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Oregon Wild Hikes: Shale Ridge Trail
Designated Wilderness, old-growth forests, the outlet of Waldo Lake, and the birthplace of the Willamette River, all just an hour from Eugene!
Waldo Lake and Three Sisters Wilderness - Shale Ridge Trail
Willamette National Forest
Difficulty: Easy to moderateDistance: Six miles round trip
Elevation Gain: Moderate--rock hopping required!
Season: Late spring, summer, early fall
Maps: Willamette National Forest for additional info
About the Hike
This trail
follows the border between the Three Sisters and Waldo Lake Wilderness Areas
most of the way, as well as the mostly unseen North Fork Middle Fork Willamette
River. Classic low to middle elevation old-growth grows here, with lots of
large down logs and an understory of maples and dogwoods. After about 1.8
miles, you’ll come to Skookum Creek, spread out through the forest so that
crossing requires some balancing and jumping skills. The real reward comes
another mile on, when you reach the North Fork Middle Fork Willamette, Waldo
Lake’s only outlet, and an incredible old-growth cedar and moss-draped maple grove
at the end of the trail. Easy to moderate, 6 miles round trip.
The Dirt
The Shale
Ridge Trail area is within federally-protected Wilderness that designated in 1984, due in part to the hard work of Oregon Wild volunteers and staff. Because it is protected as Wilderness, this area is no longer threatened by logging, road-buidling or other development.
Getting There
From Eugene, take Hwy 58 east about 30 miles, almost to Oakridge. Opposite the Middle Fork Ranger Station, turn left into Westfir. At the T-intersection turn left toward Westfir to a stop sign next to a covered bridge. Continue straight from about 30 miles along Aufderheide Road 19. Turn into parking area on the right just past milepost 30.
N. fork, middle fork trail
