The Mount Jefferson Wilderness has a secret huckleberry hunting ground that’s easily accessible via a 1.9-mile hike to Cabot Lake. This trail, located near the Metolius River, is perfect for those looking to pick huckleberries without needing an advance permit.
The Trail
The trail begins in an area that burned 23 years ago and is now a sea of snowbrush, with a few silver snags and plenty of views. Snowbrush is a waxy-leaved bush that thrives after a fire and was once thought to hinder forest regeneration. However, it now appears to help protect tree seedlings from the scorching sun, allowing them to grow.
The trail is relatively easy, with the first 1.6 miles passing through the burn area before entering a forest with an abundance of blue huckleberries. At the 1.9-mile mark, a 200-foot side trail leads to a tiny beach at Cabot Lake, a swimmable pool rimmed with forest and brush.
Continuing to Carl Lake
For those looking to continue their hike, the trail heads uphill to Carl Lake, passing three ponds and a small heather meadow with purple aster and white partridge foot. The main trail leads left around the south shore of Carl Lake, with no official trail around the north shore.
To find the trailhead, drive Highway 20 east across Santiam Pass and turn left at the ‘Mt. Jefferson Wilderness Trailheads’ sign near milepost 88. Then, drive north on paved Jack Lake Road 12 and turn left on one-lane Forest Service Road 1230 for 1.6 miles of pavement and an additional 7 miles of gravel to the road’s end.
Original reporting: Homepage – Lookout Eugene-Springfield — read the source article.
