Thursday, June 13th - Quercus Meadow and Then Some
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
McDonald Forest
Corvallis, OR
Difficulty: Moderate
Length: Just under 5 miles
Elevation gain: 900 feet
Registration required!
Join us for a truly local hike on the north edge of Corvallis in McDonald Forest. Our moderate hike will be just under five miles with about 900 feet of elevation gain. The Quercus Meadow Trail has been challenging to reach due to recent construction in the area. However, an improved alternative access is available from the 29th Street trailhead.
The route will be one large clockwise circle: 29th St. to Quercus Meadow Trail, Road 612, Middle Dan's Trail, Dan's Horse Connector, Lower Horse Trail, Lower Dan's Trail, Chip Ross Trail, Chip Ross/29th St. Trail.
The outing is rated moderate due to elevation gain and some steep trail segments. There is abundant poison oak just off the trails, so we need to hike single file on narrow trails. We will stop for a snack break around mid-way. Be sure to bring plenty of water. Proper footwear is always essential.
The group will be limited to 12 participants. We will leave promptly at 10:00 am so plan to be there by 9:50 am.
Contact the outing leader to reserve a spot and obtain further details. Leader: Robert White, rlw...@gmail.com
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New! Monday, June 17th - Pigeon Butte Hike
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Finley Wildlife Refuge, Bruce Road Entrance
Corvallis, OR
Length: +/- 3.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Elevation gain: some
Registration required!
Enjoy an evening hike at the southern end of Finley Wildlife Refuge. We'll walk through Cheadle marsh where you'll hear birdsong and frogs and smell the abundant wild roses. At the top of Pigeon Butte are beautiful views. Birders and photographers will really enjoy this hike! It is about 3.5 miles, depending on which route we use to return. There is some elevation gain, so I'm rating this hike easy to moderate. I recommend boots, as the grass can be long and wet.
We will meet at 5:30 pm at the trailhead on Bruce Road. To get there take 99 South. Travel about 10 miles south of Corvallis. Bruce Road is on your right at the southern end of the refuge. Go past two parking areas on your right. Pigeon Butte is the third parking area on the right. I drive a red Subaru Outback and I will get there early, so look for me.
To register for this hike please contact trip leader Mary Beth Downes at mbcd...@gmail.com
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New! Thursday, June 27th - Peavy Peak Perimeter Loop
9:30 am - 12:30 pm
McDonald Forest
Corvallis, OR
Length: 4 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation gain: +/- 1000 feet
Registration required!
This 4-mile hike combines parts of the Section 36 Loop Trail and other "hiking only" trails in the Peavy Arboretum area. We will start from the Forest Parking area near the beginning of Forest Road 500. The route will be a large clockwise loop: Forest Discovery Trail to CFIRP Trail, Section 36 Loop Trail, Section 36 again, and Forest Road 500. The nearly 1,000 ft. elevation gain is in the first 2 miles; the hike is rated moderate due to this steady incline, and hiking poles may be helpful. We will stop along the Powder House Trail (about the midway point) to take in the views and have a water/snack break. The second half of the hike is downhill, passing Cronemiller Lake and the Forestry Club Cabin on our return to the parking area.
We will meet at the Forest Parking area in Peavy Arboretum at 9:30 for a 9:40 departure. From Corvallis, go north on NW Hwy 99, turn left on NW Arboretum Rd, and go less than a mile to the entrance to Peavy Arboretum on the left. Just after you enter Peavy, go left on NW Peavy Arboretum Rd for about a third of a mile to a Y in the road; the Forest Parking area will be to the left. Outing co-leaders are Sheryl Thorburn and Mary Beth Downes.
The group is limited to 12 participants. To sign up for this hike, contact outing co-leader, Sheryl Thorburn, at thorbu...@comcast.net.