Our group of three decided to hike the CCC Trail for some reason.  LOL! It ended up being a very wet hike, but it was a new section of the trail for all of us, and we saw some nice waterfalls and forest scenery.

We started at the western (small) parking lot for Oxbow Loop, and made our way to the Bessemer Road. From here we hiked up to the CCC Trail and headed east, reaching West Bessemer Creek as our lunch spot. We then returned the way we came, and continued up the Bessemer Road to Switchback Falls, before turning around again and heading back to the car.

This is a nice area to mess around in if you want some solitude.

PEOPLE: No one! There were no other cars in the parking lot either.

BESSEMER ROAD: Nothing too much to report on the road. It's generally dry walking but there are some small sections with water running down one side or the other. It's clear sailing up to Switchback Falls, where we turned around. The falls are pretty impressive right now. We didn't cross the lower falls, but if you're OK walking through about 4-5" of water, you could get across easily enough to get to the view of the upper falls. See my video link below for a shot of the lower falls.

CCC TRAIL: This report is for the section of the CCC Trail between Big Blowout Creek and West Bessemer Creek, as that's the only part we hiked today. As with most of the CCC Road, there is not a lot of elevation gain, and what there is happens very gradually. The forest is not old growth, but is recovering nicely after many decades, and you can marvel at the massive stumps along the way that remain from the original forest.

This section of the CCC Trail goes along some really cool cliffs for quite a ways, including one that seems to have a nice cave in it. We didn't climb up to check out the cave due to the wetness and our fear of finding a bear, LOL.

The main issue on this trail right now is all the water, though you may find it easier on a day when it hasn't been raining so much. All the creeks and rivers were very swollen today. I didn't bother counting the number of creeks we had to cross, but it was probably over 30. Most are small and easily stepped over with some well-placed rocks, but 4 or 5 were quite large requiring some creative solutions to get across. There are no bridges in this section once you cross the big new bridge in the unnamed creek just east of Big Blowout Creek.  If you want to keep your feet dry, you'll need waterproof boots and probably gaiters. I opted for the trail runners with wool socks, so my feet were constantly wet but not too cold. Waterproof socks might be a good idea too. None of the creeks were especially hazardous, with the possible exception of West Bessemer Creek (see below), so if you are OK just wading right through the water, it would not be a problem.

There are many sections of the trail right now that are covered in water, so it's pretty much impossible to avoid walking in it at some point. But it's not super deep so waterproof boots should suffice.

With regard to West Bessemer Creek, it is definitely the biggest creek along this part of the trail. The water is running fast, and it has some very deep sections. However, there are enough stable rocks in the creek, and a few well-placed logs that it is possible to cross if you're feeling adventurous. I got across OK without using any poles, though I thoroughly soaked my shoes and pants in the process.

ANOTHER NEW DNR BRIDGE

Back in September I had been up the Middle Fork Road for a hike. When I drove past the Oxbow Loop trailhead, I saw two metal foot bridge sections sitting on the paved parking lot in the morning. When I came back by in the afternoon, one of them was gone and the other was being loaded onto a lowboy truck. So today I thought I'd check and see where the DNR had installed a new bridge on the CCC Trail.

Began my hike up to the CCC Trail by the Bessemer Road from the DNR blue gate off the Middle Fork Road. When crossing Blowout Creek on the vehicle bridge, I saw that the DNR had redecked the bridge from the last time I had hiked up the road a year ago. They used new 6" x 12" timbers over the metal bridge deck. Just past the bridge is an old gravel pit. Here I saw a new bear proof garbage can along the side of the road. Seemed an odd place to have one. When I got to the CCC Trail I headed west bound after crossing the bridge over Blowout Creek. DNR had installed this bridge last year. In a little over a mile, I came to the second bridge DNR had put in last year over a fork of Wise Creek. About 100 yards past the bridge are two big creek gulleys from forks in Wise Creek. I thought maybe the DNR had used the new bridge for one of these creek crossings. A horse would have a hard time crossing with the steep trail down and up, plus big rocks. But no new bridges here yet, maybe next year. I hiked west on the trail until I got to the rock wall area and a view out to the east to Russian Butte. I then turned around and headed back to the Bessemer Road. There are several small rock hop creek crossing along the way, some with small waterfalls. 

I then hiked the CCC Trail on the Bessemer Road 0.3 miles to where the CCC Trail leaves the road and heads east past Tall Moss Cliff. Just off the road is where I found the new DNR steel tube girder bridge with a wood deck over a big creek with no name. This creek blew out a few years ago and took out the CCC Trail, plus parts of the Bessemer Road further up hill. This gulley washer was a big one, as it took out large culverts on the road. Before the new bridge was installed the end of September, there was a shoefly trail put in to get across the creek. The bridges installed on the CCC Trail were built by Continental Bridge with their HQ in West Chester, Ohio. They have a plant in Arlington. They are rated at 90 PSF live load.

I had my lunch at the new bridge before I headed back down to the DNR blue gate. The only wildlife I saw was one Woolley Bear on the trail out on its hike. No other hikers were seen, and the only noise was from creeks along the way, plus one Army Chinook helicopter flying north over me as I hiked back down the Bessemer Road. My hike was 6.3 miles. George

Friday. We were the only ones on the trail. Last of the fall foliage. Lots of froggies :)

Just a quick afternoon walk up to the new Wise Creek bridge. I haven't been on Bessemer in some time and it appears they are fixing it up. My best guess is a small trailhead just up past the first bridge. There are signs of work, notably the excellent woodwork repair on said first bridge.

Found 4 frogs on my trek, which made me very happy. 2 allowed me to photograph them.

Lots of fall color, not many others seen, just a couple late groups. This is one of my favorite areas of the Middlefork.

RT 4.55m/513ft

From the MidFork Road, I started up Bessemer Road on my new bike (an analog comfort bike) and was able to ride most of the way and pushing up the steeper sections. It got more fun riding the CCC trail occasionally dismounting for a few creek crossings (which was easy enough with a lighter analog bike, a heavy electric probably not so much).  After a little over 1 hour and ~4 miles, I got to the Green Mountain Trail (GMT) and stashed the bike.

GMT is in good shape (with practically no water available). I decided to explore the West Green Mountain Trail which was in much worse shape. I got to the viewpoint (photo 2) which was hazy this day and kept going up towards West Green Mountain. There was a very faint trail with pink/orange flagging but I lost it at about ~3600' and decided to turn back (photo 3). Back on the main trail, I went over to Absolute Last Promontory for lunch before heading back to my bike.

On bike, I continued SW on the CCC trail to find a sign (photo 4) just before connecting to the plateau logging road (still CCC). Presumably this new trail section will make the Green Mountain Trail accessible (in 2024?) from the Teneriffe TH if/when completed. I continued thru the plateau and got to see up close the recent clearcut which was interesting once but I'll probably avoid in the future (besides the roads are much more bumpy now after the logging operations). I continued on the Mount Si Road into North Bend/home.

Total miles: ~18 (2/3 bike)
Gain: ~2800 (2/3 hike)