Kings Mountain Trailhead Tillamook Tillamook State Forest to Jones Creek Trailhead Treasures trail guide This segment of the trail offers amazing views of steep rugged canyons in a remote setting. Be Prepared • Let someone know your plans To access the trail from Kings Mountain Trailhead, Trail follow Kings Mountain Trail for 0.1 mile to the • Lock your vehicle Elk Creek – Jones Creek Trailhead Wilson River Trail junction. At the junction turn left • Read trailhead signs onto the westbound segment of the Wilson River • Pack plenty of water Trail. The initial 0.3 mile fords the first of several streams, crosses an old road and climbs gradually along rolling terrain. The trail meets a wooden bridge Protect the Forest and follows a series of switchbacks uphill, rising high • Stay on designated trails above the Wilson River Highway. As you near the • Share the trail 1.0 mile mark and the ridge crest, take in the view of Douglas-fir trees blanketing the slopes. Overhead, • Pack it in, pack it out lichen dangles from bigleaf maple branches. • Check current fire conditions The trail levels out and skirts below the ridgeline for the next 2.0 miles. Visitors will experience open, exposed slopes with distant views; large, charred snags riddled with pileated woodpecker holes; and ook Fo am re two massive basalt formations rising up from the ll s i t canyon floor. Nearing the 4.0 mile mark the route T

P dives into a dense forest beginning a 1.8 mile descent a t Coho (silver) Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) u ck to the North Fork of the Wilson River. As you I t O t In ck I meander through sword ferns, you may hear sounds Rivers throughout the Tillamook State Forest support -Pa of motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles from Diamond native salmon and trout. Coho salmon prefer small Mill OHV Staging Area. At the 5.5 mile point, a streams and travel upriver from October to January to graceful arched bridge spans 110 feet across the North spawn, while young fry head downriver in the spring. For More Information Fork of the Wilson River. Take a moment to peer into The Tillamook Forest Center, Smith Homestead Day-Use Department of Forestry Area, Diamond Mill OHV Staging Area and Nehalem the blue-green water to see if you can spot any fish. Forest Grove District Office Falls Campground are great places to see these majestic To reach Jones Creek Trailhead in 1.9 miles, cross creatures. The Oregon Department of Forestry is making 801 Gales Creek Road the bridge and veer left along the river. Make sure to leaps for fish by taking measures to restore, maintain and Forest Grove, OR 97116 bring a camera to capture Lester Creek Falls. In 0.5 enhance salmon habitat. (503) 357-2191 mile the trail crosses North Fork Road, and climbs into the forest. The next 0.9 mile rises over a small www.oregon.gov/ODF crest and crosses the road for a second time. The remaining 0.5 mile downhill to the Jones Creek Day- **Caution** Use Area passes several western thatching anthills Length: 11.0 miles and seven magnificent legacy trees that survived in Use extra caution when driving on single-lane gravel roads Difficulty: Moderate in the forest. Drive slowly and watch for truck traffic. the . Be prepared for changing trail and weather conditions, Elk Creek Trailhead to Kings Mt. Trailhead – 3.7 miles steep terrain and loose rock. Kings Mt. Trailhead to Jones Creek Trailhead – 7.5 miles Printed on recycled paper 6/09 Trail Information known as cicadas are often heard drumming overhead in Vehicle (OHV) Staging Area. You may hear sounds of tree branches, water ouzels dip in the creeks and lizards motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles from Diamond Mill scurry over rocks. to the Jones Creek Day-Use Area. Please make sure to remain on the appropriate designated trails. At the 2.0 mile mark, the trail passes through a Trailhead Access grove of alder trees as it crosses Dog Creek. Look for This trail can be reached from several trailheads. Elk Creek Trailhead to scratches on the tree trunks where Roosevelt elk have Kings Mountain Trailhead rubbed their antlers. The next mile of trail follows the Elk Creek Trailhead mountain side, darting in and out of the forest canopy. Elk Rock outcrop from the trail Follow Highway 6 to milepost 28. Turn north onto This portion of the Wilson River Trail is a great option Creek Elk Creek Road and continue through Elk Creek for Elk Creek campers and day-use visitors. 