For More InformationOregon Department of Forestry

Forest Grove District Office801 Gales Creek Road

Forest Grove, OR 97116(503) 357-2191

www.oregon.gov/ODF

Be Prepared• Letsomeoneknowyourplans• Lockyourvehicle• Readtrailheadsigns• Packplentyofwater

Protect the Forest• Stayondesignatedtrails• Sharethetrail• Packitin,packitout• Checkcurrentfireconditions

Tillamook State ForestT r a i l g u i D e

Wilson River TrailElk Creek – Jones Creek Trailhead

lengTh: 11.0 milesDiFFiculTy: Moderate

Elk Creek Trailhead to Kings Mt. Trailhead – 3.7 miles

Kings Mt. Trailhead to Jones Creek Trailhead – 7.5 miles

Pack

I t I n-PackIt

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Tilla

mook Forest

coho (silver) Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)RiversthroughouttheTillamookStateForestsupportnativesalmonandtrout.CohosalmonprefersmallstreamsandtravelupriverfromOctobertoJanuarytospawn,whileyoungfryheaddownriverinthespring.TheTillamookForestCenter,SmithHomesteadDay-UseArea,DiamondMillOHVStagingAreaandNehalemFallsCampgroundaregreatplacestoseethesemajesticcreatures.TheOregonDepartmentofForestryismakingleapsforfishbytakingmeasurestorestore,maintainandenhancesalmonhabitat.

Tillamook TreasuresTillamook Treasures

Kings Mountain Trailhead to Jones Creek TrailheadThissegmentofthetrailoffersamazingviewsofsteepruggedcanyonsinaremotesetting.

ToaccessthetrailfromKingsMountainTrailhead,followKingsMountainTrailfor0.1miletotheWilsonRiverTrailjunction.AtthejunctionturnleftontothewestboundsegmentoftheWilsonRiverTrail.Theinitial0.3milefordsthefirstofseveralstreams,crossesanoldroadandclimbsgraduallyalongrollingterrain.Thetrailmeetsawoodenbridgeandfollowsaseriesofswitchbacksuphill,risinghighabovetheWilsonRiverHighway.Asyounearthe1.0milemarkandtheridgecrest,takeintheviewofDouglas-firtreesblanketingtheslopes.Overhead,lichendanglesfrombigleafmaplebranches.

Thetraillevelsoutandskirtsbelowtheridgelineforthenext2.0miles.Visitorswillexperienceopen,exposedslopeswithdistantviews;large,charredsnagsriddledwithpileatedwoodpeckerholes;andtwomassivebasaltformationsrisingupfromthecanyonfloor.Nearingthe4.0milemarktheroutedivesintoadenseforestbeginninga1.8miledescenttotheNorthForkoftheWilsonRiver.Asyoumeanderthroughswordferns,youmayhearsoundsofmotorcyclesandall-terrainvehiclesfromDiamondMillOHVStagingArea.Atthe5.5milepoint,agracefularchedbridgespans110feetacrosstheNorthForkoftheWilsonRiver.Takeamomenttopeerintotheblue-greenwatertoseeifyoucanspotanyfish.

ToreachJonesCreekTrailheadin1.9miles,crossthebridgeandveerleftalongtheriver.MakesuretobringacameratocaptureLesterCreekFalls.In0.5milethetrailcrossesNorthForkRoad,andclimbsintotheforest.Thenext0.9milerisesoverasmallcrestandcrossestheroadforasecondtime.Theremaining0.5miledownhilltotheJonesCreekDay-UseAreapassesseveralwesternthatchinganthillsandsevenmagnificentlegacytreesthatsurvivedintheTillamookBurn.

**cauTiOn**Useextracautionwhendrivingonsingle-lanegravelroads

intheforest.Driveslowlyandwatchfortrucktraffic. Bepreparedforchangingtrailandweatherconditions,

steep terrain and loose rock. Printed on recycled paper 6/09

http://www.oregon.gov/ODF

knownascicadasareoftenhearddrummingoverheadintreebranches,waterouzelsdipinthecreeksandlizardsscurryoverrocks.

Atthe2.0milemark,thetrailpassesthroughagroveofaldertreesasitcrossesDogCreek.LookforscratchesonthetreetrunkswhereRooseveltelkhaverubbedtheirantlers.Thenextmileoftrailfollowsthemountainside,dartinginandoutoftheforestcanopy.

