What is it?
Seemingly every hiker that visits this area travels the Clackamas River Trail as it meanders its way to Pup Creek Falls. Significantly fewer, however, visit the well graded old growth beauty of the Riverside Trail, just up river on the other side of the Clackamas.
5.2 miles out and back.
300 ft of elevation gain.
Why visit ?
Old growth forest and solitude would be enough for most avid hikers to make the trek out past the Ripplebrook Ranger Station. Throw in the fact that this hike has numerous ideal lunch spots and a great river access beach and you may wish to bump this one higher up on your hiking hit list.
All the attributes you look forward to seeing in an old growth forest are on display here. Ancient Douglas firs, hemlocks, and western red cedars line the trail as well as the almost fluorescent moss covered, fern sprouting, big leaf maples. Hikers with well worn knees or ankles will also greatly appreciate the soft, joint saving forest duff under foot.
Get there:
Take the 205 to exit 12 near Oregon City. Head east 18 miles to Estacada. Continue through town 26 miles on Highway 224 to a bridge at Ripplebrook. Veer right onto road 46 for nearly 2 miles to a small parking lot on the right for the Riverside Trail.
Follow the path down to the right passing some viewpoints before eventually meeting up with the river. Stay on the path heading down river passing numerous river access points and footbridges. After about 2.6 miles of hiking you’ll reach the Oak Grove Fork which will take you to the trails end at the Rainbow Campground. Head back the way you came.
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Additional information:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mthood/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clackamas_River
Further reading:
100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon & Southwest Washington by William L. Sullivan
For more of Adam's writing, reviews, and photography, visit AdamSawyer.com.
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