1.2 hr
Overview
The Jackpot Meadows Trail, once part of the Oregon Skyline Trail in a section which ran from Trillium Lake down Mud Creek, now serves as a little-used connector between the Salmon River Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail. It descends to cross the Salmon River at a quiet and rarely visited spot, and then rises to the meadows themselves, in earlier times a venue for livestock grazing. The meadow is the usual turnaround for day hikers, but the trail continues to cross paved FR 58 and join the Pacific Crest Trail 2.3 miles north of Little Crater Lake. This is a good hike for early summer, to catch the blooming rhododendrons, or in fall, when vine maple lights up the talus slopes and the meadows burn golden. Note, however, that in early summer, the trail near Jackpot Meadow is often a flowing stream of water and mosquitoes are ravenous and profuse! The Jackpot Meadows Trail #492 begins from the road near the trailhead. Do not hike down behind the information sign – this leads to a trashy campsite and hunters' trails that lead off and gradually disappear into the undergrowth. From the road, drop down past the trail sign through rhododendrons and bear-grass in noble fir, mountain hemlock, western white pine, western red-cedar, and silver fir woods. Oregon boxwood and lupine verge the trail. Enter dense woods on the level, and then pass a large cedar before the trail veers right to make a descending traverse. Switchback at an andesite outcrop. You can do a little scramble here to view Mud Creek flowing through a scree-lined valley. The trail traverses down, crossing a talus slope supporting some old Douglas-firs and switchbacks once more to reach a footbridge over the Salmon River. The route heads left and passes a campsite among huckleberry bushes. Traverse up and switchback twice before making another long traverse. Switchback four times to a ridge crest, and then hike at the level to cross a dark, mossy creek. Cross the 240 spur road, and walk on flat ground to reach the rocky bed of Jackpot Meadow Creek in a spir
Trail Stats
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347 m
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Photos
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