6 At 3.2 miles, a lush meadow appears where elk like Campground and cross the bridge to the trailhead. to browse. This is a good place to turn around if a Kings The trail begins adjacent to an information sign with a Jones ilson River Creek W Mountain round-trip is planned. Otherwise continue 0.5 mile Kings Mountain Trailhead fairly steep climb along the side of Elk Mountain. After 6 Tillamook to reach Kings Mountain Trailhead. For a longer passing the junction to Elk Mountain in 0.1 mile, the Forest Travel on Highway 6 near milepost 25. The trailhead is Center outing, cross Kings Mountain Trail and continue to il ra trail levels off. Hikers and mountain bikers will discover T iver on the north side of the highway. n R the Jones Creek Day-Use Area and trailhead. lso rocky outcrops, views of the Wilson River corridor, and Wi Jones Creek Trailhead plentiful wildlife under the forest canopy. Large insects Footbridge Wilson River Trail

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0.1 extending from Elk Creek to Keenig Creek Trailheads R iv J e r and may be accessed from several trailheads in between. o n e Highway Gravel Road s Kings C This guide highlights the eastern portion of the trail from r Mountain Hiking Trail Hiking & Mt. Biking Trail e e h k rt MP 1.4 Miles between points Elk Creek Trailhead to the Jones Creek Day-Use Area. o 25 Jones N 1.9 N A separate guide covers the western part of the trail that Creek MP Trailhead Visitor Center 24 extends from Jones Creek to Keenig Trailheads. Parts Picnic Site OHV Staging Area Wils of this trail travel along the Wilson River, and some on River Smith Camping Bridge sections are far from the river. The Oregon Department Homestead d State Land Private Land of Forestry manages the Tillamook State Forest for Roa Tillamook 6 Ben Smith MP Highway Milepost Markers multiple recreational opportunities. A section of the non- Forest 22 miles to 23 motorized Wilson River Trail travels near a motorized Center Tillamook 0 1/4 1/2 trail zone and adjacent to the Diamond Mill Off Highway Elk Creek 6 Tillamook State Forest Kings Jones ilson River Creek W Mountain 6 Tillamook trail guide Forest Center Be Prepared il ra T iver n R ilso • Let someone know your plans W Wilson River Trail Footbridge J o • Lock your vehicle n e Jones Creek – Keenig Creek Trailhead s Wilson River Trail C Jones re ek Creek • Read trailhead signs Keenig Overview Creek 6 • Pack plenty of water

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Wilson River Trail travel near motorized trail zones. For the next 2.8 miles the gently rolling trail is carved You may hear sounds of motorcycles and all-terrain out of steep hillsides and crosses beautiful cascading vehicles. Please make sure to remain on the appropriate waterfalls. As you near Cedar Butte Road, enormous designated trails. snags (standing dead trees) jut out of the ground serving Trailhead Access as a reminder of a forest full of big trees that existed prior This trail can be reached from several trailheads. Jones Creek Trailhead to to the Tillamook Burn. Footbridge Trailhead From Cedar Butte Road, the route begins a 1.5 mile Jones Creek Trailhead descent to the Keenig Creek Trailhead. The trail traverses This trailhead is located at the Jones Creek Day-Use Area. a number of switchbacks and a recent clearcut harvest Wolf Creek Travel on Highway 6 between milepost 22 and 23. Turn This portion of the trail follows the north side of the area. Several trees remain in the open area for natural north on North Fork Road, cross the bridge and turn left Wilson River and Highway 6. The first mile meanders Footbridge Trailhead to seed dispersal, and debris on the ground contributes to into the Jones Creek Day-Use Area. The trail begins near along the river past Jones Creek Campground and the organic matter needed on the forest floor. the trailhead sign and heads down toward the river. Tillamook Forest Center — an award winning visitor Keenig Creek Trailhead center offering exhibits, nature programs, and facility To reach the Wilson River Trail from the Footbridge Footbridge Trailhead rentals. If you reach the Wilson River