TRaIl InFoRMaTIon

Trailhead accessThistrailcanbereachedfromseveraltrailheads.

Elk Creek TrailheadFollowHighway6tomilepost28.TurnnorthontoElk CreekRoadandcontinuethroughElkCreekCampgroundandcrossthebridgetothetrailhead.

Kings Mountain TrailheadTravelonHighway6nearmilepost25.Thetrailheadisonthenorthsideofthehighway.

Jones Creek TrailheadThistrailheadislocatedattheJonesCreekDay-UseArea.TravelonHighway6betweenmilepost22and23.TurnnorthonNorthForkRoadfollowingthesignstoJonesCreekCampground.Proceedoverthebridgeturningleftintotheday-usearea.Thetrailbeginsnearthetrailheadsignandheadsdowntowardtheriver.IfyouaccesstheWilsonRiverTrailfromtheTillamookForestCenter,makesuretoreturnpriortoclosingtimebecausethegateswillbelockedafterhours.

about the TrailThistrailcanbeenjoyedasonelongjourneyorinsections.TheWilsonRiverTrailisa20.6milelineartrailextendingfromElkCreektoKeenigCreekTrailheadsandmaybeaccessedfromseveraltrailheadsinbetween.ThisguidehighlightstheeasternportionofthetrailfromElkCreekTrailheadtotheJonesCreekDay-UseArea.AseparateguidecoversthewesternpartofthetrailthatextendsfromJonesCreektoKeenigTrailheads.PartsofthistrailtravelalongtheWilsonRiver,andsomesectionsarefarfromtheriver.TheOregonDepartmentofForestrymanagestheTillamookStateForestformultiplerecreationalopportunities.Asectionofthenon-motorizedWilsonRiverTrailtravelsnearamotorizedtrailzoneandadjacenttotheDiamondMillOffHighway

Vehicle(OHV)StagingArea.Youmayhearsoundsofmotorcyclesandall-terrainvehiclesfromDiamondMilltotheJonesCreekDay-UseArea.Pleasemakesuretoremainontheappropriatedesignatedtrails.

Elk Creek Trailhead to Kings Mountain TrailheadThisportionoftheWilsonRiverTrailisagreatoptionforElkCreekcampersandday-usevisitors.

ThetrailbeginsadjacenttoaninformationsignwithafairlysteepclimbalongthesideofElkMountain.AfterpassingthejunctiontoElkMountainin0.1mile,thetraillevelsoff.Hikersandmountainbikerswilldiscoverrockyoutcrops,viewsoftheWilsonRivercorridor,andplentifulwildlifeundertheforestcanopy.Largeinsects

Rock outcrop from the trailAt3.2miles,alushmeadowappearswhereelkliketobrowse. Thisisagoodplacetoturnaroundifaround-tripisplanned.Otherwisecontinue0.5miletoreachKingsMountainTrailhead.Foralongerouting,crossKingsMountainTrailandcontinuetotheJonesCreekDay-UseAreaandtrailhead.

0.1Dia

mond

Mill Road

Road

North Fork

Jones Creek

North

Fork

Wilson

River

Lester

CreekWils

on

Wilson

Ben Smith Road

River

River

Kings Mountain Trail Trai

l

Dog Creek

Elk Mountain Trail

Elk Creek Trail

Elk Creek

South

Fork Roa

d

Diamond Mill

1.9JonesCreek

22 miles toTillamook

TillamookForestCenter

SmithHomestead

MP23

MP24

5.5

MP25

KingsMountain

MP26

3.5

MP27

0.1Elk Creek

MP28

43 miles to

Portland

Miles between points1.4

Highway Milepost Markers

Highway Gravel Road

N

Private LandState Land

Hiking & Mt. Biking TrailHiking Trail

OHV Staging AreaPicnic Site

Trailhead Visitor Center

0 1/4 1/2

Camping Bridge

6

6

Wilson R

iver Tr

ail

Wilson River

KeenigCreek

Footbridge

JonesCreek

KingsMountain

ElkCreek

6

6

6

TillamookForestCenter

Wilson River Trailoverview

Be Prepared• Letsomeoneknowyourplans• Lockyourvehicle• Readtrailheadsigns• Packplentyofwater

Protect the Forest• Stayondesignatedtrails• Sharethetrail• Packitin,packitout• Checkcurrentfireconditions

