Malheur River Trail - North End
Hike Rating: Moderate
Hike
Length: 5.5 miles roundtrip (variable)
Elevation Loss: 200’
Trailhead Elevation: 4,780’
Best
Season: June through September
Driving Access: Any vehicle
Plus
Points
• Powerful river, 60’-80’ wide, whose roar is heard
throughout canyon
• Well-built trail with a gentle grade makes for easy
walking
• Old growth ponderosa pine forests along the river
terraces
• Dramatic rock formations (tuff rims, basalt cliffs and
talus slopes)
• Wildflowers in spring and songbirds throughout the summer
• Scenic views in a big river canyon
Minus
Points
• Some short sections of trail are narrow, rocky and
require caution
• A side creek and a few boggy seeps need to be crossed (no
footbridges)
Download
(PDF, 754 KB): Photos of Malheur River Trail -
North
Download
(PDF, 508 KB): Topo
Map for Malheur River Trail -
North
Download
(PDF, 540 KB): Road
Map for Malheur River Trail -
North
Trail
Notes
For the first
half mile, the trail runs down the west river bank through
old growth ponderosa pine and alder thickets. Soon the
canyon narrows a bit and steep canyon walls begin to define
the corridor, rising 300’-800’ above the river. After
crossing Miller Flat Creek at the one mile point, the trail
slowly ascends a hundred feet in elevation, up to a
cliff-top viewpoint in the most rugged part of the gorge.
Then, traversing a shale talus slope, the trail slowly
descends back to the river’s edge into a mixed forest of
ponderosa, fir and lodgepole. Found here also are some pure
stands of western larch, the Northwest’s only deciduous
conifer.
At about the
2.7 mile point, there are some nice riverside meadows,
which can make for a good lunch destination and hike
turnaround. If so inspired, though, one can continue hiking
the trail downstream, which alternately climbs up from and
then descends back to the river’s edge. However, don’t
forget that the walk back to the trailhead is still uphill
— though only a modest 200’ of elevation gain.
Road
to Trailhead
From paved Road 16 on the west edge of Logan Valley, drive
south on gravel Road 1643 for about 9.0 miles to Dollar
Basin, the first extensive sagebrush flat one encounters.
At Dollar Basin, turn left on dirt Road 1651 and follow the
signs for 1.6 miles to Malheur Ford and the trailhead. Here
you’ll find a small gravel parking lot at the edge of a
lovely riverside meadow, plus a vault toilet and a trail
sign.
Camping
Options
One option is to camp right at the trailhead at Malheur
Ford. The parking lot here is small and there are only 2-3
camping spots at most, which will only work for tent
campers and very small camping trailers. There is a vault
toilet here, but no potable water supply.
The next closest option is the Big Creek Campground in
scenic Logan Valley, about 14 miles north of the trailhead.
This is a big, developed campground with 14 sites, vault
toilets, tables, grills and drinking water. The fee is
$8.00 per night in 2011. The spring wildflower display in
Logan Valley is worth the visit here, as are the potential
elk, deer and sandhill crane sightings in the extensive
meadows.
Agency
Contact: Malheur National Forest,
Prairie City District, (541) 575-3000
DISCLAIMER:
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this
information, but the authors do not guarantee that it is
either current or correct. The reader assumes full
responsibility for any use of this information, and is
encouraged to contact local federal land agencies to
inquire about current conditions before
traveling.
Page
last updated: 12/20/11