Opal Creek + Shellburg Falls

Red and I set off Friday morning, traveling just over two hours via I-5 S and OR-22 E to N Fork Road. Aunt Judy recommended a seven-mile loop trek (360' gain) in the Opal Creek Wilderness. The easy riverside walk to Opal Pool and Jawbone Flats tours a spectacular, towering forest of 500-year-old trees that were endangered by logging proposals until a long-fought Wilderness bill protected the area in 1998. Note: 5.5 miles of gravel road/potholes lead to trailhead. The first two miles follow a dirt road along the Little North Fork of the Santiam River.

 

After passing the rusting machinery of Merten Mill, the route forks. Turn right to cross the river, and follow the Opal Creek Trail for one mile through dense forest. Huckleberries ripen in July.

 

Date hiked: 8/23/19

Finally, the scenic gorge containing Opal Pool emerges from below. If time allows, continue upstream to explore more pools and falls.

 
 

To return on a loop, cross a footbridge at the head of Opal Pool and keep left through Jawbone Flats, a collection of buildings dating from 1929 to 1932. The historic mining town was donated to the Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center as an old-growth study center. Today, the off-grid community encompasses a combination of program facilities, public rentals and private residences.

 

The quiet morning faded as the trail quickly filled with families bound for the cool green pools. 10am-1pm RT.

 

On the way back to Portland, I stopped at Shellburg Falls, located off Fern Ridge Road. An easy 2.8 mile out-and-back (410' gain) passes through a cattle pasture and small tree farm. The gravel road enters the Santiam State Forest at one mile. Immediately below the Shellburg Creek bridge is Lower Shellburg Falls (difficult to see). 

Turn left onto the Shellburg Falls Trail, which parallels the tumbling creek for a quarter of a mile. A short side trail leads to a viewpoint near the base of Shellburg Falls (not very full this time of year!) while the main trail circles behind the falls in a large natural grotto. 2pm-3pm RT.