It has become my habit to take a forest hike whenever I find myself back in the Pacific Northwest. Hawaii Island offers relatively few good hiking trails, and I do miss the deep green forests of the PNW.
I spend some time researching and selecting the hike before I go. Since I dedicate one day of the trip, I do want to make the best of it.
After considering a few possible plans I selected University Falls this year. As the falls hike is pretty short, under 2 miles, the plan included the nearby Nels Rogers Trail to add some distance and additional photographic opportunities.
There was some thought to my choice… Selecting the Coast Range rather than the more heavily used Cascades or Columbia River Gorge offered less risk of a fire season restriction. And while there were other hikers about, I was generally left to my chosen solitude on the trail.
The result? Not a bad plan.
Of course… I find the cell signal is sketchy deep in the Wilson River Valley, the navigation system drops out just a mile or two before the turnoff from the main highway. I begin to wonder about the maze of forest roads I will need to traverse to find the trailhead. I should not have worried… The forest roads are in excellent shape and well signed.
In general, I was impressed by the folks maintaining the Tillamook State Forest. Well-maintained roads that are no problem in just about any vehicle, good signage at intersections and trailheads, well-groomed trails, and maintained campgrounds. This is a managed forest that sees regular logging activity, clear cuts are part of the scenery. Given the good state of the facilities, it is no mystery where the logging proceeds are going.
An early morning start allowed me to reach the first trailhead in the cool morning air. It felt good to be out in the forest and on the trail. The trees and brush around me alive with small mammals and birds also starting the day.
University Falls is relatively small, only 80′ high, but lovely. Water cascades in small rivulets over a wide face. Logs choke the stream in front of the falls, attesting that this place is not always so peaceful.
I set my pack down and break out the photo gear, spending much of the next hour working the waterfalls over thoroughly. There is a good opening in the trees in front of the falls, enough to fly the drone up and over, shooting from above, panning top to bottom, and shooting a 360 panorama.
After a time, I put the cameras away and just sat, contemplating the place, the cool, damp breeze on my face, the flowing water, the sounds, the peace. This is what I came for.
The Nels Rogers Trail also turned out to be a good choice, a lovely creek through a deep woodland offering nice vistas and good photo opportunities. Accessed from the same road I had driven right past the Deyoe Creek Trailhead to reach University Falls.
Despite being named the Deyoe Creek Trailhead, the trail does not proceed along Deyoe Creek, rather, it follows the Devil’s Lake Branch of the Wilson River along the Nels Rogers Trail. The trailhead is located where Deyoe Creek joins the Wilson River.
The trail follows the river for a while, just above the water, at times winding through the woods. In a couple of places the waterway runs straight, a hallway of green covering the water. The trees arching over the water remind me of an English country church, looking down a vaulted nave. I fly the drone up and down the green corridor while taking video of the passage.
While the Nels Rogers Trail trail does connect to a few other options, I choose an in-and-out option using the same route, retracing my steps more slowly and photographing the many flowers and mossy microscapes along the trail.
I can highly recommend this section of the Nels Rogers Trail for a low-impact hike of whatever length you desire. It would be even more spectacular with fall colors painting the forest in orange and red.
Feeling nicely worn, but not really tired, I headed back towards Banks and lunch. A very good morning, and much of the day remaining. I had some ideas about that.
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