Brice Creek Trail
Click here for a printable version of this hike and a topographical map
Brice Creek trail is a beautiful easy to moderate trail that follows the creek for a total of 5.5 miles. If you want to see the whole trail but only hike one way you could take two cars and park one at the lower parking lot and one at Champion Creek. You can also camp in the area and break this hike up into two days by hiking to Lund Park and back to the parking lot, making it an 8.3 mile hike, and the second day hiking the Trestle Creek Falls Loop which will complete the Brice Creek Trail.
The parking area for the trail is on the right side of the road and the trail starts on the left. You will see a sign that has the mileages on it and at this point you can decide how far you want to go. The first part of the trail is fairly dry and in the fall the big leaf maples glow orange in the sunlight. The further you hike, the deeper you will get into the more typical Oregon woods that are lush with ferns and oxalis.
|
|
After 1.75 miles you will see flat rocks in the river that you can go out onto when the water is low enough. There is a lovely little 8 foot waterfall here which plunges into one of the best swimming holes. In the summer Brice Creek is extremely popular for campers who are enjoying the cool forest and day trippers who come out to swim in the creek. However in the fall and winter Brice Creek Trail is rarely visited even on weekends and becomes a haven for those seeking a beautiful hike not too far from Eugene. This trail is mountain bike friendly, so you might see some bikers riding past.
|
|
A few miles past the waterfall the trail climbs a bit with a great view of the trees and creek from the top. Then the trail traverses back down to a very beautiful wooden bridge that crosses the creek over to Lund Park Campground. Lund Park was named after Alex Lundgren and Tom Parker who owned an inn which stood at that spot back in the 19th century when the Bohemia Mines were operational. This is a great campground with 10 spots, 2 vault toilets and garbage. Note, there is no potable water at the campground so you must bring a water filter or bring your own water when camping.
|
Once you have checked out Lund Park Campground and used the restroom, you will cross the bridge again to get back to Brice Creek Trail. Here you can decide if you want to continue the 1.4 miles through the woods to the end of the trail and then turn around making it a total of 11 miles. Or if you’re camping in the area you can break this up into two hikes and turn around here making it 8.3 miles roundtrip and you can do the rest of the Brice Creek Trail the next day when you hike Trestle Creek Falls Loop, a lovely 3.75 mile loop featuring two amazing waterfalls. |
Overall, this is a very beautiful and easy trail. There is only one spot where there is some exposure on the trail, however it is very minimal and the terrain is not loose or rocky. Because there are three access points to the trail you can break up this lengthy hike and make it the perfect length for the whole family. Whether you’re checking out Brice Creek in the spring, summer, fall or winter, you are sure to enjoy this trail!
Approximate hike time: 5 hour 15 minutes (for the 11 mile hike) w/ an average pace of 2.1 mph
Suggested seasons: Spring, summer, fall, winter
(Best time to go is October when the fall foliage is popping. This is also a great area to swim in July and August).
Trail usage: Low to moderate
Directions: From Eugene drive Interstate 5 south to Cottage Grove. Take exit 174 and follow signs to Dorena Lake. Continue on the main paved road NF-22 through the towns of Culp Creek and Disston (these communities are so tiny you don't even realize you are driving through a town) a total of 21.7 miles from the freeway. About a mile past the Umpqua National Forest entrance sign, look for a trail sign on the left marking the lower Brice Creek trailhead and park in the parking lot on your right. (Total of 43.4 miles).
Suggested seasons: Spring, summer, fall, winter
(Best time to go is October when the fall foliage is popping. This is also a great area to swim in July and August).
Trail usage: Low to moderate
Directions: From Eugene drive Interstate 5 south to Cottage Grove. Take exit 174 and follow signs to Dorena Lake. Continue on the main paved road NF-22 through the towns of Culp Creek and Disston (these communities are so tiny you don't even realize you are driving through a town) a total of 21.7 miles from the freeway. About a mile past the Umpqua National Forest entrance sign, look for a trail sign on the left marking the lower Brice Creek trailhead and park in the parking lot on your right. (Total of 43.4 miles).
|
To get a more in-depth and personal view of this hike, watch the YouTube video.
|
*All pictures are taken by Franziska Weinheimer
*Disclaimer: the trail descriptions, mileage, GPS tracks and difficulty ratings depicted on this website are never 100% accurate. Always hike at your own risk, using your own knowledge, equipment and common sense. Franziska Weinheimer/Hike Oregon are not responsible if you or anyone in your party gets injured or lost while attempting one of these or any other hikes.
|