Locals enjoy 'unofficial' hiking route on Lower Whychus Creek

Way back in March, people began asking me if I'd hiked the Lower Whychus Creek trail yet. Even though it was on my to-do list last year, I had to confess that I still hadn't. I made up for that oversight last month.

Perhaps because of the very public efforts to restore Whychus Creek and its historic salmon and steelhead runs, interest in the creek has been soaring. As a result, people are exploring it more - and that includes the lower reaches northeast of Sisters.

The trail that leads downstream from the road crossing inside the Crooked River National Grassland is a not-very-well-kept local secret. "Officially," it's not a trail at all, since it's not maintained by the BLM and is referred to as an "unofficial route." Unofficially, then: it's a pretty good trail - most of way. It does become somewhat faint in spots as it approaches the Alder Springs crossing, where it joins up with that trail.

Although it's longer than the Alder Springs Trail, it has the advantage of not getting your feet wet, since it's entirely on the west side of Whychus Creek. Our hiking party dwindled to two by departure time, but we were rewarded when the day turned out to be one of the few sunny days last month.

We parked just short of the creek ford and followed the trail downstream to a walk-in campsite. From that point on, there are multiple paths; but they eventually consolidate in a well-defined trail that generally takes the "high road." It appears that the "low road" nearer the creek becomes hemmed in by canyon walls.

Last year, I hiked the water-level upstream stretch between Rimrock Ranch and this same ford, and we had to wade the stream several times when the canyon walls closed in.

This hike, however, is atop the rim and has clear sailing; and, although there are a few ups and downs, the contour of the land is generally flat as the creek winds its way gently downhill.

Beautiful views are afforded of the creek below, and the lush stream-side vegetation is a sharp contrast to the more arid zone above. Dense alder thickets and even the occasional Douglas fir can be seen in the canyon below. Tall ponderosa pines rise above the rock canyon walls, so the hiker is often at eye level with the treetops.

The trail tends to stay away from the canyon rim, but there are numerous access points where it is possible to stand on the very edge of the vertical rock cliffs, so caution should be exercised; and keep a close eye on children.

Some of these clifftop viewpoints make perfect spots to stop for a rest or lunch break and enjoy the beauty of the stream below. Take time along these stretches to imagine the possibility of salmon and steelhead fighting their way upstream through this remote section of Whychus Creek. If biologists' expectations are met, that could happen as early as next year.

Curiously, the trail passes underneath some CEC power lines that apparently lead to some form of civilization in the remote country north of Sisters. In this area, we spotted a large rattlesnake when we were exploring nearer to the canyon precipice. Actually, it spotted us first and let us know about it with its trademark warning.

Some of the most spectacular views of the canyon are seen when the northeasterly bound creek makes sharp bends to flow east southeast for short stretches. These breaks in the contour of the land provide striking opportunities for unique views.

The distance to the Alder Springs crossing isn't much more than about 3.5 miles; but, frankly, it seems longer. While much of the trail is well established, and is even marked by rock cairns in some areas, the last mile before Alder Springs emphasizes the "unofficial" character of this route.

At the springs, we met several hikers crossing the creek in both directions; but we smugly kept our boots on and continued downstream to what used to be called "Squaw Mouth," where the creek empties into the Deschutes River. The distance to the mouth is about an additional 1.5 miles.

We ate lunch on the rock shelf just below the mouth and looked across to the Scout Camp Trail we had hiked just a few days earlier. That trail (an "official" one, by the way) leads from Crooked River Ranch to Squaw Mouth on the east side of the Deschutes.

We made the return trip of about five miles in two hours, for a total round trip of around ten miles, not counting exploratory side trips.

To reach the Whychus Creek road crossing, take Locust Street (Camp Polk Road) 3.1 miles north from East Cascade Avenue. There it makes a sharp right turn, but stay straight to go onto Wilt Road until the pavement ends 2.5 miles later. Continue on this good gravel road for another 6.4 miles (2.4 miles beyond Rimrock Ranch). A sharp turnoff to the right is unmarked except by a yellow sign on a juniper tree that says "Closed to Motor Vehicles."

It's okay to take this road because the closure is from November through March. Once on this dirt road, it's about two miles to the creek. Park there and begin your hike. A high-clearance vehicle is recommended for the last mile.