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The South Fork Clackamas and Memaloose Falls hike offers more than enough special features to offset any trouble you may have finding the trailhead. Once you navigate NF-45 to the destination, you will be welcomed by rope-assisted descents and climbs, waterfalls, and the ruins of waterworks efforts that include an old log bridge and tunnels up to 100 yards long.
This adventure begins with a leisurely path through the woods that may lull you into thinking this is a simple 3-mile, there-and-back hike. However, after a short distance into the hike you'll reach a steep hillside that will likely be muddy. Luckily, you can navigate up and down the steep area using ropes that past hikers have tied to sturdy trees along the route. You'll find a photographer's paradise once descend into the Memaloose Creek canyon, including a log-jammed river, an amazing amount of moss, three separate waterfalls that have drops of up to 120 feet, and the relics along the route from past tunneling and waterworks development efforts.
These efforts began in 1915, when the South Fork Water Board started routing water from Memaloose Creek and South Fork Clackamas to Oregon City and West Linn. The project was expanded years later with help from the Works Progress Administration, and the main intake was moved upstream above the falls in 1939. The project involved miles of pipe and the construction of the tunnels you see today.
The area is remote, and you'll likely find that to be a good thing. While you won't find restrooms or a charging station for your phone, you will certainly find secluded campsites, innumerable angles for waterfall photos, and lots of peace and quiet.
I would agree with the last post that this hike (10.14.17) is definitely an all day adventure. Judging by the map, and total mileage, I thought that we can accomplish this hike in a couple of hours, but I was wrong. We did not complete this hike and got as far as to the first cave due to time and beginning hikers in our group of 5. We started this hike at 1:00pm, however we missed the off-road trail and ended up hiking up another mile before we realized that we've gone too far. Once we retraced our steps back to what we could see the actual trail, I stacked rocks at the starting point for any hikers in the future who plan to conquer this hike.
I apologize in advance if I offend anyone from Oregon, but this trail is very sketchy. There are a lot of bullet shells/casings everywhere which made some people in our party feel a little uneasy. I understand that this trail is also open to hunters, but we are from California and do not know much. When we were coming back to our car, we saw a naked man walking around which we had found to be quite unsettling.
Some things to keep in mind:
1. We made sure we had a NW Forest pass that we had purchased from REI to be safe.
2. The NF-45 trail is STILL CLOSED at the bridge so you won't be able to drive your car through. You can park right outside the steel bridge, but parking is probably limited to 2 cars, maybe 3 pushing it.
3. Wear pants or leggings of some sort, walking through the beginning of this hike contains a lot of thorns
4. Prepare to descend down steep trails with rope. Much thanks to hikers in the passed who have provided these.
4. Probably best to travel with a group of friends and during the day before sunset.
Be safe out there and be aware of your surroundings.
Comments
I apologize in advance if I offend anyone from Oregon, but this trail is very sketchy. There are a lot of bullet shells/casings everywhere which made some people in our party feel a little uneasy. I understand that this trail is also open to hunters, but we are from California and do not know much. When we were coming back to our car, we saw a naked man walking around which we had found to be quite unsettling.
Some things to keep in mind:
1. We made sure we had a NW Forest pass that we had purchased from REI to be safe.
2. The NF-45 trail is STILL CLOSED at the bridge so you won't be able to drive your car through. You can park right outside the steel bridge, but parking is probably limited to 2 cars, maybe 3 pushing it.
3. Wear pants or leggings of some sort, walking through the beginning of this hike contains a lot of thorns
4. Prepare to descend down steep trails with rope. Much thanks to hikers in the passed who have provided these.
4. Probably best to travel with a group of friends and during the day before sunset.
Be safe out there and be aware of your surroundings.
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