Dan's Trail Loop Hike

Overview

Hiking in Oregon State University's McDonald State Forest usually involves combining foot/single track trails with forest roads. This double loop is no exception although you will spend much more time on the former than the latter. You'll begin in Chip Ross Park, a Corvallis city park that supports native oak and madrone woodland. The park abuts the research forest, where you'll pick up the trail system that leads to the crest of Dimple Hill and its viewpoint. To make the hike a loop, return via a road that sees little or no vehicle travel on weekends, and then find the Horse Trail leading back down a slope. Note that the trails are hiker-only from November 1st to April 15th; thus, while this is a good low-elevation winter hike, you can also catch the early spring and forest wildflowers before the trail restrictions are lifted and horses and mountain bikers can use the paths beginning in mid-April. The information board at Chip Ross Park has the usual warnings about urban bears, cougars, and coyotes. Take a wide trail heading north above a church parking lot and enter a mixed foothill forest of oak, Douglas-fir, madrone, big-leaf maple, hawthorn, and grand fir. The trail heads up to the left above a field on a rather slick road bed. Ignore a side trail which heads down to the right. Pass the Willi Unsoeld Memorial plaque (The famous local mountaineer perished on Mount Rainier) and head into an open grassy area with a view of Corvallis. Another plaque here commemorates Dr. Francois Archibald Gilfillan, a former Dean of Science and Acting President at OSU. Keep right and head up to a bench at the summit of this hill. From here, enter the woods again and switchback down on a muddy, sloppy trail to a map sign at the Chip Ross-Lower Dan's Trail Junction, where you go right and reach a signboard for the McDonald State Forest. Some trails in the forest are closed to bikers and horses from 10/15 to 4/15. After a few yards, stay right on Lower Dan's Trail, and keep right at the next junction as well. The trail heads

Trail Stats

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