Pool along the Salmon River Trail (Tom Kloster)

• Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
• Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
• Latitude, Longitude: 45.27800, -121.93927
• Elevation: 1600 feet
• Driving time from Portland: 1 hour

Hikes starting here

• Old Salmon River Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)
• Salmon River Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)
• Green Canyon-Salmon River Loop Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)

Fees and Regulations

• Northwest Forest Pass Required

Driving Directions

The Salmon River Trail once began near the community of Welches, but when a road was built up the canyon to begin logging operations in the 1960s, the trail was truncated. Sections of the lower trail still parallel the road, and are described in the Old Salmon River Hike. This trailhead is for the main portion of the trail, where it heads into the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness. The trailhead starts near one of the many infamous "bridges to nowhere", built to serve logging road networks that were never fully developed. There are undeveloped camp spots at the far end of the bridge, but no water or toilets. Portable toilets are provided seasonally at trailhead parking area. This trailhead is called the "West Salmon Trailhead" by the Forest Service, a confusing name, given that there is a string of Salmon River trailheads west of here that make up the Old Salmon River Trailhead.

Drive Highway 26 from the last traffic light in Sandy 16.8 miles and then turn right in Welches on the Salmon River Road.

Drive 5.0 miles on this road to the parking pullouts on the left and right side of the road before the Salmon River Bridge.

Page Contributors

• Splintercat (Tom Kloster) (primary)