Tom's post included pictures of the vehicle access barriers at the trailhead (boulders and pit), but they weren't enough to keep a recent dirt bike rider out. I followed dirt bike tracks all the way to the top of the ridge and through several meadows.
The trail climbs through the forest for a good mile or mile and a half until it finally breaks out into the open here, where you get your first view of Mt. Hood.
The trail continues along the ridge top, alternating between beargrass meadows, wildflower meadows, and forest.
After about 2 1/2 miles there's a viewpoint with a bench, a memorial to two hikers who particularly enjoyed this spot. If you take a moment to rest on the bench and check out the view, you'll understand why!
From here the trail enters the forest and heads on down to it's junction with the Douglas Trail. There's a view of Wildcat Mountain along the way.
From here I followed the Douglas Trail past Wildcat Mountain and the rock garden mentioned in awildman's recent post. I checked out the view from the old lookout site on Wildcat Mountain. It was probably spectacular when the lookout was there, but there are trees obscuring the view these days.
A nice view of the Eagle Creek drainage from the rock garden.
I passed a large rock outcrop with flowers growing near the top.
I zoomed my little point-and-shoot to the max for a closer look.
I continued on to the junction with Plaza Trail 783 and followed that past Coffman Camp south to its junction with the spur trail to Salmon Mountain, another former lookout site.
From there it was on to Sheepshead Rock, a total distance of about 9 miles from the trailhead. The rock doesn't look so imposing until you see the 100-foot drop on the other side.
Mt. Hood from the slope approaching the rock.
The South Fork Salmon River.
Looking NW towards Wildcat Mountain (the high spot to right of center).
I had hoped to make it as far as the 4610 road, but ran out of time and had to turn back. I did stop on the way back at a couple of the saddles south of Coffman Camp and poked around in the woods hoping to find some evidence of an abandoned trail coming up from Eagle Creek. Pablo, Splintercat and others have discussed this before. Of course I found nothing, and didn't want to venture too far downhill with the limited time I had. But if there is such a trail, or a feasible route through the open forest in that area, it would make a really good loop for a day trip to be able to hike up Eagle Creek and climb up to the Plaza Trail and return by that route. Two nice trails, it would be good to be able to connect them.
More photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/19191522@N ... 889039560/
