Wenaha River Trail, Smooth Ridge, Three Forks & Crooked Creek — Saturday, Sep. 23, 2023

Three Forks trail: Great condition down to the river. Nice views. There is a parking area with bathroom out on rd 4039 or you can drive right up to the trailhead where there is parking for a few cars, a flat place to camp and a picnic table.

Crooked Creek: south from Three Forks to the Wenaha River. A little brushy and overgrown in places but easy enough to follow as it goes along the creek. LOTS of bear scat. Had views of elk up on the ridge across the creek.

Wenaha River: Nice trail along the river. Has some grassy and brushy sections along the bank and some higher up in the rocks with some exposure. Some rattlesnakes, some bear scat. Trail is easy to follow, at least from the Troy TH to the Smooth Ridge TH. The bridge isn't in yet to cross crooked creek, although there was a work crew camped there and the footings were in. The crossing was not an issue this time of year.

Smooth Ridge: the trail turnoff from the river is sort-of signed, look for the remaining piece of a board nailed to a tree. The trail is visible going up the hill, but you'll have to look for where to get on it as the tread doesn't come all the way down to meet the Wehana R trail. Once on it, it is littered with apple-sized ankle rolling rocks and climbs steeply to the top of the ridge, where it enters the burned area and disappears within the thickly regrown underbrush. Yes you can follow your GPS further, but you'll find yourself struggling over black logs and scratched up from the rose bushes all the way to Twin Springs. Not recommended. Then it only becomes marginally better, with the trail occasionally visible between logs until you reach Weller Butte. From Weller Butte to Oregon Butte the trail is in good condition and even had recent brushing work done closer to Oregon Butte turnoff.