In 1992, a land exchange between the Bureau of Land Management and a private landowner placed approximately 12 miles of Molalla River frontage into public ownership. The stretch of river from Trout Creek Road to the Table Rock Wilderness is now referred to as “The Molalla Recreation Corridor”. This former site of working steam donkeys, railroads, and logging camps, today, offers year-round recreational opportunities such as hiking, bicycle riding, horseback riding, fishing, kayaking, swimming, picnicking, nature watching, and photography, in regenerating second-growth forest.
Trails
The Molalla River Trail System is an extensive network of more than 20 miles of trail for hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians. The system combines both single track trails and old forest roads.
The trails wind through the forested foothills and slope of the Molalla River Valley, occasionally offering scenic glimpses of the forests and mountains of the Cascade Range.
The trail system offers a variety of difficulty levels for a wide range of mountain biking, hiking, and horseback riding enthusiasts. Trails are generally marked with directional signs and levels of difficulty.
The best equestrian access to the trail system is from Hardy Creek or Annie’s Cabin Trailheads where there is ample parking for horse trailers. Mountain bikers and hikers may prefer to access the trail system via Amanda’s and Sandquist’s Trailheads [source: BLM].
Camping
Camping in the Molalla Recreation Corridor is seasonally available at Three Bears and Cedar Grove Campgrounds.
At the campgrounds, fires are limited to the steel fire rings or barbecue grills provided. No firewood collection is allowed, so if you want a fire, bring your own local firewood. Remember to follow Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics and if you pack-it in you need to pack-it out (pack out all trash).
It’s important to know that THERE IS NO CELL PHONE SERVICE IN THE MOLALLA RECREATION CORRIDOR. Use caution when driving in the Molalla Recreation Corridor because log trucks frequently use the road.