South of Mount St Helens

We visited the north side of Mount St Helens in 2016. The destructive power of the 1980 volcanic eruption was still very evident and the area will take decades to recover. We decided to visit the south side this time. The heat from eruption that blasted out the north side of the mountain caused a glacier on the south side to melt. A huge flood of mud and rocks raced down the mountain at 100 miles an hour. It filled the stream beds and knocked down trees but the destruction was minor compared to the north side. 

We followed Forest Road 83 until it ended at the Lava Canyon Trailhead parking lot. Along the way we passed over a stream bed that is filled with debris from the mudflow. 

We stopped at the Lahar (mudflow) Viewpoint and walked/rolled along a short path with interpretive signs. The path is rough so wheelchair users may need assistance. 

The trail at Lava Canyon goes downhill for about 1/3 mile, losing about 65 feet in elevation, until it reaches an overlook of the Muddy River. This is the end of the paved and accessible section. The trail is in good condition with a few rough spots and has switchbacks to lessen the grade.  

We had been planning to stay at Marble Mountain Sno-Park but the main parking lot was gated so we went the other side of FR 83 and spent a very quiet night in the overflow lot.

 All of the parking lots are large enough for most vehicles but some time after the sno-park (heading east) but before Lahar Viewpoint there's a pile of gravel across the road with a sign indicating that high clearance is need to go farther. We have enough clearance so we drove over the gravel and on to Lava Canyon but didn't find the reason for the gravel or the sign. Low clearance vehicles will probably not make it over the gravel pile.  Forest Road 83  46.12993, -122.16985

Trail of Two Forests Interpretive Site

 A 1/4 mile boardwalk makes a loop through the forest that flourishes on a ancient lava flow from Mount St. Helens. 2,000 years ago when the lava run down the slopes of the mountain and hit the forest it solidified around the trees which eventually rotted leaving casts of the tree trunks. One of trees had fallen and the cast forms a short tunnel that visitors can crawl through. 

 

The trail is accessible and the interpretive signs are easy to read. 

The parking lot is large enough for any vehicle. Trail   46.09923, -122.21331

 

Little Nash Sno-Park

An Oregon annual sno-park permit is $25.00 for the season which runs from November 1 – April 30. Activities include cross country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding/tubing, snowmobiling, and mushing depending on the area. There are over 50 sno-parks and after the winter season they offer free boondocking a perk we have taken advance a few times.

 Little Nash Sno-Park was a good stop for us as we headed to Washington state. The park is a large asphalt lot with trees along the southern edge. We walked/rolled along Forest Road 2676 for about a mile (uphill) and found that the forest is too dense for boondocking although we did see one small spot that was occupied. Sno-Park  44.43211, -121.95842

 

Tumalo State Park

The Deschutes River is slow moving and shallow as it flows through the park making it perfect for families wishing to play in the water or go tubing. For that reason the campground is very popular in the summer but it is possible to get a site for a day or two. 

Amenities include rest rooms, showers, full hook up and tent sites and fresh water faucets. There isn't a dump station as most RVers camp in the full hook up sites. 

We managed to get an accessible site for two days. The accessible sites are very nice with brick paved patios that extends under the tables and fire rings. The table in our site had only one bench giving access to the entire side of the table top. The fire ring had high sides. We had a no hook up site- a tent site that could accommodate RVs - so there was also a large gravel area for tent set up. Campground 44.12732, -121.33105

 

 

Clearwater and Whitehorse Falls

More than a dozen waterfalls are located along Route 138 in Oregon. Most are just a few miles off the road and two of them are a very short walk or roll along accessible paths. 

Clearwater Fall creates a picturesque scene as the water tumbles over moss covered rocks. A hard packed dirt path leads to a deck with interpretive signs.The parking lot is large enough for most vehicles. Falls 43.24768, -122.23363

 Whitehorse Falls pours over several levels into an emerald green pool. A packed dirt path and boardwalk lead to the viewing deck. There are a few roots in the path but they are easily to navigate around or over. The deck railing blocks the view to some extent. Van and short RVs will fit in the lot. Long RVs should be parked in the gravel pull off on Route 138. Falls  43.24751, -122.30488

Diamond Lake Campground

Campsites are strung out for two miles along the shore of Diamond Lake. Most sites can be reserved but there are a good number of first come/first serve sites so getting a site without a reservation is possible. Amenities include picnic tables, fire rings, restrooms, showers, and a dump station. 

As to be expected the most popular sites are along the water. The ground slopes towards the lake so many of the sites near the water are very unlevel. It looks like the people in tents could roll down the hill! 

None of the sites are designated as accessible but many are usable. We asked for a level one and were given site A 17 which has  a wide parking pad, and roomy table area. It's fairly private with large trees for shade. There's a slight slope to the picnic table.

The ten mile John Dellenbeck Trail circles the lake and can be accessed from the campground. We parked in the north end boat ramp for easy access and walked/rolled in both directions. One way leads to a little resort community; the other way passes through the campground. The trail uses roads and parking lots in these areas and we were confused about where to go so we only did about a mile in total. The trail should be easier to follow once out of the populated section.  Campground  Trail  43.1659, -122.13199

 

Trailhead/Sno-Park Boondocking

When we arrived at a boondocking spot where we had stayed years ago and found it full of campers and construction equipment, we headed a few miles west to the North Crater Lake Sno-Park. The road to the sno-park is less than 1/2 long and ends in small loop with parking, tables, and a vault toilet. The loop was very dusty so we chose to camp along the road tucked into the trees. Someone had cleared all of the fallen trees and branches making a nice spot large enough for several vehicles. Sno-Park  not the exact spot - 43.09034, -122.09843

 

Barnhouse Campground

Free and peaceful camping with cell signal. :) A five mile paved forest road climbs 2000 feet to this pretty little campground which has about five or six unmarked sites nestled under towering ponderosa pines. Tables and a vault toilet are the only amenities. 

The tables have extended tops. The ground is hardpacked but may become loose when wheeled around on.

A few of the sites are large enough for most RVs but the turn around at the end of the campground road may be too tight.   Campground  44.47421, -119.93437

 

Cant Ranch

The ranch is just a short distance from the John Day Fossil Beds Visitor Center but interprets a totally different period. The ranch was owned by the Cant family from 1910 until 1975. The family raised sheep, pigs, chickens, hogs, and cattle. They had a large vegetable garden, fruit orchards, and grew alfalfa and wheat. 

All of the buildings, except for a log cabin, built by an earlier owner, were added during the time the Cants lived on the property. The house, which is open as staffing allows, and the sheep barn are the only buildings that visitors can enter. The other buildings are mainly small outbuildings. A trail with interpretive signs goes from the parking lot to the sheep barn. Two more short trails the Sheep Rock Overlook Trail and the River Trail also start at the parking lot.

The house which has a ramp to the porch was not open during our visit. The sheep barn also has a ramp to access the stalls where the sheep were sheared. None of the trails are accessible due to loose gravel. 

The parking lot by the house is too small for RVs but there are RV spaces in the lot located between the road and the cattle pen. Ranch  44.55583, -119.64522