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

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From Bell Camp Road you can either return the way you came or stay on the Gales Creek Trail as it descends the south side of the ridge and soon picks up the headwaters of its namesake stream. From Bells Camp Road it is 6 miles of downhill hiking to Gales Creek Campground (see ssss1). If you have access to two cars, a one-way 9.4-mile hike between the two trailheads makes for a fun dayhike or weekend backpacking trip.

TRIP 17 Step Creek

ssss1

Distance 3.0 miles, Out-and-back Elevation Gain 400 feet Hiking Time 2 hours Optional Map Tillamook State Forest (trail not shown) Usually Open All year (except during winter storms) Best Time Any Trail Use Dogs OK, horseback riding Agency Forest Grove District, Tillamook State Forest Difficulty Moderate Note Good in cloudy weather

HIGHLIGHTS Although unsigned and unofficial, the path up Step Creek is a fun and relatively easy hike that is well worth finding. The lovely forest and creek setting is reason enough to visit, but for those who want a more identifiable destination, a good stopping point is a small meadow where quiet hikers stand a good chance of seeing elk.