Bell Creek via Multnomah Creek Loop Hike

Overview

The Bell Creek Trail #459 reopened in 2024, about 6½ years after the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire. This lovely, remote three-mile old-growth trail, which contours above the headwaters of both Oneonta and Bell creeks, was little damaged by the fire, but a loop entails using the western portion of the Horsetail Creek Trail, which was severely impacted. You’ll use several trails to access the loop, which we’ll describe counterclockwise, with the deep descent and ascent in and out of the Oneonta valley being the main elevation change. Note the “traditional” way to access Bell Creek is from the Oneonta Trailhead , a hike that is not much longer but with 1,000 feet more elevation gain (see the Bell Creek Loop Hike ). Be aware also that there are no established campsites deep into the route, the best site being at the Oneonta Creek Ford . Walk around the gate on Road 315 using a concrete “Forest Service” step. You’ll keep heading right and uphill from a junction in a forest of hemlock, vine maple, and rhododendron. Soon, you reach the well-signed junction with the Larch Mountain Trail . Turn left and downhill from here to pass below a rock wall that buttresses a former parking area. This section of the Larch Mountain Trail is actually graveled. You’ll pass a campsite under bigger Douglas-firs, hemlocks, and noble firs. When you reach the wilderness sign at the junction with the Multnomah Creek Way Trail , turn right. (There’s a wilderness permit box here, but you won’t be entering wilderness quite yet.) The way trail drops into a lush bottomland of big cedars and crosses the West Fork of Multnomah Creek on a planed off log footbridge. Then you’ll come to the junction with the Multnomah Spur Trail , where you should turn left. This trail rises a little and then drops into an old-growth bottomland to reach the East Fork Multnomah Creek Crossing . The crossing here is usually a rock hop, but heavy rain could necessitate a ford. The trail rises; when it’s wet, water may be running down the tread. You’ll pass some big old Dougl

Trail Stats

Photos

Trail photo

Crossing a tributary of Oneonta Creek, Bell Creek Trail (bobcat)

Trail photo

Track of the lollipop loop described (bobcat) Courtesy: Gaia Topo

Trail photo

Andesite parapet on the Horsetail Creek Trail (bobcat)

Trail photo

Chicken of the woods (Laetiporus sulphureus) , Bell Creek Trail (bobcat)

Trail photo

Cutleaf bugbane (Actaea laciniata) , Multnomah Spur Trail (bobcat)

Trail photo

Old-growth cedar grove, Bell Creek Trail (bobcat)

Trail photo

No caption provided.

Tags