy trails through a lovely old-growth forest in that rarest of local ecosystems, an unlogged low-elevation watershed. Without the erosion associated with logging, the stream is remarkably clear, splashing through gentle riffles, pausing in quiet eddies, dropping over scenic waterfalls, and sliding through slot canyons. All of this adds up to an enchanting hiking experience. Meanwhile the nearby ridges provide fine viewpoints and trails that challenge the most athletic hiker.

      In the region around Three-Corner Rock, you’ll discover an attractive landscape of second-growth forests, view-packed ridges, stream canyons, lush vegetation, and little-known trails. The road access is rough and confusing, but once the driving difficulties are surmounted the scenery is something to savor.

      Looking north from the northern ridge of Silver Star Mountain

      For spectacular views and flowers, however, southwest Washington’s “star” attraction is undoubtedly Silver Star Mountain. Seen from Portland, Silver Star is that long ridge to the northeast that blocks the view of Mt. Adams. Once atop this mountain’s scenic ridges, however, there is nothing to block the breathtaking views, not only of Adams, but of pretty much every other landmark within 50 or more miles. In addition, the peak boasts acres of open meadows filled with subalpine wildflowers, numerous rock formations, and some interesting Native American history. A wonderful network of surprisingly little-traveled trails invite the wanderer, who will no doubt want to return again and again to enjoy everything this mountain has to offer.

      Most of the public land in southwest Washington is administered by either the Yacolt State Forest or the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Be sure to obtain the most updated maps available from these agencies, so you can negotiate this region’s often poorly marked roads with greater safety and confidence.

      TRIP 1 North Siouxon Creek

Distance		9.4 miles, Out-and-back
Elevation Gain		1300 feet
Hiking Time		5 hours
Optional Map		USGS Mount Mitchell, Siouxon Peak, Yale Dam (part of trail not shown)
Usually Open		Mid-March to November
Best Times		April and May
Trail Use		Dogs OK, horseback riding
Agency		Yacolt State Forest
Difficulty		Difficult
Note		Good in cloudy weather

      HIGHLIGHTS Although similar to the much better known trail on the main branch of Siouxon Creek (Trip 3), the trail up North Siouxon Creek has two important differences. While both hikes feature fine forest scenery and a lovely creek, North Siouxon Creek has much more difficult road access, so solitude is virtually guaranteed. And while its six waterfalls make the trail along Siouxon Creek more scenic, the North Siouxon Creek Trail is no slouch in the scenery department and the one waterfall along the way is absolutely first rate. Also, since this trail has almost no people, wildlife is much more common, especially elk, which quiet hikers have a good chance of seeing.

      DIRECTIONS From the intersection of State Highways 502 and 503 in Battleground, drive 12 miles north on Highway 503 to a junction at the north end of Amboy. Turn right, still on Highway 503, and proceed 5.2 miles to a junction just 0.1 mile past the Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument headquarters. Turn right on Healy Road, which becomes Forest Road 54, and drive 5.2 miles to a major fork. Bear left on gravel Road S 1000, which is often rough and muddy, go 0.4 mile, and then bear right at a second fork, still on S 1000. Stay on the main road for 4.7 miles, passing several minor intersections, until you come to the next major fork. Bear left (downhill), drive 1.4 miles, and then park at an unsigned pull-out where an old logging road goes right (south).

      The