Rock Creek Trail
Hike Rating: Moderate
Hike
Length: 7.6 miles roundtrip (variable)
Elevation Loss: 620’
Trailhead Elevation: 5,520’
Best
Season: June through September
Driving Access: Any vehicle
Plus
Points
• A pleasant hike through an unspoiled stream canyon
• The last 1.5 miles of trail follows the historical
Waterman Mining Ditch
• A well-built trail on a moderate grade makes for easy
walking
• Abundant wildflowers into mid-summer and bird life
year-round
• Scenic views up and down the canyon from the mining ditch
section
• Remains of an old log cabin built by miners is a good
hike destination
Minus Points
• A few short trail sections in the lower canyon are eroded
and slippery
• Mining ditch trail is not regularly cleared, so expect a
few deadfall trees
Download
(PDF, 673 KB): Photos of Rock Creek
Trail
Download
(PDF, 588 KB): Topo Map for Rock
Creek Trail
Download
(PDF, 480 KB): Road Map for Rock
Creek Trail
Trail
Notes
From the
trailhead at Potter Meadows, the trail drops 0.4 miles down
into Rock Creek, where it crosses a sturdy footbridge onto
the north bank. For the next two miles, the trail parallels
the north bank, staying 10’-50’ above the stream. Pure
stands of larch are on the moister, north-facing slopes,
with mature ponderosas on the drier, south slopes and
lodgepoles and willows along the stream.
At 2.4 miles, a small interpretive sign announces the
Waterman Ditch, a now defunct diversion of Rock Creek that
was contoured around the hillsides in the 1890’s to reach a
gold mining district ten miles away near Spanish Peak to
the north.
The trail
then follows this old mining ditch on a level grade for 1.4
miles to Fir Tree Creek. In this section of trail, there
are great views up and down the canyon, but it is not
regularly maintained, so expect to crawl over a few downed
trees. At Fir Tree Creek are the remains of an old log
cabin built by the miners, which makes a good hike
destination, with shady lunch spots nearby at creekside.
Road to Trailhead
This trailhead is easily accessible on good gravel roads
that can be driven by any passenger car. From the main
gravel Road 12, go 3.7 miles east on Road 1250 to a tee at
Road 38. At this tee, turn left and drive 1.8 miles east on
Road 38 to Potter Meadows, where there is a small gravel
parking lot on the left (north) and a trailhead sign.
Camping
Options
The nearest developed campground is the Cottonwood
Campground, about 6 driving miles northeast of the
trailhead, off gravel Road 12. This is a pleasant site on a
high bench above Rock Creek, near a dry upland meadow with
old growth ponderosas. There a six free campsites and a
vault toilet, but no drinking water supply. (A spring
emerges at the campground, with a piped outlet, but the
water is apparently not potable). Any size camping setup
can be accommodated here.
Agency
Contact: Ochoco National Forest, (541)
416-6500
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: 12/26/11