Manila Discussion archive for:

  • Fish Creek Rd.

    Anyone on this site is probably already aware, but this winter I have discovered that the popular summer ATV and Dirtbike trail/old road that follows Fish Creek is an excellent hike.  I have done it about five times and have created a little loop that cuts up to the calico road when I reach Third Creek which is usually very difficult to cross.  I still haven't come across another person, which is kind of shocking because it is a flat trail that has litttle or no snow covering it.  Just the creek and the old growth alone make it worth the trip.
    Fish Creek Rd.
  • Re: Fish Creek Rd. (#)
  • 2/2/06; 10:57:43 AM ¦ by Robert Koscik
  • Are you speaking of the abandoned road that starts at 224?  Thanks, I've always wondered about that.  How far can you get?  What is the condition of the "trail"?  I hear it was closed after the '96 floods and related landslides.  I guess that area was pretty heavily logged.
    • Re: Fish Creek Rd. (#)
    • 2/6/06; 2:22:52 PM ¦ by Zack Byerly
    • The old road starts about 1 mile off of 224, where some big boulders have blocked off automobile access, there is the road that follows the river, then right above that is the old calico road which has also been blocked off.  I have been doing a little loop that takes me up the river for a few miles, then I bushwack to calico road up above, which I then follow back towards where I began.  I have gone there the past 3 or 4 weekends and just this last friday I stayed the night at the trailhead and then tried going as far as I could the next day.  In my opinion the condition is good for hiking but not so good for atv/dirtbikes (which is of course great for us),  I don't think that they go much farther than the first bridge over fish creek which is only a mile, mile and a half, from the beginning.  One would have to see it to get a real feel for it, but the road is definitely on its way to be being recaptured by nature.  So on Sat. I hiked to the confluence of wash and fish creeks (about 5 or 6 miles from TH), which is still pretty low in elevation.  When I got there, their was another bridge and a large interpretive sign that had an interesting old map.  This map showed some old roads that can take you all the way up to Surprise Lake, and another that looks like it goes all the way to the source of wash creek.  There is definitely some parts that were intensely logged, but surprisingly for the most part there is a lot of old growth.  There are even some spectacular groves that are right next to the old road.  Basically, I have found my winter spot, and am having a great time exploring the area.  In 4 trips I still have yet to see a single person.  I would like to try and find the old cold springs trail which used to come down from the south fork mtn area, then cross wash creek, camelback, and fish creek, then heads up towards Fish creek mtn.  It is mapped out on a old topo I have of fish creek from the 50's.  Another great thing about the area is that it is low enough in elevation that snow rarely sticks or lingers around, one downside is that a few of the creek crossings require some bushwacking or taking off your boots.  The weather over the weekend was crazy up there, in about eight hours I experienced rain, snow, hail, and even some sunbreaks.  I will most likely be headed up there again this weekend (2/11,2/12) if anyone is interested in meeting up. 
      • Re: Fish Creek Rd. (#)
      • 2/7/06; 8:37:33 AM ¦ by Robert Koscik

      • That is GREAT information, thanks very much!  I've always wondered what was past those boulders...it's a shame the whole Fish Creek Divide was so brutalized, but some of the earliest logging roads in the area went thataway.  Good to hear that some of the lowland old growth is left.  Funny, the new F.S. map doesn't even show the maze of old roads in that area.

        Not sure about this weekend, supposed to take a mini-trip with the family, maybe the Coast?  It's been a while.....our baby has been a cranky camper, but it's getting better.  Iwould like to hook up with you eventually though, I do spend a lot of time down the Clacky.  The monthly guided hikes are really nice too, like to try to make a few more of those this year.

        Happy hunting!

      • Re: Fish Creek Rd. (#)
      • 2/8/06; 9:53:41 PM ¦ by Rob Williams
      • I'm not nearly as familiar with this area as most of you guys, but this sounds REALLY interesting to me.  I've been having a lot of fun exploring the trails in this area, usually getting out about once a month or so.  I took today off of work, and did the Fish Creek end of Trail 715, down to Pup Creek Falls.  The beginning of the trail was pretty sparse (due to the fire), but after about a mile or so, it started getting better, and the falls was the icing on the cake.

        I'd love to have some other wintertime places to explore, so if you could post some more detailed instructions on where exactly this is, I'd appreciate it.

        Thanks
      • Re: Fish Creek Rd. (#)
      • 2/13/06; 11:02:27 AM ¦ by Pete Giordano
      • I've been pretty high up on the old Fish Cr. road and the old road that goes up Wash Cr. I'd agree that the area is remarkably pristine for the amount of logging done in the past. There is a fabulous old growth stand about 1 mile up Fish Cr. from the Wash Cr. confluence. You can access the Fish Cr. area in the summer by climbing up over a ridge near Thunder Mtn. and Skookum Lake. Fantastic views down into the drainage. The trail along Fish Cr. is excellant above the confluence.

        The trail along Wash Cr. isn't in very good shape but isn't too bad. There is even better old growth up along Wash Cr. than Fish Cr. If you continue to the end of the road you eventually climb up onto the 42 road divide. The bottom 3 miles on Wash Cr. are the best scenery.

        Oh, and you can see some pics of the upper Fish Cr. area at:

        www.oregonkayaking.net/tales/fish_creek/fish_creek.html

        cheers, pete
      • Re: Fish Creek Rd. (#)
      • 3/16/06; 4:09:16 PM ¦ by Rob Williams
      • Well, after a little looking at the map doing some guessing, I found this little gem.  I went up there with my daughter, although we didn't get too far past the first bridge.  It wasn't a good hiking day for us since we were pretty tired.  But it was a beautiful day, and I love the scenery!  I will definitely be exploring this area more!

        Thank you so much for posting it!  I'm really interested to see that old map......