August 6, 2021—
After living in the Pacific Northwest for almost two years, Scott and I finally embarked on our first backpacking trip along the Salmon River Trail in the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness near Mt. Hood. We spent two nights in peaceful bliss surrounded by luscious greenery, the gentle rushing of the river, and the soft but heavy quiet that often fills these old growth forests.
Day 1: Evening hike in (2 miles, 213 ft gain) | AllTrails Activity | Trailhead used
We started in on Friday evening after work. With the sunset being later at this time of year we knew even in the full foliage we’d have a fair amount of time before we lost the light. Immediately upon entering the forest we were in awe of the scenery—soaking it in as we made our way across aged log bridges, barely hearing our own footfalls over the needled pathways. The trees are encased in thick, cushioned moss and the ground is carpeted in various types of ferns, clover, and ivy creating a soft room teeming with life.
Location:
Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness near Mt. Hood
Rhododendron, Oregon
Activity:
Backpacking, 2 nights
Trails used:
Salmon River Trail
Length covered:
~13 miles
Time of year:
Early August
Warning:
There are often car break ins at this trailhead when left over night—in just the weekend we were there we saw three, our car included, and a ton of glass in the parking lot from others.
There are plenty of sites along the trail, so after about 2 miles we decided to stop at an incredible, large site cradled between the river and a beautiful old tree. Setting up camp was quick, so we spent the evening exploring the area around our site and reading in our cozy 2-person tent.
Day 2: Day hike (8.6 miles, 1,631 ft gain) | AllTrails Activity | Trailhead used
Our initial plan for day 2 was to pack up our things and backpack to Goat Creek Camp, about another 4 miles down the Salmon River Trail, though after having such a lovely evening by the river we decided to stay at the first site and instead make it a day hike to explore Goat Creek Camp. So, we made some coffee, had a quick breakfast, and packed up some snacks to begin our exploring for the day.
Continuing down the Salmon River Trail was incredible, rich browns and greens with pops of purple and orange florals poking through made for a lovely, dew dropped morning. The beginning of this trail is mostly flat (the 2 miles we did on Friday and the first mile or so of our day hike) with the little bit of elevation hitting around mile 2 and 3 of this day excursion. I was glad to keep our site where it was but felt confident that this route would have been a good one for a newcomer as the elevation wasn’t too tough and the distance not too far.
Just before we reached Goat Creek Camp there was a great viewpoint overlooking the river valley beyond—though we weren’t high enough to see Mt. Hood it was still breathtaking.
We made our way to Goat Creek Camp and stopped for some sunshine and snacks before turning around and heading back. The site could have easily accommodated a large group or few smaller groups. There were a bunch of downed trees that almost divided up the area into private quarters, providing plenty of seating areas and privacy for anyone making camp here.
Though a little wet on Friday, Saturday turned out to be an absolutely stunning day of sunshine with some light rain in the evening—a peaceful end to our day thanks to the cover of our site. We spent some time wading in the river, dining on some good ol’ Mountain House Chicken & Rice (our favorite dehydrated meal so far), and reading in the hammock while listening to the water rush by.
Day 3: Morning hike out (1.8 miles, 197 ft gain) | AllTrails Activity
Over night and into early Sunday heavier rains rolled through, but between the thick foliage above and our tent we were able to stay dry and warm—by the morning it had mostly subsided. We took our time waking and getting ready to gather everything back up into our packs.
As we said goodbye to our site and began our short walk to the car, we did our best to take everything around us in. This area has such rich greenery, with a tremendous amount of nurse stumps lining the pathways below and hanging moss dangling from above.
I had recently read a book called The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben which spoke a lot about the importance of this symbiotic relationship through life, death, and regeneration. It’s amazing how even after the death of a tree, surrounding trees will continue to nourish the stump who was once an integral part of their community, and in return are nourished by the decades of previous life residing within the bark.
I will always appreciate the moments I get to spend here, the slow moments that pass as you soak up this type of scenery, and I am grateful to have been able to spend the three days—my first backpacking trip—in such a serene environment. Until next time, ✌🏼✨.