Surround Yourself In A Blaze Of Fall Foliage On The West Metolius River Trail In Oregon
By Catherine Armstrong|Published September 22, 2019
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Catherine Armstrong
Author
Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy.
Any time of year is the perfect time for a hike in Oregon, but in fall months, the trails are particularly beautiful. Experience a blaze of fall foliage when you head to central Oregon for a stroll on the West Metolius River Trail.
The Metolius River might be one of Oregon's most underrated rivers. It flows from Metolius Springs, heading north until making a u-turn into Billy Chinook Lake. The river has some excellent fly-fishing, and its banks are vibrant with color during autumn months.
To reach the trailhead, take Highway 20 until you reach Road 1419. You'll travel along that road for about 4.8 miles, then hop onto Road 1420 until you see a sign for Canyon Creek Campground. Turn toward the campground, and find the trailhead about a mile down the road.
The rapidly-moving Metolius provides a vibrant soundtrack to your hike. The trail follows the river, so you'll have plenty of picturesque river views the entire way.
As you make your way down the first part of the trail, you'll soon come to some springs tumbling over the banks of the river, creating tiny waterfalls.
The Metolius runs at 50,000 gallons per minute, and is home to trout and kokanee salmon, both of which haunt the dreams of fly-fisherman who frequent the river in hopes of landing a big one.
