[pct-l] Ramona Falls

[Steel-Eye]

Good afternoon, All,

A visit to Ramona Falls is certainly rewarding - highly recommended.  All of
the trails in the Sandy River bottom north of Ramona Falls have, at one time
or another, the designated PCT route.  The section of trail Patchwork
described is the eastern leg of the very popular Ramona Falls Loop Trail.
The other leg is the PCT.  At one time the PCT passed Ramona Falls but that
is a fragile area and the Forest Service needed to get the horse traffic
re-routed.  The Ramona Falls bypass is an "approved" alternate and certainly
worthwhile.  It is probably used by the majority of PCT hikers.

Being a highly-used local loop trail it is worn almost as wide as a Jeep
trail.  On the upper end the PCT branches off north to cross Muddy Fork.
This PCT branch-off is a relatively tiny trail and is easy to miss, both
because it is small and because the PCT sign faces the PCT leg of the loop
rather than the Ramona Falls side of the loop.  It's no big deal; just keep
your eyes open for the sign.

Steel-Eye
http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "ALAN ARTMAN" <alanartman at msn.com>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2008 11:12 AM
Subject: [pct-l] Ramona Falls


>
> I'm curious to hear from thru hikers of the last couple of years whether
> you took the small side trip to see Ramona Falls, about 8 or so miles
> north of Timberline Lodge.  Last summer I met about a dozen thrus north of
> there, but none had gone to the Falls.  The old PCT route used to go right
> by there, but now that the old equestrian route is the new "official"
> route, I wonder if anyone goes there anymore.   If not, that's a shame.
> I've hiked all of Oregon twice now, and still consider Ramona Falls one of
> Oregon's best sights, as breathtaking after all the times I've been there
> as it was when I first saw it.     So here's my tip for the Class of 2009
> (and beyond):  when you get to the junction, take a right and head up to
> Ramona Falls.  Take a lunch or rest stop there and watch the lightplay on
> the cascading water. You won't regret it, and you won't forget it.
> Believe me I understand how hard it is at that point on your hike to even
> think about a side trip, so here's my dirt
> y little secret: if you go to the Falls, you can continue along Ramona
> Creek below the Falls for a couple of miles and pick up the PCT again
> where the PCT is rerouted over the Muddy Fork. This way is actually a
> little shorter than the "official" PCT, so not only do you get to see one
> of Oregon's primo sights, you also SAVE a half mile or so!   And I have it
> on good authority that the PCT police rarely if ever patrol the area, so
> you will not be busted for missing a few "official" PCT miles by hiking
> what should at least be an "alternate route".   Good Luck in 2009! Alan
> "Patchwork" Artman PS:  If you have dallied too long at
> Timberline--perhaps you followed your Timberline breakfast with a long
> lunch at the Ram's Head Bar--there are several excellent campsites along
> Ramona Creek.
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