Spirit Lake - FR 2422

Trail Overview

Spirit Lake - FR 2422 is located in the 1.7 million-acre Willamette National Forest in Oregon. This route leads you on a 12.6-mile gradual 3,500-foot elevation gain through the Beachie Creek, Holiday Farm, and Lionshead area which burned over 176,000 acres in 2020. Signs are posted that state there is a risk of falling trees, landslides, flash floods, and falling rocks. Be cautious when navigating this area, the road is very narrow and pin striping may occur. Cars aren't recommended as the terrain is very steep with deep potholes and in places that require you to use four-wheel drive. As you start to climb this route you will come to some downed trees, however these have all been cut but the path is narrow. Continuing on you will come to a beautiful crystal-clear glacier-fed waterfall where you can take a break and enjoy it. The Spirit Lake Waldo Meadow Trailhead is near the end of this trail and features a parking area and well-marked signs for the trail. Last but not least is the trailhead for Koch Mountain which is a .7-mile hike in the Waldo Wilderness that leads you to Waldo Lake. At the trailhead, you will find a dispersed campsite located right next to a mountain lake along with ample room for parking for day use. All the camping along this trail do not have restrooms or running water and are primitive. The wildflowers in burned areas tend to come back quicker than any other vegetation and that is prominent here. White daisies, lupine, ferns, and Douglas-fir all have flourished and come back after such devastation. Wildlife species are more than 300 different species including black bears, black-tailed deer, bald eagles, wolverines, and raccoons. Be bear aware and mindful of food storage in this area. Pack it in and pack it out rules apply here along with tread lightly principles. The best time to visit this area is in late spring to early fall. The winters bring lots of rain and snow so roads here may not be passable and closed for winter driving. Cell phone service is very limited in this forest.

Photos of Spirit Lake - FR 2422

Want to see more?

Login

Difficulty

The road is subject to change at any moment due to landslides, falling trees, flash floods, and falling debris. The road is very narrow with branches over the road. Pin striping may occur and major damage to low-clearance vehicles will occur due to the inability to avoid rock in the road.

History

Koch Mountain was named after a trapper who apparently died in the area. Here is some more history on how the areas in Oregon got their names. https://www.jstor.org/stable/20610356?seq=19

Technical Rating