News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Forest Service rebuilds Suttle Lake Trail

For years, the loop trail around the edge of Suttle Lake has suffered significant damage from erosion and heavy traffic. Because the lake is popular for fishing and boating and is surrounded by campgrounds, a resort, youth camps, and a host of other recreational opportunities, the trail is one of the most heavily used in the Sisters Ranger District.

Because the trail hugs the shoreline so closely, there isn't much vegetation to hold the soils in place; and the constant lapping of waves has caused severe erosion in many spots along the shore. Heavy use of power boats has aggravated the problem, and boat speed limits within 100 feet of shore have not been sufficient to stem the erosion.

In the past, log supports and retaining walls were put in place to help stabilize the shoreline and reduce erosion, but those structures have rotted away over the years. As a result, some of the structures have collapsed; and portions of the trail have sloughed off into the lake.

Last year, a Deschutes National Forest trail crew embarked on an ambitious project to shore up the shore; and another portion of the project was finished just last week. Most of the recent efforts have been focused on the more heavily used south shore.

Thus far, more than 20 trail segments have been renovated. Last summer, the five-man Forest Service crew was augmented by a crew from the Northwest Youth Corps, an organization that provides summer jobs for young people and specializes in outdoor projects like this. Funding is provided under Title II of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act.

The trail rehabilitation process is a complicated one and begins with excavation of existing material on the affected site. The soil is replaced by crushed rock to ensure a firm substratum, then large, new rocks are put in place to form a solid foundation that will not break down.

Trails supervisor for the Sisters Ranger District, Kirk Flannigan, said that the Forest Service even brought in a stone mason to train the trail crew in the proper assembly of the new rock structures. Most of the large rocks used in the trail rehabilitation were obtained from the irrigation pipeline construction project southeast of Sisters.

Trail crew member Mike Brasfield explained why the alternative rocks are necessary: "We can't use the natural round ones," he said. "They aren't big enough and will move around when people walk on them. We need these big angular rocks that fit together like puzzle pieces."

Brasfield pointed out that, once in place, the new rocks are not going anywhere. Some of the rocks weigh up to a quarter of a ton and are barged in to the shoreline construction site.

"These rocks have to outweigh the people who walk on them in order to stand up under the foot traffic," Brasfield said. "When it's done, if all goes well, it'll last for the ages."

In order to ensure a perfect fit on each rock surface, Brasfield was mating the rocks together by chipping each opposing surface by hand. After the solid foundation is in place, natural forest material is placed over the repaired trail section and may not even be noticeable to those passing by.

Flannigan said that one of their goals is to leave the site looking as natural as possible. When complete, he expects the project to go a long way toward solving the erosion problem. "I've been out there," he said. "I think [the new repairs] will be there for a long, long, long time."

According to Brasfield, there are "a few" more sites yet to be repaired; and a walk along the loop trail leaves little doubt as to where those remaining spots are. Another gap in the trail is at the bridge over Link Creek.

"That bridge had to be removed because it was unsound," said Flannigan. "We're pushing hard to get it replaced. We thought it would be this year, but there just wasn't enough in the budget. This is a very high priority for us."

The loop trail around the lake is about 3.7 miles in length and is very easy. It is a great early season snow-free tune-up hike; and, since it is all quite flat, it is suitable for family hiking. A variety of wildlife and scenic views are visible all along the lake. Much of the surrounding area was badly burned in the fires of 2003. However, except for a few spots along the north shore, most of the land immediately adjacent to the lake escaped.

The trail can be picked up at virtually any point along the lake's edge. One of the most common starting and finishing points, however, is the popular - and public - Cinder Beach at the northeast corner of the lake. Suttle Lake is 13 miles northwest of Sisters on Highway 20.

 

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