Trail from the Trailhead, park at the adjacent Footbridge Day-Use Area Travel on Highway 6 to milepost 20 and park at the visitor center, make sure to return prior to closing time on the north side of the highway and find the side trail up Tillamook Footbridge Day-Use Area on the north side of the because the gates will be locked after hours. to the road and to the footbridge. Treasures highway. Downstream from the center the trail meets Cedar Cross the footbridge to the connector trail that leads Keenig Creek Trailhead Creek Road for about 100 feet - watch for traffic. Make downhill over the dry river bed and into the forest for 0.3 Indian-pipe (Monotropa uniflora) sure to stay right and avoid side trails in the grove of red mile to a junction with the Wilson River Trail. The trail These peculiar flowers grow in coniferous forests at low Travel on Highway 6 to milepost 18 and turn north on alders. At the 1.1 mile mark, a narrow log bridge with travels west over a log bridge, and up to a rock bluff with elevation, and may be spotted along this trail in mid- Cedar Butte Road and drive over the bridge. Turn left attached handrail crosses Cedar Creek. This spot is a nice views of the river below. The route drops into the June. The flowers are white because they do not contain onto Muesial Creek Road and continue 0.2 mile to the great place to peer into pools for salmon in the fall, hear next drainage, and soon intersects the Wolf Creek Road chlorophyll, which means they are not able to produce trailhead on the right. the call of a belted kingfisher or look for signs of beaver. in 1.0 mile. Follow the road north 500 feet and pick up their own food. This plant is an indirect parasite called From here the trail levels and passes a large Sitka spruce the trail heading down to the creek. A log bench offers a mycoheterotroph — it obtains energy from a fungus, About the Trail tree, and several large stumps. a place to relax and enjoy the majestic view of mossy which in turn gets its energy from a living plant. The Wilson River Trail is a 20.6 mile trail extending The trail crosses under the power lines twice and boulders and lush ferns absorbing the trickling water. from Keenig Creek to Elk Creek Trailheads and may be then climbs away from the Wilson River and highway This is a good place to have lunch and turn around if you accessed from several trailheads in between. This guide sounds. Maidenhair ferns appear on moist rock walls have not arranged a shuttle from Keenig Creek Trailhead. highlights the western portion of the trail from Jones surrounded by western red cedar and bigleaf maple Several majestic waterfalls spill down the rugged hillsides Creek Trailhead to Keenig Creek Trailhead. A separate trees. At 2.0 miles, cascades from a high in the next 3.6 miles between Wolf Creek and Cedar guide covers the eastern part of the trail, which extends ledge and flows across the rocky trail. This is a good Butte Road. Because this area is steep, be prepared for from Elk Creek Trailhead to Jones Creek Day-Use Area. destination spot for those who would like to have a changing trail conditions, sheer drop-offs and loose rock Parts of this trail follow the Wilson River, and some shorter trip and return to either the Jones Creek Day- especially during heavy rains. sections venture into the forest away from the river. Use Area or the Tillamook Forest Center. From Wolf Creek, the first mile ascends quickly and Visitors may enjoy this trail as one long journey or in If a longer trip is desired, continue 1.3 miles on the trail then turns into a more gradual climb. Along the way sections. crossing several bridges while enjoying the dense forest small western hemlock trees dot the forest floor along The Oregon Department of Forestry manages the and small streams. Visitors will come to a junction with with massive nurse logs that provide wildlife habitat and Tillamook State Forest for multiple recreational two options. The first leads across the Wilson River to create niches for plants to grow. After reaching a vista- opportunities. Short portions of the non-motorized the Footbridge Trailhead in 0.3 mile, and the other leads filled ridgeline, the trail fords the first of many streams 6.1 miles to Keenig Creek Trailhead. that marks the beginning of the Ryan Creek watershed.