Sunday, April 28, 2024
Greg and I headed out to the Spring Basin Wilderness today under dark overcast skies.
Normally it’s sunny over here, but not today. We set off up the canyon, admiring flowers along the way.
Greg quickly fell behind taking photos so when I reached the junction at the top of the canyon he was nowhere in sight. We had already discussed taking different routes today. He was going to head to Horse Mountain and I was going to head down Spring Basin Canyon, which I have never visited before. So I turned right here:
I was following an old faded Jeep track, which crossed a relatively flat section where balsamroot was in bloom:
Lookout south:
The trail curves again, this time heading east and descending down into the canyon. And the trail turns south, traveling through Juniper Forest.
The tractor end the length of the canyon, alongside a dry wash. The track went in and out of the wash it was hard to follow at times, but it was impossible to get lost in this canyon.
The route rises up away from the wash on its left side. Then it descends to the junction with another jeep track. 3.7 mi
The hedgehog cactus were not quite in bloom yet here:
This one was growing in a rock crack:
The track made a gentle descent:
Then I reached a junction with a “route closed“ sign. A very faded Jeep track headed to the left behind that sign. I took the right fork following the track up the slope:
The track leveled out, descended, then rose again:
I reached another “route closed” sign although I could see no evidence whatsoever of an old track:
The track turned north and I saw a swallowtail butterfly:
Then the track curved northeast and began descending into the canyon:
The track entered an area of junipers at the canyon bottom:
Looking back the way I’ve come:
The track had more or less been following the dry wash, but now left it to climb up the slope:
Looking back toward Horse Mountain:
Then I reached a junction with another track. Turning left would connect you with the track in Hay Bottom Canyon:
Instead I turned right to continue down Spring Basin Canyon:
Supposedly there’s a spring on the hill here. I never saw water, but I saw evidence of it as this spot is lusher than the surroundings:
Continuing down the canyon:
An ancient campfire ring:
The canyon narrows:
So the track starts climbing up away from it:
Looking down into the canyon:
Now the track swings west as it makes its way over to Clarno Road:
Looking down on the private ranch to the south:
Lots of milkvetch here:
Shortly before reaching the road I passed an old gate:
Looking back:
I reached the road at a sort-of-trailhead, except you can’t drive to this spot and park:
I set off up the road:
Then I passed this sign:
It was a bit alarming since the webpage for Spring Basin Wilderness on the Oregon Natural Desert Association’s website says this: “A locked gate and adjacent private land prevents driving all the way to this trail, and there is NO short or long term parking near the private gate, so to reach this access point one must park at the BLM trailhead and walk the road to the trail. While signage on this gate indicates otherwise, there is no requirement for written or verbal permission from any landowner to go through the gate, and walk or ride a horse on the County road accessing Spring Basin Wilderness. Ensure you stay on the road until reaching BLM land.”
Soon enough I reached the gate, which has a hiker gate on the side:
And just beyond the gate are large ominous signs pointed in the direction that drivers would be coming from:
These signs didn’t make sense since they said “foot traffic only” but asked for a permission slip to be displayed on your vehicle:
Continuing on up the road:
Below is ONDA’s map of the wilderness. I started at the parking area at upper left and emerged from the wilderness at the hiker symbol below that and to the right:
Gaia stats: 6.75 miles, 1,000′ elevation gain
