West Metolius River Trail Deschutes National Forest Gushing Springs Metolius River Hike Wizard Falls Fish hatchery

For a relaxing and fascinating hike in Central Oregon, take an easy stroll along the Metolius River. Leaving Lower Canyon Creek Campground, West Metolius River Trail quickly passes fantastical springs where water gushes from a riverbank. Summer wildflowers line the dirt single track as you continue downriver past calms and rapids. Follow the lovely river for 2.5 miles to Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery, which hikers can explore before turning around for a 5.4-mile round trip hike with 100 feet of elevation change.

West Metolius River Trail is shaped like a fishhook, which is very appropriate for a trail to a fish hatchery. Parking is available at both ends of the trail, at the fish hatchery and campground. These directions start from the sharp end of the fishhook at the southwest end of the trail by Lower Canyon Creek Campground. The campground sits beside the confluence of Canyon Creek and the Metolius River. The trail goes east alongside the Metolius River, heading downstream toward a large bend. A ridge running from north to south bows the river and sends the trail on a U-shaped path.

Approaching the south end of the curve, a third of a mile from the campground, you will pass something quite extraordinary. As though by magic, water pours from the brush on the opposite bank of the narrow river. The water energetically gushes out of the ground and tumbles into the river. Like the nearby Head of the Metolius, where the river is born from equally impressive and unexpected springs, the springs on the bank of the river are believed to spout water sourced in the Cascade Mountains.

Gushing Springs Metolius River
Springs gushing into Metolius River
Springs gushing into Metolius River (Watch a longer video below)

Leaving the gushing springs, West Metolius River Trail rounds the south end of the bend and heads north, following the flow of the river in this direction for the duration of the hike. The trail clings to the bank of the river. Half a mile from the start, you’ll pass an area where the swift clear blue water is broken up by white rapids. Tall incense cedars and ponderosa pines rise over the trail, letting in sunlight that is enjoyed by spring and summer wildflowers. Lupines are abundant along the trail and columbine add additional flashes of yellow and red.

West Metolius River Trail
West Metolius River Trail
Columbine Metolius River
Columbine along West Metolius River Trail

Just beyond the one-mile mark, the trail heads uphill and separates from the bank of the river. Pass through forest on the hillside above the river. After 1.5 miles of hiking, a spur on the right descends to a ledge overlooking rapids in the river where it cuts through cliffs of volcanic rock.

Continuing down West Metolius River Trail, the terrain by the river becomes more level and you will pass through sunny openings in the forest. The trail runs closer to the river again. As you walk along the bank, 1.75 miles from the campground, you’ll begin to pass a series of brush-covered islands that split the river.

The trail strays from the river again, taking you into the forest. In the last half-mile, there are two wooden footbridges over trickling streams. In between the bridges, you’ll pass a sign at the edge of a Safety Zone where hunting is forbidden (apparently, the trail was in an unsafe zone for the first 2 1/3 miles) as well as a sign that reads “Hiker Trail.” After the second bridge, it is a short walk to the north end of the trail, which meets a forest road at the entrance of Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery.

Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery
Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery

You could turn around at the end of West Metolius River Trail for a 5-mile round trip hike, but why not explore the hatchery? Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery has numerous pools for trout and salmon as well as rustic brown buildings with green trim that exude a woodsy charm. The hatchery is open to visitors from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. While guided tours aren’t offered, you can look around for yourself and read several informative panels. Although the hatchery’s process starts in the incubation building, most of the fish’s growth happens outside in pools called raceways. You can look into these pools to see fish of various sizes growing to maturity. A panel explains how the raceways are used to rear fish:

Raceways can be used for multiple fish raising purposes such as raising large groups of fingerlings (up to 300 thousand) or rearing fingerlings for an additional year to catchable size fish (8-10 inches). Cold water (44 degrees) or warmer water (51 degrees) can be supplied to these ponds to speed up or slow down fish growth.

Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery Raceways
Raceways at Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery

Walk around the raceways at Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery and you may see several species of fish. Kokanee salmon, Chinook salmon, Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, and brook trout are all grown at this hatchery. Salmon were eliminated from the Metolius River Watershed when the Pelton – Round Butte Dam complex built in the 1960s. One function of Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery is the reintroduction of salmon to the area’s rivers. Another panel explains the broader goals of hatcheries operated by Oregon Fish and Wildlife:

Conservation hatchery programs raise fish, primarily salmon and steelhead, to help boost declining native fish populations. For example, hatcheries can collect eggs from wild fish and raise them in a protected environment so that more survive. Hatcheries also play a vital role in re-introducing fish to areas where they have disappeared, such as restoring salmon or steelhead populations above dams.

Walking through to the north end of the hatchery and you’ll find a large settling pond with docks allowing you to look down on fully-grown fish. The hatchery also has picnic sites and bathrooms, making it an inviting stop for visitors.

If you venture down the road at the end of West Metolius River Trail away from the hatchery, you’ll come to a bridge over the Metolius River. Just above the bridge, the water flows over a v-shaped shelf that creates interesting rapids. On the opposite side of the bridge, trails go up and down the east bank of the river, allowing for possible hike extensions.

