Hardesty Trailhead to Ash Swale Shelter

By -
Old-growth Douglas-fir along the Goodman Creek Trail
The area around Hardesty Mountain is home to quite a few miles of multi-use trails. It's close proximity to Eugene makes the area trails popular to both mountain bikers and hikers. But like most other trails in western Oregon during fall and winter you likely won't see many people, if any. I got to the trailhead fairly late, around 10 am and there was one other guy there who was riding his bike. The route that I wanted to take was from Hardesty Mountain to the Ash Swale Shelter. This route uses the Hardesty Trail (3469), Goodman Creek Trail (3461.1) and the Eagles Rest Trail (3461).

Hardesty Trailhead from the parking lot

Beginning of the Hardesty Trail
If you plan on spending a few days in this area backpacking I would suggest being dropped off. Leaving a vehicle at this trailhead that also functions as a rest stop along Highway 58 would probably lead to your car being broken in to. That being said if you're just out for a day hike definitely bring valuables with you or leave them at home. You will only follow the Hardesty Trail for .2 miles until you reach a well signed junction. The Goodman Creek Trail is an easy walk through an incredible native forest. Massive Douglas-fir line much of your hike along the trail.


Goodman Creek Trail junction with the Hardesty Trail
Old-growth Douglas-fir along the Goodman Creek Trail
You will follow the lower section of the Goodman Creek which is now part of Lookout Reservoir. Shortly after you after you leave the reservoir behind you will come to come to a bridge crossing of Goodman Creek. 

Goodman Creek when it is still part of Lookout Reservoir

Bridge crossing of Goodman Creek
Though you are now within sight of the gravel Goodman Creek Road the trail has a very wilderness feel to it. The forest is incredible along this small tributary of Goodman Creek. There is even a very small waterfall near a crossing of this stream.

Washed out crossing of a small stream
Small waterfall at a stream crossing
After this small stream crossing the trail will climb steadily, but easily climb until you reach Ash Swale Shelter. As you near the crossing of Goodman Creek Road you will notice a change in the forest cover, from old-growth to maybe 30 years old. When you reach Goodman Creek Road you will follow the road almost straight ahead of you and then look left less than 20 yards up it. You will see the start of the Eagles Rest Trail.
The short road walk heading back towards the Goodman Creek Trail

Young Douglas-firs along the Eagles Rest Trail
The forest the remainder of the way to the Ash Swale Shelter is unremarkable, but still fairly pleasant. There is a few more recently logged areas, so it's interesting to see how different an area can look after it begins to recover. As you near the Ash Swale Shelter the trail becomes creek like in quite a few sections. You will know you're very close once you reach the first wooden boardwalk.

The red tree with peeling bark is a Pacific Madrone ( Arbutus Menziesii)

First boardwalk before you reach the Ash Swale Shelter
Because of the work of awesome volunteers and the Forest Service the Ash Swale Shelter is in great shape. The floor is gravel and it was fairly wet, but there wasn't any puddles so it could definitely keep you mostly dry if you needed to stay the night. There isn't a stove, but there is a fire pit near the entrance. I would like to come back and camp for a night to clear the blackberries that are starting to crawl over the sides and back. Being that the area is surrounded by a lot of slow moving or standing water during late spring and early summer in would surely be mosquitoes hell.  I had plans for dinner so I didn't make it to Eagles Rest, but I'll be back for that.

Ash Swale Shelter

The front of the Ash Swale Shelter
   
If you're looking for a day hike/ride or a short overnight trip, the Ash Swale Shelter is a worthy destination. If you're riding in this area make sure to watch out for deliberately placed piles of debris. These trails, like most shared by mountain bikers and hikers have had their share of conflict. What do you think about trails that are shared with mountain bikes?

Directions from Eugene: Follow Highway 58 east for 21 miles, the trailhead is on the right.

Trailhead Elevation: Approximately 900 feet

Hike Distance: 11.7 miles according to my Garmin Oregon 550 GPS 

Hike Type: Out and back 

Elevation Gain: Approximately 1,600 feet

Usage: Light, saw one other person. Though summer is very busy.  

Difficulty: 3 out of 5

Fees: None 
Hardesty Trailhead to Ash Swale Shelter at EveryTrail
EveryTrail - Find the best Hiking in Oregon
Location: 43610-43846 Willamette Hwy, Willamette National Forest, Lowell, OR 97452, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

McQuade Creek Trail: Spring Gateway to the Middle Santiam Wilderness

By -
Image
The Middle Santiam Wilderness is an incredible place. Massive Douglas-fir, western hemlock and western redcedar line much of McQuade Creek Trail and the Chimney Peak Trail. After calling the Sweet Home Ranger Station and finding out that the trail head on the south side of the Wilderness would likely be closed until July, because of snow, I decided to find another route in. The lady I was talking with was pretty knowledgeable and let me know that Forest Road( FR) 1142 was open, but a massive rock blocked the road one mile from the trail head. That wasn't much of a deterrent an extra two miles round trip wouldn't hurt.   The rock blocking FR 1142 The McQuade Creek Trail starts out with 2 fairly rapid creek crossings, both of them being about calf high on me( I'm about 5'6) as of June 2, 2012. The trail then begins to slowly climb through a relatively recent clear-cut, which gives you a pretty awesome view of the valley below. As you climb you wil
Read more

Santiam Wagon Road: Mountain House to House Rock Falls

By -
Image
Normally I'm somewhat apprehensive about hiking on old roads, especially ones that run parallel to a modern road. But I also love to hike any longer trails in the area. The full length of the trail portion of the Santiam Wagon Road is approximately 21 miles, running from Fish Lake to Mountain House. Some of the trail is still on drivable road, but thankfully much of it is only open to non-motorized transportation. Bridge across the South Santiam River South Santiam River  The hike starts out at a small pull out next to a gated bridge across the South Santiam River. The trailhead would hold about 5 cars, but I wouldn't expect to see many other people. Shortly after you cross the bridge you enter into an almost pure stand of Red Alder. I'm not sure what kind of disturbance caused this early successional forest, but it's beautiful.  Dense Red alder (Alnus rubra) line the trail Bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) and Red alder (Alnus rubra) leaves c
Read more

Make a Homemade Planter Box For Under $30

By -
Image
When you live in a second floor walk-up there are certain things you sacrifice. When we moved in I realized that there was no way I would be able to seed the cement back patio and have a luscious patch of green to call my own. I have accepted this and moved on. Presently I tell myself that at least this way there is no lawn that needs to be mowed. I have come to terms with not having grass to roll around in and I am alright with it. For now. One thing that I wasn't willing to sacrifice, regardless of our second floor status, was a garden. A few months ago John and I made several shopping trips. I had it in my head that I was going to buy some long, and narrow in proportion planter boxes to line our patio. Did I want square ones? No. Did I want small little rectangles that looked like elongated loaf pans to grow plants in? No. I wanted substantial 18 inch wide, 6 foot long planter boxes. We went to 4 or 5 different stores ranging from one stop shops, to hardware stores, we even pe
Read more