ATTENTION: Possible Road and trail Closures near Rock Creek Park I received this notice from DNR Recreation Staff: "New Trail Construction in Yacolt Burn: West Hagen Creek Timber Sale is to be cutting right of way wood in preparation for road construction in Unit 11 (near “campsite x”/Jones Creek C loop 1600 crossing) and along the 1580/1582 road corridor. The contractors will also be working in the L-1600 road pit- expect heavy truck and equipment traffic in this area. They will be building road (4,000 ft) at “campsite x” first, and then move into 1580 system. They will likely be building road as they continue to do rock work at the L-1600 pit. The contractors will also likely get the first bridge installed (3rd stream crossing) in the 1580 road system work and build to the second bridge prior to the fish window closure. Lower Larch Timber Sale wants to begin building road, but likely this will be put off for a bit as it’s the same crew as is working on West Hagen Creek road work."

Hiked the entire 23.5 mile Tarbell Trail Loop starting at the Tarbell Picnic Area and going through Hidden Falls > Grouse Vista > Larch. The trail conditions were great. There's a new route (since last year at least) through the Rock Creek Campground so you don't need to hike through the campground any longer. There's a bit of logging activity near Cold Creek and just above Rock Creek that's a bit unsightly, but lumber has to come from somewhere, right?

FYI - The Cascadia Dirt Cup Mountain Bike Race is scheduled for June 28th 2014. According to their flier they'll be on the Tarbell Trail in the Yacolt Burn State Forest (DNR). I'm guessing that there will be mountain bike traffic on many of the trails in the area as well as campers using both Rock Creek and Cold Creek Campgrounds. - Ryan "WE WILL BE USING THE FOLLOWING TRAILS: TARBELL LOOP TRAIL FROM CHINOOK TRAIL TO THE ROCK CREEK CAMPGROUND THROUGH THE COLD CREEK CAMPGROUND OVER TO THE BRIDGE, TARBELL TRAIL FROM GROUSE VISTA TO THE COLD CREEK PORTION OF TARBELL TO THE COLD CREEK BRIDGE, THRILLIUM TRAIL"

According to the DNR Recreation Manager: "The Tarbell trail will be closed effective immediately in the L-1215 area (just South of the Tarbell Trailhead) for approximately 2 weeks due to active logging operations. Contractors will have this posted closed to ensure public safety."

Hiked the entire 23 mile Tarbell Trail loop today. Beginning at the Tarbell Picnic Area, I hiked down to Hidden Falls, up to near Sturgeon Rock, down to the Grouse Vista Trailhead, up Larch Mountain to the picnic bench on the East side, down to the Rock Creek Campground and then back up to the Tarbell Picnic Area. The weather and trail conditions were great and the hike took me about 10.25 hours. There is a logging operation going on between Cold Creek and Rock Creek that the trail goes through but its pretty easy to stay on the trail even through the clear cut.