Читать книгу Afoot and Afield: Portland/Vancouver. A Comprehensive Hiking Guide онлайн

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Near the 4.5-mile point, you pass a nice campsite after which the creek and accompanying trail curve to the east and the canyon narrows. The ascent now gets more strenuous as the grade becomes moderately steep. Just beyond the 5-mile point, Gales Creek has diminished to the point where it barely deserves to be called a creek. Here the trail pulls away from the water to ascend a woodsy hillside. Most hikers will want to turn around here because the scenery is less interesting away from the creek. If you prefer to make this a longer one-way hike, however, stay on the trail as it climbs another mile to a wide, forested ridgeline where it crosses remote Bell Camp Road. From there the trail is described in ssss1.

The author on a log bridge over Gales Creek

TRIP 16 Northern Gales Creek Trail

Distance 6.8 miles to Bell Camp Road, Out-and-back Elevation Gain 1500 feet Hiking Time 3 to 4 hours Optional Map Tillamook State Forest Usually Open February to November Best Time April to June Trail Use Dogs OK, backpacking option, mountain biking, horseback riding Agency Forest Grove District, Tillamook State Forest Difficulty Difficult Note Good in cloudy weather

HIGHLIGHTS Starting beside a lovely stream, this trail climbs through second-growth woods to a road atop a high ridgetop. The route has no spectacular scenery, but it provides good exercise and is fun to hike. Beware, however, that parts of this trail, especially in its upper reaches, are rather unattractive, with some logged areas and many new logging roads. Even so, it is a pleasant hike, and provides relatively quick access to the upper reaches of Gales Creek, where there are some excellent options for both anglers and overnight backpackers.