Metolius River Trail

The Metolius River is well known for its spectacular scenery of clear blue waters rushing past red-barked pines. Ancient ponderosa pine forests and wildflower meadows line the river trail and pass tributaries of the Metolius that are proposed to be protected in the River Democracy Act.

The trail along the river is 6 miles long one-way. You will pass under ancient Ponderosa Pines and mixed-aged stands of conifers including Douglas-firs and incense cedars. Large, fire-scarred ponderosas stand live and dead, creating habitat for cavity nesting birds and mammals.

The description above is adapted from the wonderful book Oregon's Ancient Forests by Chandra LeGue.