Tillamook State ForestT r a i l g u i d e

Wilson River TrailJones Creek – Keenig Creek Trailhead

lengTh: 9.6milesdiFFiculTy: Moderate

Jones Creek TH to Footbridge TH–3.5miles

Footbridge TH to Keenig Creek TH–6.1miles

Pack

I t I n-PackIt

Out

Tilla

mook Forest

For More InformationOregonDepartmentofForestry

TillamookDistrictOffice5005East3rdStreet

Tillamook,OR97141-2999(503)842-2545

www.oregon.gov/OdF

WolfCreek

Ryan Creek

Cedar Butte Road

Wils

on

Wolf Creek Road

Wolf Poin

t Road Cedar

Creek

Cedar Creek Road

Jones Creek

Trail

River

Bridge Creek

Wilso

n

Buck Creek

Archers RoadJordan Creek Road

Mue

sial

Cre

ek R

oad

Keenig Creek

JonesCreek

50 miles toPortland

TillamookForestCenter

MP22

MP21

Wolf Point2,440’

Footbridge

WilsonFalls

Bridge CreekFalls

3.5

1.0

River

MP19

17 miles toTillamook

MP18

KeenigCreek

1.5

3.6

Miles between points1.4

Highway Milepost Markers

HighwayGravel Road

N

Private LandState Land

Hiking & Mt. Biking Trail

Undeveloped CampingPicnic Site

Trailhead Visitor Center

0 1/4 1/2

Camping Bridge

6

6

Wilson R

iver Tr

ail

Wilson River

KeenigCreek

Footbridge

JonesCreek

KingsMountain

ElkCreek

6

6

6

TillamookForestCenter

Wilson River TrailOverview

**cauTiOn**Useextracautionwhendrivingonsingle-lanegravelroads

intheforest.Driveslowlyandwatchfortrucktraffic.Bepreparedforchangingtrailandweatherconditions,

steepterrainandlooserock.Printed on recycled paper 6/09

TRaIl InFORMaTIOn

Trailhead accessThistrailcanbereachedfromseveraltrailheads.

Jones Creek TrailheadThistrailheadislocatedattheJonesCreekDay-UseArea.TravelonHighway6betweenmilepost22and23.TurnnorthonNorthForkRoad,crossthebridgeandturnleftintotheJonesCreekDay-UseArea.Thetrailbeginsnearthetrailheadsignandheadsdowntowardtheriver.

Footbridge TrailheadTravelonHighway6tomilepost20andparkattheFootbridgeDay-UseAreaonthenorthsideofthehighway.

Keenig Creek TrailheadTravelonHighway6tomilepost18andturnnorthonCedarButteRoadanddriveoverthebridge.TurnleftontoMuesialCreekRoadandcontinue0.2miletothetrailheadontheright.

about the TrailTheWilsonRiverTrailisa20.6miletrailextendingfromKeenigCreektoElkCreekTrailheadsandmaybeaccessedfromseveraltrailheadsinbetween.ThisguidehighlightsthewesternportionofthetrailfromJonesCreekTrailheadtoKeenigCreekTrailhead.Aseparateguidecoverstheeasternpartofthetrail,whichextendsfromElkCreekTrailheadtoJonesCreekDay-UseArea.PartsofthistrailfollowtheWilsonRiver,andsomesectionsventureintotheforestawayfromtheriver.Visitorsmayenjoythistrailasonelongjourneyorinsections.TheOregonDepartmentofForestrymanagestheTillamookStateForestformultiplerecreationalopportunities.Shortportionsofthenon-motorized

Wolf Creek

WilsonRiverTrailtravelnearmotorizedtrailzones.Youmayhearsoundsofmotorcyclesandall-terrainvehicles.Pleasemakesuretoremainontheappropriatedesignatedtrails.

