We had a great hike to Park Butte by way of Ridley Creek Trail.
The Ridley Creek Trail does not seem to be designed at Forest Service standards, but the maintenance work has been good. There are spots that are very steep that would have been mitigated with proper trail design when it was first built. Some sections are actually spring run-off drainage beds. The brush is beginning to crowd the trail in places. Fortunately, trail work has been good, otherwise.
The trail is dry the entire way by this time of year. There was only one good water source on the way to Mazama Camp. The water source at camp is still available as well.
Mazama Camp has several tent sites, the log shelter, and a toilet. At the junction of Bell Pass Trail and Park Butte Trail is Cathedral Camp with several sites and a toilet.
The route climbs quite a bit, but there are flatter sections between the steeper parts.
The blueberries were good, but a bit tart yet, along much of the wooded part of the trail. In the meadows, the huckleberries were in their prime and loaded.
The lookout is perched on a narrow rock ridge and has one rack to sleep on. The views would have been amazing, if it weren't for the heavy smoke obscuring all of it. You could actually see further at Mazama Camp than at the lookout.
The GPS says it's 3.73 miles to Mazama Camp, .69 from there to the Park Butte Trail, and .87 miles to the Park Butte Lookout. That equals 5.29 miles total, one way.
All-in-all, a great day out. We're looking forward to coming back when the air is clearer.
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