Boulder Creek Wilderness (from Bradley Trail)

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Boulder Creek Wilderness

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Boulder Creek Wilderness (from Bradley Trail)

Viewed 2144 times

(2 votes, 1 review)

Length: 4.6 miles / 7.4 km

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Overview: This Wilderness area was burned in a 1996 fire that makes this hike all the more interesting as it wanders in and out of affected areas. Burned stands of trees and seemingly untouched forest sit side by side in some cases.

Those with an interest in volcanic geology will be interested in the volcanic origins of this area.

Tips: This area gets extremely hot and dry in the summer time. Plan for your backcountry water needs appropriately.
There are a few patches of poison oak along the trail at some spots.
Check with the Ranger station for trail closures. There was fish ladder construction going on in 2010 when this trip was documented that was to continue into 2011 and will affect some of the trails in this area. See the links and resources section for contact information.

Points of Interest

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Sugar Pine cones

Sugar Pines have done well in this area and stands of them shed their gargantuan cones along this section of the trail. These cones can be 10-20 inches long and are the largest pine cones in the world.

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Looking Back at Bradley Trail

These views of the area are really great. The path of the fire can be seen from here. You are almost to Table Top, where the path levels out and turns north to follow alongside Boulder Creek. This is also the least "remote feeling" stretch of the hike, as traffic from highway 138 can often be heard and seen.

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Bradley Trail ends at Boulder Creek Trail junction

Bradley Trail dead ends here, turn right to continue north on the Boulder Creek trail.

The hike to the north stays relatively flat for a while and offers great campsites and views of Boulder Creek down below.

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Overlook of Boulder Creek canyon

This little side trip provides some astounding views of the canyon below. The volcanic nature of this valley can be observed from here. Watch your footing along these rocky ledges.

Even in August there were two springs bubbling from these rocky hillsides. Listening carefully will lead you to them fairly easily. The GPS track with this guide should bring you within a few feet. Remember to treat all backcountry water.

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Boulder Creek Crossing

The last few miles of bleak landscape bring you to the edge of Boulder Creek, where things are a little greener. There is an excellent campsite just north of the trail crossing (see pictures in this guide).

This is where we ended our journey, although the trail continues beyond the river crossing and starts heading up the other side of the river canyon.

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Fascinating Landscape

Pictures in this guide taken by: OregonKen

How does this work?

Hikers should be aware that there is construction going on in this area with a Fish Ladder. Some of the trails are closed until November 2011. My 3 star rating is based on this fact and not the quality of the acutal hike.
Visited on May 13, 2011

by JMilesMiller on May 23, 2011 at 02:57:27 pm