Jones Creek Trailhead to Footbridge Trailhead

ThisportionofthetrailfollowsthenorthsideoftheWilsonRiverandHighway6.ThefirstmilemeandersalongtheriverpastJonesCreekCampgroundandtheTillamookForestCenter—anawardwinningvisitorcenterofferingexhibits,natureprograms,andfacilityrentals.IfyoureachtheWilsonRiverTrailfromthevisitorcenter,makesuretoreturnpriortoclosingtimebecausethegateswillbelockedafterhours.DownstreamfromthecenterthetrailmeetsCedarCreekRoadforabout100feet-watchfortraffic.Makesuretostayrightandavoidsidetrailsinthegroveofredalders.Atthe1.1milemark,anarrowlogbridgewithattachedhandrailcrossesCedarCreek.Thisspotisagreatplacetopeerintopoolsforsalmoninthefall,hearthecallofabeltedkingfisherorlookforsignsofbeaver.FromherethetraillevelsandpassesalargeSitkasprucetree,andseverallargestumps.ThetrailcrossesunderthepowerlinestwiceandthenclimbsawayfromtheWilsonRiverandhighwaysounds.Maidenhairfernsappearonmoistrockwallssurroundedbywesternredcedarandbigleafmapletrees.At2.0miles,WilsonFallscascadesfromahighledgeandflowsacrosstherockytrail.ThisisagooddestinationspotforthosewhowouldliketohaveashortertripandreturntoeithertheJonesCreekDay-UseAreaortheTillamookForestCenter.Ifalongertripisdesired,continue1.3milesonthetrailcrossingseveralbridgeswhileenjoyingthedenseforestandsmallstreams.Visitorswillcometoajunctionwithtwooptions.ThefirstleadsacrosstheWilsonRivertotheFootbridgeTrailheadin0.3mile,andtheotherleads6.1milestoKeenigCreekTrailhead.

Tillamook Treasures

Footbridge Trailhead to Keenig Creek TrailheadToreachtheWilsonRiverTrailfromtheFootbridgeTrailhead,parkattheadjacentFootbridgeDay-UseAreaonthenorthsideofthehighwayandfindthesidetrailuptotheroadandtothefootbridge.Crossthefootbridgetotheconnectortrailthatleadsdownhilloverthedryriverbedandintotheforestfor0.3miletoajunctionwiththeWilsonRiverTrail.Thetrailtravelswestoveralogbridge,anduptoarockbluffwithniceviewsoftheriverbelow.Theroutedropsintothenextdrainage,andsoonintersectstheWolfCreekRoadin1.0mile.Followtheroadnorth500feetandpickupthetrailheadingdowntothecreek.Alogbenchoffersaplacetorelaxandenjoythemajesticviewofmossybouldersandlushfernsabsorbingthetricklingwater.ThisisagoodplacetohavelunchandturnaroundifyouhavenotarrangedashuttlefromKeenigCreekTrailhead.Severalmajesticwaterfallsspilldowntheruggedhillsidesinthenext3.6milesbetweenWolfCreekandCedarButteRoad.Becausethisareaissteep,bepreparedforchangingtrailconditions,sheerdrop-offsandlooserockespeciallyduringheavyrains.FromWolfCreek,thefirstmileascendsquicklyandthenturnsintoamoregradualclimb.Alongthewaysmallwesternhemlocktreesdottheforestflooralongwithmassivenurselogsthatprovidewildlifehabitatandcreatenichesforplantstogrow.Afterreachingavista-filledridgeline,thetrailfordsthefirstofmanystreamsthatmarksthebeginningoftheRyanCreekwatershed.

indian-pipe (Monotropa uniflora)Thesepeculiarflowersgrowinconiferousforestsatlowelevation,andmaybespottedalongthistrailinmid-June.Theflowersarewhitebecausetheydonotcontainchlorophyll,whichmeanstheyarenotabletoproducetheirownfood.Thisplantisanindirectparasitecalledamycoheterotroph—itobtainsenergyfromafungus,whichinturngetsitsenergyfromalivingplant.

Forthenext2.8milesthegentlyrollingtrailiscarvedoutofsteephillsidesandcrossesbeautifulcascadingwaterfalls.AsyounearCedarButteRoad,enormoussnags(standingdeadtrees)jutoutofthegroundservingasareminderofaforestfullofbigtreesthatexistedpriortotheTillamookBurn.FromCedarButteRoad,theroutebeginsa1.5miledescenttotheKeenigCreekTrailhead.Thetrailtraversesanumberofswitchbacksandarecentclearcutharvestarea.Severaltreesremainintheopenareafornaturalseeddispersal,anddebrisonthegroundcontributestoorganicmatterneededontheforestfloor.

Wilson River Trail Guide (Elk-Jones)Wilson River Trail Guide (Jones-Keening)