You may be surprised to find this serene trail hidden off the busy US 26 highway. Trailhead directions: Travel west on US 26 to milepost 24.3 and look for the large trailhead marker on the left (south) side of the highway. No fees or permits required.
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You may be surprised to find this serene trail hidden off the busy US 26 highway. Trailhead directions: Travel west on US 26 to milepost 24.3 and look for the large trailhead marker on the left (south) side of the highway. No fees or permits required.
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The gentle trail never gets much steeper than this, which makes it great for families with kids.
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The gentle trail never gets much steeper than this, which makes it great for families with kids.
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In addition to providing a pleasant view, the lush forest quickly muffles road noise.
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In addition to providing a pleasant view, the lush forest quickly muffles road noise.
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The canopy of alders and maples frames the sky and provides shade on a hot day.
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The canopy of alders and maples frames the sky and provides shade on a hot day.
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Follow signposts to Bloom Lake, a quiet spot for fishing.
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Follow signposts to Bloom Lake, a quiet spot for fishing.
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The Bloom Lake trail is 2.7 miles long and the elevation a mere 445 feet, making this an easygoing hike.
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The Bloom Lake trail is 2.7 miles long and the elevation a mere 445 feet, making this an easygoing hike.
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The best place to cast your lines is on the opposite side of the lake from the trail’s end.
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The best place to cast your lines is on the opposite side of the lake from the trail’s end.
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To get to the best fishing spot, cross the enormous log near the lake’s eastern edge.
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To get to the best fishing spot, cross the enormous log near the lake’s eastern edge.
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After a day of hiking and fishing, grab a bite to eat at Helvetia Tavern for burgers and beers on tap. 10275 Helvetia Rd., Hillsboro
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After a day of hiking and fishing, grab a bite to eat at Helvetia Tavern for burgers and beers on tap. 10275 Helvetia Rd., Hillsboro
WHY IT’S GREAT This pleasant Coast Range excursion lies hidden in plain sight—right off busy US 26, barely 45 minutes from Portland. Opened to hikers in 2004, the easygoing path is part of the Clatsop State Forest’s relatively recent catalog of offerings for hikers in search of close-to-home adventures. From the trailhead, a small footbridge leads over the gurgling South Fork Quartz Creek and immediately up a gentle rise (total elevation gain adds up to only 420 feet) into a lush second-growth forest, which quickly muffles road noise. Overhead, a canopy of white-barked alders and vine maples frames the sky, while remnant old-growth stumps line the trail and hint at the area’s logging history. Less than 500 feet in, a pair of brown signposts steer explorers on a gentle descent to the quiet green waters of Bloom Lake, punctuated by sun-faded snags and the occasional leaps of cutthroat trout.
DON’T FORGET: The best spot for bank fishing can found on the opposite side of the lake from the trail’s end. For access, cross over an enormous log found just to the right of the lake’s eastern edge, passing a nice day-use area on the north end.
POST-HIKE WATERING HOLE?Helvetia Tavern. If ain’t broke, don’t fix it: a fitting mantra for this Hillsboro favorite, where delicious burgers can still be had for under six bucks and hundreds of colorful trucker hats line the ceiling. The taps tend toward the reliable, as well. (Think Coors Light and Bridgeport.) Cash only. 10275 Helvetia Rd, Hillsboro.
TRAILHEAD DIRECTIONS: Travel west on US 26 to milepost 24.3 and look for the large trailhead marker on the left (south) side of the highway. No fees or permits required.
