17 min
Overview
The Nellie Corser Unit of the very scattered 15-unit Mount Saint Helens Wildlife Area protects a 59-acre patch of old growth forest at the location of a homestead on the East Fork of Duncan Creek. The East Fork itself displays numerous picturesque and photogenic waterfalls and cascades, the more impressive in size being higher up the creek (see the Duncan Creek Hike). The lower part of the creek is easily accessed from Duncan Creek Road and is a popular splash/picnic spot for locals in the summer. This is not the best time to appreciate the cascades, however, and in the wet months, you can appreciate more solitude and spectacular water flow as the creek plunges through mossy defiles. Not much is known about Nellie P. Corser (1879-1968) herself. Born Nellie Poppleton, she married Irving Corser, but outlived him by 18 years. The Corsers had a rural home on the property, but both are buried in River View Cemetery in Portland. Note that if you don’t have a Discover Pass, you can also begin the short loop at the Duncan Creek Trailhead and walk up the road 0.2 miles to the Nellie Corser Trailhead. Hike past the concrete barrier at the Nellie Corser Trailhead. You may see tacked to a tree here a letter from Sherman, a friendly canine who lives nearby. Sherman likes to hike with visitors, and the letter explains his habits and preferences. Indeed, Sherman may show up as you depart! Francisco, a rooster who is one of Sherman’s accomplices, may also make an appearance. The road track you are following was really the “driveway” to the Corser homestead. Immediately, you will find yourself under towering old-growth Douglas-firs and mossy big-leaf maples, with vine maple, Oregon grape, and sword fern in the lush understory. Cross a small creek just past an old gate, and wind up the slope. You can see through the trees the scar of a recent (2017) clearcut. Cross another creek on a single plank at a couple of large cottonwoods. You’ll arrive at the site of the Corser homestead, where you’ll pass by one of the biggest, mos
Trail Stats
0.0 km
83 m
0 m
0 m
—
Photos
300px-NellieCorserLoopMap
300px-NellieCorserLoopMap
250px-At_the_ford%2C_East_Fork_Duncan_Creek%2C_Nellie_Corser_Unit
250px-At_the_ford%2C_East_Fork_Duncan_Creek%2C_Nellie_Corser_Unit
250px-Douglas-fir_driveway%2C_Nellie_Corser_Unit
250px-Douglas-fir_driveway%2C_Nellie_Corser_Unit
400px-Mossy_boughs%2C_Nellie_Corser_Cascades%2C_Nellie_Corser_Unit
400px-Mossy_boughs%2C_Nellie_Corser_Cascades%2C_Nellie_Corser_Unit