Three hikes were considered within 1 hour drive, Alpine, Hardesty and King-Castle. Weather being same, key choice lever was Alpine’s south-facing hill – drier. A good choice as Alpine Trail was a 3-layer water cake. Lower elevations were muddy, middle elevations between TH #2 and #3 dry, and above TH #3 very muddy from last…
The valley was to have late morning fog, but the foothills warmer and fog-free earlier. Logical good hike -> Alpine Trail from the best Willmatte National Forest TH @ Westfir Covered Bridge park. Driving from Hwy 58 to Westfir, frost was everywhere in the hill’s shadow sparkling in headlamps, and on the park lawn too….
Looking for a good hike with miles, elevation gain but little driving from the Valley? Alpine Trail out of Westfir is a great choice. A full harvest moon greeted me as I pulled out of the driveway at 5:30 … a quick 45 minute drive to the cleanest and safest trailhead in Willamette National Forest,…
After Tuesday’s jaunt up King Castle in the McKenzie valley, Thursday’s hike was up Alpine Trail to Tire Mt in Willamette valley. I had hiked up Alpine not this far earlier, and the difference in trail conditions were striking – leave it to MTB riders to clean up their trails first! All the blowdowns were…
A quick dash out to Westfir on a most beautiful day… high 50s and sunshine. A perfect day for the first cascade foothills hike of the 2025 season – Alpine Trail. I arrived at the Covered Bridge Park before 0700 and was hiking shortly thereafter – 1 other car ‘camping’ in the parking lot. It’s…