Hike back the way you came on West Metolius River Trail for a 5 to 5.5-mile round trip outing with 100 feet of elevation change. Dogs are welcome on leashes on this trail, but bikes, horses, and vehicles are not allowed. While fees are required to stay overnight at Lower Canyon Creek Campground, there does not seem to be any fee to park at the trailhead within the campground to hike West Metolius River Trail (no. 4018). No permit is required for this hike in Deschutes National Forest, so get out and enjoy!

To get to the trailhead: From Sisters, drive northwest on Route 20 for 9.5 miles. Turn right onto Camp Sherman Road and drive 2.7 miles to a split with Metolius River Road. Bear left to stay on Camp Sherman Road (Forest Road 1419). Drive 2.2 miles to a stop sign and continue straight onto Rankin Road (Forest Road 1420). Drive 3.3 miles and turn right at a sign reading “Canyon Creek CG / W. Metolius TR. HD.” Drive 3/4 of a mile to a loop at the end of the road within Lower Canyon Creek Campground. The trail begins from the far end of the loop.

Trailhead address: Lower Canyon Creek Campground, National Forest Development Road 1420/400, Camp Sherman, OR 97730
Trailhead coordinates: 44.5011, -121.6409 (44° 30′ 03.96″N 121° 38′ 27.24″W)

Trail Map
View West Metolius River Trail in a larger map
Elevation Profile
Click or hover over any spot on this elevation profile to see the distance from the start and elevation above sea level at that location, which will be highlighted on the map.

You may also view a regional map of surrounding Oregon trails and campgrounds.

Photos

West Metolius River Trail Camp ShermanMetolius RiverMetolius RiverCamp Sherman WildflowerLupines Metolius River TrailLupines Metolius River TrailLupines Metolius River TrailWest Metolius River TrailGushing Springs West Metolius River TrailGushing Springs Metolius RiverGushing Springs Metolius River Camp ShermanSprings Metolius RiverMetolius River SpringsGushing Springs Metolius RiverMetolius River Gushing SpringsGushing Springs Metolius RiverGushing Springs Metolius RiverGushing Springs Metolius River Camp ShermanGushing Springs Metolius RiverGushing Springs Metolius River Camp ShermanMetolius River Gushing SpringsGushing Springs West Metolius River TrailWest Metolius River TrailWest Metolius River TrailMetolius RiverMetolius RiverMetolius RiverWest Metolius River TrailMetolius RiverMetolius RiverMetolius RiverLupines Columbine Wildflowers Metolius River TrailColumbine Wildflower Metolius River TrailColumbine Wildflower Metolius River TrailMetolius RiverMetolius RiverMetolius RiverMetolius RiverWest Metolius River TrailWest Metolius River TrailLupines Metolius River TrailLupines Metolius River TrailWest Metolius River TrailWest Metolius River TrailMetolius RiverWest Metolius River TrailWest Metolius River TrailColumbine Wildflower Metolius River TrailColumbine Wildflower Metolius River TrailWest Metolius River TrailMetolius River CliffsMetolius River CliffsMetolius River CliffsMetolius River CliffsWest Metolius River TrailWest Metolius River TrailMetolius RiverMetolius RiverMetolius River IslandsMetolius River IslandsMetolius River IslandsMetolius River IslandsMetolius River IslandsMetolius RiverWest Metolius River TrailWest Metolius River TrailWest Metolius River TrailWest Metolius River TrailWest Metolius River TrailWest Metolius River TrailWizard Falls Fish HatcheryWizard Falls Fish HatcheryWizard Falls Fish HatcheryWizard Falls Fish Hatchery IncubationWizard Falls Fish Hatchery Picnic AreaWizard Falls Fish Hatchery RacewaysWizard Falls Fish Hatchery RacewaysWizard Falls Fish HatcheryWizard Falls Fish HatcheryWizard Falls Fish HatcheryWizard Falls Fish HatcheryWizard Falls Fish HatcheryWizard Falls Fish Hatchery Settling PondWizard Falls Fish Hatchery Settling PondWizard Falls Fish Hatchery Settling PondWizard Falls Fish Hatchery Settling PondWizard Falls Fish HatcheryWizard Falls Fish Hatchery RacewaysWizard Falls Fish Hatchery RacewaysWizard Falls Fish Hatchery RacewaysMetolius River BridgeMetolius River BridgeMetolius River BridgeMetolius River Wizard FallsMetolius River Wizard FallsMetolius River

These photos were taken in June of 2016. Click to enlarge.
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Head of the Metolius River Trail Head of the Metolius
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This 0.9-mile hike leads to a natural hot springs in Willamette National Forest where bathers can soak in a series of terraced pools.
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Nearby Camping
Lower Canyon Creek Campground Lower Canyon Creek Campground
This spacious 7-site campground is sparsely shaded by pines next to the confluence of Canyon Creek and Metolius River.
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Tagged with · Camp Sherman · Cascade Range · Deschutes National Forest · Fish Hatchery · Free Trails · Sisters
Distance: 5.4 miles · Elevation change: 100 feet

One Comment on West Metolius River Trail in Deschutes National Forest

  1. Dean Tschantre wrote:

    Is the trail still open because of forest fires?

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