Weekend Gem-Opal Creek’s Franklin Grove
This picture looks like some Impressionists painting, but it real!
This is my second trip down the Opal Creek Trail and my furthest into this wild canyon to date. Let me bring you guys up to speed, over the past few years I have been obsessed about old growth valleys. The giant trees, animal life and isolation keep me constantly looking for new ones to explore (especially in the winter/spring). Not to mention the way these noble trees seem to slow down time as they soak in the hours that is needed to reach their cores. Opal Creek’s Valley does have a few nice cedars and doug firs sprinkled about, but the real attraction here is the creek itself. It is hard to decide if its alluring color, pleasant curves or its cascades and chasms that keep my attention. Drive I-5 South to Hwy. 22 East and look for North Fork Road on the left side and follow the signs to the road’s end.
A big cedar trail side
Follow the road until you see the bridge going over the North Fork Santiam River and take it over to the trail on the other bank. Take this trail to another road where you follow the signs for the Kopetski Trail or Opal Creek Trail. The way now has a few ups and downs as you cross over a couple of creeks on your way to Cedar Flat, a delightful camp with some big cedars around. A little bit further and you will reach Beachie Creek, a easy ford this time of year, but not a rock hop. If you go upstream about 40 feet , you will see a nice crossing where you can see the bottom the whole across, I recommend crossing here. The “trail” on this side of Beachie Creek is more hit or miss, starting off with good tread but gets more obscured as it ducks back into the forest. When the trail eventually ends, there are white and red ribbons to follow as they lead you over huge nurse logs and sometimes on top of them too. Follow this rigged trail as long as you feel comfortable or as daylight allows, enjoy!
The Creek takes a big S turn near Cedar Flat
Scenic side creeks add to Opal Creeks gusto