Marc, Lou and I made this hike in early August 2004 as part of our training for the Portland Marathon. We did it as a day hike which I would only recommend for those in peak condition. The trail is a non-stop uphill climb for 7-8 miles.

 The starting point was the upper parking area for the South Breitenbush Trail. To get there drive 50 miles east of Salem on Highway 22 to the town of Detroit. Watch for the sign to Breitenbush River on your left as you are passing through the town, turn left and continue for about 11 miles. Just past Milepost 11 turn right on Road 4685, a gravel road. Follow this road for approximately 3 miles; you will see the parking for the trailhead on the right.

 The first couple of miles are through dense forest so you are treated to a variety of different species of trees as well as hundreds of small forest plants. Depending on when you go the flowers can be really something, but keep in mind they are small and if don’t take the time to look you will miss them. Please just take pictures and leave the flowers for the next hiker.

 

The trail does eventually break out into large meadows and the scenery is spectacular. Even in early August there were still patches of snow and most of the meadows had only been snow free for a few weeks; flowers were every where. On this trip the heather was incredible filling the air with its sweet smell. It was almost surreal to hike through these meadows covered with wildflowers with the mountains looming in the background.

You do get a sense for how fragile this ecosystem is the trail cuts deep groves in the meadows, so care must be taken to stay on the trail. 

The further up we went the more breathtaking the views became, Mt Jefferson providing an amazing backdrop. Once up into the lake basin we found a nice lake for lunch and a nap in the sun.

We took another trail back which I will not really even mention; it had not been maintained in some time so there were many downed trees and washed out sections of the trail. As we neared the parking lot we did come to a great section of old growth trees which had been protected from the fires that have burned throughout this area over the years. There were some of the biggest fir and cedar trees that I had seen, defiantly worth the walk from the parking lot.