I first became aware of the extended trail beyond the Springwater trailhead in Boring over a decade ago when a friend planned a Pedalpalooza ride to explore the then-undeveloped trail. A group of us rode out the week before the ride, bringing our tools and clearing the entire path to the deadend, which didn't have a bench or a sign or a fence yet. It took us all day. Funny story, no one showed up for the actual Pedalpalooza ride. These days the trail is very civilized, with a wide gravel pathway easily passable even on road bikes.
The Cazadero Trail follows the former Portland Railway, Light & Power (PRL & P)
electric interurban railroad, which was constructed in 1903-04 and abandoned in the 1940s, It ran from the Linneman Station on the Springwater Corridor (now a Rail to Trail) to the Cazadero Dam on the Clackamas, just east of Estacada. Later the line was extended a little
further to the vicinity of the North Fork Dam.
One day, cyclists and hikers will be able to travel from Portland to Estacada (and beyond) without mingling with automobile traffic. I hope that day comes during my lifetime. What follows are reports of my grassroots, somewhat clumsy but fun attempt at on-the-ground activism.
Our first adventure was mostly just crashing around in the
nettle-filled, brambly, ferny woods. We reached a very steep drop off, turned back and crashed around some more for a while before coming to a chain link fence that ran parallel to the path. Finally we noticed some pink
tags which led to a blue rope. Two of us stayed at the top while one followed the rope all the way down the
ravine to Deep Creek. Beyond that is the Salvation Army camp (appropriately named Trestle Glen).
June report:
Three of us rode out to Boring, stopped for snacks at the Shell
station, then ducked into the woods for a nice ride before reaching the
dead end. We locked up, changed and got ready to get wet since it had been a very rainy morning. Much less stumbling through the woods was required to reach the "blue rope". Once again, I
waited at the top while others took the blue rope down the
ravine and tried to find a shallower way up to the east. No luck.
Seven adventurers reported for coffee and rode to Boring, then followed the trail to the dead end (for now!). We locked up, changed and backtracked on the trail on foot about a quarter mile. Then we headed north from the trail, picking our way through the gorgeous wildflower-filled meadow and the power line towers.
There was a steep muddy hill that everyone seemed to hike down easily, while I took it super slow. After that it was smooth sailing to a sexy little bend in Deep Creek. This was my first time getting to the actual creek and it felt like a big victory. The creek was not that deep. A couple of us went skinny dipping. I set up base camp there while everyone else continued on to cross the creek and work their way over to a small road that led to Amsigger.
Notes from Metro:
Metro
purchased the property using money from the Parks and Nature
bond measure passed by voters in 2019. Generally Metro does not design,
build, or operate sections of trail - their role in developing the regional trail system
is to closely support local partner agencies to develop trails in their
jurisdictions with such elements as property or easement acquisition,
regional agency coordination, and grant application support. In the case
of the Cazadero gap, Metro owns the property
but it would be up to Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept (OPRD) to design
and build the trail. They own the rest of the trail property (the old
railroad right-of-way), all the way from Boring to near Timber Park in
Estacada.
Metro
also owns property near the Deep Creek gap at SE Bakers Ferry Rd
just south of Hwy 224 that could one day serve as a trailhead. Filling
this gap will constitute a major project since the old railroad
trestles were destroyed. The trail will now have to switchback up and
down the steep gorge, which will be a dramatic but
challenging section of trail to build (and to ride/walk/roll along!).
Metro
and Clackamas County staff have an open line of communication with Clay
Courtright, OPRD’s district manager for the Columbia region. This trail
gap at Deep Creek may not be a high priority
for State Parks, but the more they hear from constituents about the
trail, the more likely they are to pursue it. If riding to Estacada from Portland without cars breathing down your neck is attractive to you, you might consider dropping Clay a note at
Clay.Courtright@oprd.oregon.
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