1.9 hr
Overview
The Middle Santiam Wilderness, a deep woodland of marvelous old growth, lies at the very western edge of the Willamette National Forest and was a prime target for loggers (three timber sales were planned) before it was protected by the Wilderness Act of 1984. Here you’ll find pristine creeks, massive Douglas-firs, cedars, and hemlocks as well as, most likely, solitude. Several trails leads into the wilderness, and the Chimney Peak Trail #3382 crosses it. The route described here takes you past the popular swimming hole on the Middle Santiam River near the Shedd Camp Shelter, which is as far as most visitors go. You’ll see big trees before you enter the wilderness, and they’ll be your companions all the way to little Donaca Lake, whose grove of thick western red-cedars is worth an overnight camp. Sign in at the wilderness permit box, and take the trail down into a leafy Douglas-fir forest. Cross a small creek, and pass through a partial cut before switchbacking twice into old-growth hemlock and Douglas-fir. You’ll reach the Shedd Camp Shelter, a three-sided structure that is a popular stop on summer weekends. The trail descends steeply from here to the Middle Santiam River. Large boulders squeeze the river through clefts at Shelter Falls, which is also the best place to step across without getting your feet wet. Otherwise, you should make your way upriver and ford. Below the falls is the swimming hole, well-known to locals, who will jump off the large rock promontory above. Make your way to the right through a cleft, and then go left to find the trail reentering the forest. It’s about a quarter of a mile from here on an easy level track to the Chimney Peak-South Pyramid Creek Trail Junction. Stay left at the junction, and make a traverse among more huge trees in a vanilla leaf, Oregon grape, bunchberry, lousewort carpet. Cross a mossy perennial stream. Later, a mossy spring issues between two massive Douglas-firs. Walk below a rock face, and then traverse a more open slope. Look down to a dripping grotto, and
Trail Stats
0.0 km
573 m
833 m
0 m
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