Union Creek and Falls

Seven of us ventured up to experience the upper Union Creek trail, thrilled that the Forest Service was able to clear it this year. It had not been maintained, thus closed, for about a decade. To craft the journey to fit our group’s guidelines, we did a car shuttle between Becky’s/Union Creek Resort and the upper TH parking off of Highway 62 at MP 59 onto gravel roads #600 and #610. From this TH, we descended to Union Creek and took a side trail up a short distance over rocks and under downed-trees to view the Union Creek Falls. The Falls amount to several short rapids tumbling over the boulders. Returning to the main trail, we hiked one way alongside the Creek to the back of Union Creek Resort cabins.

This is a ‘must hike’ trail. When Kay and Elisabeth scouted it in August, the middle section was still heavily covered in brush, to the point that it was challenging to see through to find the trail. We all were grateful to have this trail back in service to hikers, and hope it will continue to be maintained.

Huge Douglas firs, fern, vanilla leaf, huckleberry bushes, and flat-needled yews (bark once used by indigenous peoples to make bows, and today used to make the cancel drug Taxol). Today, we spotted a wide variety of mushrooms and other fungi in many different colors, such as orange, blue, black, and white. A highlight of this journey at this time of year with ample moisture, shade, and decaying trees and ground cover. The accompanying photos are labeled with the name of each, where known.

We logged 5 miles from upper TH to the Resort and Becky’s. When the shuttle drivers arrived at our launch TH, they found themselves surrounded by a herd of free-roaming cattle. Back at Becky’s we found quite a back-up of eclipse patrons awaiting tables, thus we took time only to purchase take-home slices of pie. As we climbed in our cars, the ‘promised’ rain began as hail. It was that chilly in the afternoon but great hiking weather in the morning.

Hike Leader: Kay

Photos By: Kay