Oregon Back Contry Discovery Route 3 - Big Lake south the California

[Toy Man]

Here are my notes. I will refrain from posting a bunch of boring pictures. I have the GPS track if anyone is interested.

I have a series of notes for Route 5 - the main route between California and Washington if any one is interested. Other than a short intro, I have not been able to find my notes on Route 4 between Sisters and the Ococho mountains. I have GPS tracks for these routes also.

Dick - Toy Man

Oregon Back Country Discovery Trip ? Route 3

July 29 thru August 1 2004

A group of three vehicles (Nissan Xterra, Suzuki Grand Vitara and a Jeep Wrangler) started the route at Big Lake Oregon at 8:00am July 29th 2004. Weather was perfect; fire level danger 2.

We planned to run the ?standard? route leaving the 4x4 sections for another trip. We just ?eased? along the entire route and did not ?put the hammer? down at any time.

We encountered three closures on the route: one administrative and two permanent.
The permanent closures were large dirt piles and logs placed across the route.

The administrative closure is at the Cache Creek intersection (44 20.78N 121 43.796 N, 8 miles after the start) where the route turns south. BIG sign at the intersection restricts travel to roads marked with an orange circle.

There is no orange circle on the road to the south (the OBCDR route) but there is one on the road straight ahead (east).

If you take the orange circle road; it should rejoin the route at 44 19.043 N, 121 41.666 W.

Hypothetically, you could drive the no orange circle road 6.2 miles to the south where is crosses highway 242 but some points to ponder are:

The road in this area seems to be regularly patrolled by the Forest Service, at least early in the morning. Other travelers have reported meeting FS trucks on this section and we met two FS vehicles between Big Lake and the Cache Creek intersection.

And If one were to drive this road, one might hypothetically meet a logging truck ? hopefully at a wide spot in the road.


The first permanent closure is at 44.14.440 N, 121 42.985 W. This is just past a small horse camp. The best re-route is to turn left at 44 15.181 N, 121.42.339 W and proceed downhill to 44 15.445 N 121 41.575 W and then right to 44 14.420 N 121 42.047 W where the road rejoins the OBCDR route. This reroute section is 2 miles in length.


The second closure is at 43 31.356 N 121 46.083 W where you take a right turn off the road. The reroute is to just stay on the road (no other choice) and pick up the route again at 43 31.346 N 121 46.751 W ? a little over a ? mile.


Other thoughts: You will encounter many miles of thick overhanging manzanita brush between highway 242 and highway 58 (Willamette Pass) which will ?enhance? your vehicle with about a ba-jillion fine ?pin stripes?. You will probably also pickup a few heavy duty pin stripes.

The section between highway 242 and Wickiup Lake was a lot rougher and slower that we had planned. It was a little after 4pm when we reached the Cascade Lakes highway south of Tumalo Falls. At the point we estimated it would take us another 3 to 4 hours to reach Wickiup via the route so we abandoned the route at the point and took the highway to Wickiup. The route south of Wickiup becomes much easier. South of the Highway 58, the route is mostly old mainline logging roads with a some interesting ?twists?.

We camped at the Gull campground at Wickiup Lake (very nice), Hamaker CG (nice) and Fish Lake CG (very nice) We gassed up at Sisters, Wickiup and Prospect.

Expect LOT?s of dust.


Thursday, July 29:

Started the route at Big Lake. Time 8:00am Perfect weather.
The going gets slower and rougher south of Highway 242. We are only 20 miles from Big Lake after 3 ? hours. Need to watch closely for route changes. Lunch at Pole Creek trail head. Smokey to the north and east. Tumalo Falls at 3:30. ? tank of gas. We lose the route after turning south off the Tumalo Falls highway, flounder around for awhile and then go east on the highway and take road 4610 south to the Cascade Lakes highway which we reach at 4:15. We estimate it will take us another 3 to 4 hours to reach Wickiup via the route so we decided to abandon the route at this point and motor down the Cascade Lakes highway to Wickiup.

The resort at Twin Lakes (Wickiup) has gas, diesel, a small store and restaurant, pay laundry and pay showers. Both campgrounds at the resort were full. We drive a mile east to Gull CG and turn right as we enter. The first 6 sites are open. Large wooded sites, 3 vehicle max. The CG has water, toilets and garbage containers. A few mosquito?s. Very nice camp ground. About a 100 sites. Arrival time ? 5:30pm. 140 miles today.


Friday, July 30:

On the road at 8:23am after a short stop at the resort. Another nice day. The route becomes a lot easier. Miles of manzanita brush around Ringo Butte. Also large sugar pine trees (and their cones) Lunch just before Crescent Lake Jct. Leave the Junction at 12:10 and are at the Winigo Pass summit at 12:50. Hamaker CG about 3:30. Hamaker is a small (11? sites) CG; somewhat secluded in grove of trees including some old growth. A very small Rogue River runs along one side. 2 vehicles max per site; good sized sites. A few mosquito?s. Dark clouds and thunder early evening but no rain. 102 miles today.


Saturday, July 31:
Leave Hamaker at 7:53. Stop at National Creeks Falls and spend a half hour hiking down and back. Sign at the start of the downgrade to the Bybee Creek bridge says steep 4x4 grade but it is a fairly easy 2x4 grade. The surface of the bridge at the bottom is 6 ? 7 inches above the road. Rocks had been placed at both ends to help ramping on/off ? very easy. There are 2 short climbs with loose soil coming up the grade. We used 4x4 but they could probably be climbed in 2x4 with some speed. We arrive in Prospect at 12:15 and fill up with gas (1/2 tank down - continue past the route turnoff a ? mile for gas). Leave Prospect at 1:10 and find easy roads to Fish Lake. 3:00pm. We first try the North Fork CG (small and hot), then Doe CG (full) and end up at the Fish Lake CG. Very nice with some open spots even on a Saturday. 2 vehicles max per site. Fanciest bathrooms I have seen in a camp ground. Some mosquito?s Nice day with light rain and thunder about 6:45pm. 106 miles today.


Sunday, August 1:
Leave Fish Creek 7:350am. Drive the 62 miles to Highway 66 in 2 hours. You end up at the summit of Green Springs Mountain on the road between Ashland and Klamath Falls.


We would like to thank all involved in finding/publishing this route. Well done.


Note: I went back the next year and ran the section north of Wickiup that we bypassed on this trip. Mainly boring with one optional 4x4 power line hill climb.

[Jerry]

Thanks for posting the trip report, Dick, it was a good read. I followed your route as close as I could and I got the general gist of the trip; it sounds both fun and interesting. Actually I found all the name places in my Oregon Gazetteer with the exception of Ringo Butte and I'll bet it's listed, but I didn't take enough time to find it.

I am looking forward to your posting the Route 5 trip report and I also hope you find the notes from Route 4. Thanks a lot, good job. Oh, and by the way, we like pictures!
Jerry

[Steve]

I second that, feel free to include pictures of your trip.

Steve

[Toy Man]

I MAY post pictures later. I know everyone (including me) likes to see them but it is a PITA.

Toy Man