Camp Smokey
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Hikes including this location:
- Eagle-Benson Loop Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Eagle Creek to Wahtum Lake Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Wahtum Lake via Pacific Crest Trail Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Wahtum Lake via Ruckel Creek Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Wahtum Lake to Benson Plateau Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
- Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
- Latitude, Longitude: 45.61381, -121.84148
- Elevation: 3830 feet
Description
NOTICE: This camp burned in the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire. The Eagle-Benson Trail that connected to here was obliterated.
Camp Smokey is at the junction of the PCT and the Eagle-Benson Trail #434 at the southern tip of the Benson Plateau. There was one large camp site with a log windbreak, and another smaller site a short distance down the Eagle-Benson Trail. There is seasonal drinking water at Smokey Spring about .1 miles down the Eagle-Benson Trail at 45.61394, -121.84271. That being said, don't expect water past July in low snow years.
It used to be a nice place to setup camp on a multi-day trip around the Eagle Creek drainage or an out-and-back to Wahtum Lake. Afternoon winds can be pretty stiff in this area. There was an excellent viewpoint of Table Mountain and the expanse of the Eagle Creek drainage about .5 miles down the Eagle-Benson Trail.
In October 2012, there was a small ground fire on the slope between Camp Smokey and the campsite at the spring. Although the Pacific Crest Trail was reopened in June 2018 following the September 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, this would probably not be a good place to camp in coming years because of all the hazard trees. Most of the Benson Plateau was unburned, so you should find a campsite there.
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Contributors
- User:retiredjerry (creator)
- Jim Sifferle
- bobcat