As an epilogue to our Strawberry Mountain Wilderness backpacking trip (Day 1, Day 2, Days 3 &4) we visited the head of the Metolius River on our way home after spending a night in Bend.
Our original plan had been an overnight trip in the Mt. Thielsen Wilderness but neither of us were left with the energy to tackle such an outing, but the quarter mile paved path the the headwaters of the Metolius sounded doable.
We arrived at the trailhead along Forest Road 14 just after 8am and started down the short paved path.
It was a gloriously crisp 55 degrees which felt much cooler than it had at any time during our backpacking trip. Golden-mantled ground squirrels scurried about as we made our way to the viewing area.
The Metolius emerges from the springs as a fully formed river flowing north toward the Cove Palisades State Park (post).
Mt. Jefferson rising above the Metolius River
It may have only been a half mile hike but it was just what we’d needed before we headed home. Happy Trails!
Flickr: Head of the Metolius
wanderingyuncks 
One reply on “Head of the Metolius”
A short trip, but great photos.