Manila Discussion archive for:

  • Breitenbush Cascades?

    I've seen this on maps of the Breitenbush Lake area for years now but have found out virtually nothing about this trail. Based on my Green Trails map of the area, here's what I know:
    * The trailhead is on FR4220 about halfway to Breitenbush Lake. I drove by the area and saw what I thought was the trailhead last fall, but it was late in the afternoon on a cold day and the road conditions prevented me from stopping.  
    * The trail, what is labeled Trail #744, is short. The Green Trails map has it listed at 0.2 miles.

    Here's what I don't know:
    * If it's listed on most maps, why is there so little known about it?
    * Has it been maintained any time in the last 20-30 years?
    * The trail appears to lead to a viewpoint of Breitenbush Cascades, which, judging from satellite photos, appears to be massive. How close does the trail get to the falls?

    I'm really curious because it seems paradoxical that a major waterfall with a short viewpoint trail has been almost undocumented. I know the road is less than admirable, but you'd figure somebody would know something, right?

    Breitenbush Cascades?
  • Re: Breitenbush Cascades? (#)
  • 5/3/07; 4:22:00 PM ¦ by Pete Giordano
  • Can't answer all your questions but the short trail does indeed go to a viewpoint of the Cascades.  You can basically walk right up next to the falls and take a dip if you want to. Very much worth a stop. The Cascades are more a series of waterfalls; picture a creek going down the side of a canyon. None of the falls are that big but they continue all the way down to the canyon floor. It is fairly easy to bushwack all the way down to the bottom. Coming back up is another story! Watch out for hornets if you go during the summer.

    pete
    • Re: Breitenbush Cascades? (#)
    • 5/3/07; 5:50:59 PM ¦ by Matt Reeder
    • Thanks! I've always wondered about this because I've never heard anything about the falls but it sounded very enticing.
      • Re: Breitenbush Cascades? (#)
      • 5/16/07; 12:55:49 PM ¦ by Tom Kloster
      • Matt, just to circle back, I wanted to post the Portland Hikers thread here, since you've also included reference to Kuckup Park:

        http://portlandhikers.com/forums/thread/17407.aspx

        I'm guessing that somebody over here might have an update on the trail to Kuckup Park, and any changes in the legal circumstances for going there.

        Tom