Craft Cabin Trail
Hike Rating: Moderate
Hike
Length: 5.0 miles roundtrip (variable)
Elevation Loss: 230’
Trailhead Elevation: 4,930’
Best
Season: June through September;
after
spring runoff has subsided
Driving Access: Any vehicle,
with care
Plus
Points
• Small, intimate stream canyon with a new aspect around
every bend
• Old growth ponderosa pines on streamside terraces
• Scenic rock formations (eroded tuff bluffs) throughout
canyon
• Wildflowers in spring and songbirds throughout summer
• Potential bald eagle sightings overhead
• Great opportunity for solitude, as only 10-15 parties
visit per year
Minus
Points
• At least three calf-deep stream crossings, so wear
suitable footwear
• Trail is not cleared every year, so expect to crawl over
a few wind-thrown trees
• Cow activity seems to increase the further south one goes
down the canyon
Download
(PDF, 687 KB): Photos of Craft Cabin
Trail
Download
(PDF, 592 KB): Topo Map for Craft
Cabin Trail
Download
(PDF, 524 KB): Road Map for
Craft Cabin Trail
Trail
Notes
For the first
half mile after leaving the trailhead, the path gradually
descends through a ponderosa pine forest to a large, open
sagebrush flat along Pine Creek. It then passes through a
wooden fence stile into the stream canyon itself. In the
next half mile, the trail fords the stream in two places as
it travels through grass meadows, mature ponderosa groves,
and then a rocky narrows in the canyon.
After one mile, the canyon widens considerably and stands
of old growth ponderosa begin to appear again on the
streamside terraces. Numerous large, wind-thrown and broken
off trees occur in this section. Look for bald eagles
overhead.
The trail
continues for miles along alder-lined Pine Creek. There are
occasional views here of canyon cliffs and rock bluffs. Cow
activity seems to increase the further one travels down the
canyon, though cows were absent in June 2011 when we last
visited. Streamside meadows at the 2.5 mile point (just
before the fourth stream crossing) can make a good lunch
spot and hike turnaround.
Road
to Trailhead
The trailhead is in a remote and seldom-visited part of the
Malheur Forest. However, the access roads are all good and
suitable for any passenger car. From gravel Road 28, turn
east on Road 2850 and drive 2.2 miles to a “Y” where Road
2855 branches off to the right (east). Follow Road 2855 for
2.2 miles, where dirt Road 121 branches off to the left.
Follow Road 121 downhill for 0.9 miles to a junction, where
you turn right on dirt Road 125. It’s then just a short 0.3
mile drive downhill to the trailhead and parking area.
Camping Options
The nearest developed campground is the Rock Springs
Campground, about 20 miles north of the trailhead on Road
28. This is a small, pleasant forest camp next to a wet
meadow. It's recently been refurbished with a new vault
toilet, new tables and fire rings, but no drinking water.
It has 14 diverse camping sites that can accommodate
anything from tents to large travel trailers. The fee is
$6.00 per night in 2011.
Another option is the Idlewild Campground on Highway 395
about 20 miles north of Burns and about 22 driving miles
from the trailhead. This is a large, developed camping
complex, with 25 sites that are just a few hundred yards
from the highway. It features paved parking aprons, vault
toilets and a potable water supply. It can accommodate any
size camping rig, for a fee of $10.00 per night in 2011.
Agency
Contact: Malheur National Forest,
Emigrant Creek District, (541) 573-4300
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