It had been a while since we had checked off a hike in one of Matt Reeder’s guidebooks. While it hasn’t been a main goal of ours in the same way as it was for Sullivan’s guidebooks (post) we’ve been tracking our progress with several others. Prior to my medical issues this year we had plans to finish two of Reeder’s books, “PDX Hiking 365” (2 remaining) and “Off the Beaten Trail” (1 left), as well as a couple of the five remaining hikes from “101 Hikes in the Majestic Mount Jefferson Region”. Some of the hikes in that last book are still closed due to fires in 2020, but hopefully the last couple will reopen soon. In the meantime, he is working on a second edition which is exciting.
One of the two remaining hikes in “PDX Hiking 365” was the Triple C Loop in the Tillamook State Forest. The trail is named in honor of the Civilian Conservation Corps who worked on forest recovery after the 1933 Tillamook Burn. The hike begins at Reehers Camp where from 1934 to 1941 men from the CCC were stationed.
We parked at the Reehers Camp Trailhead
The Triple C Loop is just 2.8-miles making it a little too short to warrant the drive from Salem however the Gales Creek Trail (post) shares a portion of the Triple C Loop and offers longer options, one of which being the Step Creek Loop.
We took Reeder’s advice to hike the Triple C Loop counterclockwise and from the trailhead parking lot crossed NW Cochran Road and picked up the trail on the far side.
The trail makes its way around a knoll passing through a nice forest before a second road crossing and descending to the Nehalem River.
Trail from the campground joining from the right.
Squirrel!
Mushrooms were plentiful along the trails.
Crossing NW Wheeler Road.
First view of the Nehalem River. We have not had much rain yet this Fall so the water level was low.
A little under 2-miles into the loop the trail crossed NW Cochran Road again.
Here we left the Triple C Loop and turned right on the road to cross the river and continue on the Gales Creek Trail.
The Gales Creek Trail resumed on the left (south) side of the road just beyond the bridge.
Vine maple along the Gales Creek Trail.
The trail skirted a clear cut and gradually climbed to a crossing of the old Tillamook Bay Railroad.
The trail continued its gradual climb for 0.2 miles to a signed junction marking the start of the Step Creek Trail.
We forked left onto the Step Creek Trail and in another 0.2-miles arrived at the start of the Step Creek Loop.
The first of two road crossings.
The second road crossing.
The start of the Step Creek Loop. We decided to also hike this loop counterclockwise, so we forked right.
This loop is 3.1-miles around consisting of gradual ups and downs. Near the 2-mile mark the trail approaches Step Creek. The trail then parallels for approximately half a mile however the creek remained mostly hidden.
Step Creek was off to the right flowing beneath the brush.
Self heal
Approaching the signpost for the Step Creek Loop.
After completing this loop we headed back to the Gales Creek Trail and returned to the Nehalem River crossing. On the far side of the bridge we turned right at a trail sign to complete the Triple C Loop.
It was a little over half a mile back to the Reehers Camp Trailhead. This section of the loop offered views of the Nehalem River and several spur trails that provided access to the water.
I took one of the spur trails down to the river to check it out.
I didn’t know this until it flew off a moment later but there was a raptor in the trees on the opposite bank.
There had been a brief shower earlier, but we also got some blue sky.
Foam flower
The outhouse at the trailhead in view.
The hike came in at 7.6-miles with approximately 1000′ of elevation gain.
This was a good fall hike that would also be nice in winter. A longer hike is also possible by continuing further on the Gales Creek Trail. Happy Trails!
Flickr: Triple C and Step Creek Loops
