McClellan Meadows Tr157

3D view of McClellan Meadows Trail #157

Overall: 6

Aerobic: 5

Technical: 5

Steepness: 5

Flow: 7

Singletrack: 100%

McClellan Meadows Tr157 combined with the Snofoot Tr148/Tr150 Loop, Valley Ski Tr151, Oldman Pass Tr154 and Terminator Tr159 creates a great XC Ski trail system and a relatively easy mountain bike ride.

Type

OAB

Length

Avg: 10.5mi

Ascent

Moderate

Elevation Change

TH:3100'
Avg Ascent:1450'

Ascent Incline

5%

Duration

Avg: 2hr

Weather
Forecast

NOAA

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USFS

XC Skiing

For XC Skiing, McClellan Meadows Tr157 has relatively steep grades and unbridged stream crossings, creating a challenging trail for skiers with excellent skills.

Overhead view of the Oldman Pass SnoPark, Koshko SnoPark and McClellan Meadows Snopark.View of the Oldman Pass SnoPark, Koshko SnoPark and McClellan Meadows Snopark
View of the Oldman Pass SnoPark, Koshko SnoPark and McClellan Meadows Snopark

The Oldman Pass Tr154 and Snofoot Tr148/Tr150 CCW loops are an easy trip through the forest with rolling hills and flats, with grooming and ski tracks set by the forest service.

Valley Ski Tr151 is recommended for skiers with good downhill/uphill skills due to steep terrain, requiring quick reaction. The trail passes through the forest, descending into the Wind River Valley, and crossing a rough hewn bridge over the Wind River. After the bridge it climbs up to a clearcut and intersects with FR3053.

View of McClellan Meadows Singletrack

Nearby Falls Cr Tr152 can add some moderate terrain to this trail network, but is best ridden as a shuttle from Oldman Pass.

The last mile of the 2.7mi Terminator Tr159 gains 1000', but the section from FR3053 to FR130 could be ridden as a OAB spur.

Terminator Tr159 gets little use but could be considered as a short spur from McClellan Meadows Tr157.

The relatively short Paradise Tr153 and 124-Trail are nearby and worth checking out if camping in the area but not long enough to be destination trails.

Another option is to ascend 3.3mi on Oldman Pass Tr154 and possibly tie the ride in with some of the Snofoot Tr148 ski loops.

The first 2.5mi of Oldman Pass Tr154 is essentially flat, an easy OAB spur over rolling terrain.

Directions from FR90: FR90E to Curley Cr Rd (just prior to the Lewis River TH). Turn right onto Curley Cr Rd then go 6mi to FR30. Turn right onto FR30 and go 3mi to Old Man Pass.

Mosquitoes are ferocious in this area until August. Feel free to try the natural repellents, and avoid drinking carbonated drinks prior to riding, but Deet 100 may be the only protection from 'the swarm'.

Directions: From Carson: SR141 past Wind River then go right on FR30 (just past the Fish Hatchery), and go north for 13.7mi to an unsigned Sno-Park on the right with a restroom, picnic table, and area map. View Larger Map. No Map?.

McClellan Meadows Trail #157 Topo Map

OAB Directions

fast connector

McClellan Meadows Area Topo Map

  • TH: Ride Valley Ski Tr151 from the Oldman Pass Sno-Park to FR3053, with a steep descent to the Wind River crossing at 1mi, then a moderate climb to FR3053.
  • 1.8mi: Go right onto FR3053 and ride to the end of the road, then begin the McClellan Meadows Tr157 ascent. Option: Ride 1.7mi OAB on Terminator Tr159, or do this on the McClellan Meadows Tr157 return.
  • 2.7mi: Complete the first ascent, then descend to Pete Gulch and cross the bridge. Climb the next hill then descend to another Pete Gulch tributary crossing at 3.2mi.
  • 3.7mi: Climb some more then cross FR6701, followed by an easier climb to the 5.1mi FR6500 TH.

 

 

Indian Heaven Wilderness Hiking

The 20,782 acre Indian Heaven Wilderness is a forested high plateau, dominated by fir (Pacific silver, noble, subalpine), with numerous open meadows and more than 150 lakes. Many of the lakes are stocked with rainbow and brook trout.

Lava once flowed from the numerous volcanic cones that rise above the plateau which reach their highest point on Lemei Rock (5927'), where a broad crater now contains Lake Wapiki.

Originally known as 'Sahalee Tyee', the area is culturally important to Native Americans. Over the past 9,000 years the Yakima, Klickitat, Cascades, Wasco, Wishram, and Umatilla tribes gathered here for berry picking, fishing, and hunting. Indian Racetrack is named after a 2000' long field where horse racing once provided a break from the tribal food-gathering routine.

Fall is a good time to visit due to the brilliant fall colors and the winding down of mosquito season.

Watch for native summertime deer and elk populations, along with black bears during the fall huckleberry season.

No camping allowed within 100 feet of the Pacific Crest Trail or within 100 feet of lakes, with exceptions at designated Thomas and Blue Lake campsites.

Tombstone Lake Trail 55 is a .5mi trail from the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail 2000 (near the east shore of Blue Lake) to Tombstone Lake. The lake and trail are named for the rock jutting out of the small lake.

Thomas Lake Tr111 is a heavily-used trail ascends to a meadow, then continues past Brader Lake and Naha Lake to Rock Lake and Little Rock Lake before heading south past Lake Umtux. Pass through the broad plateau meadow by numerous unnamed ponds and tiny lakes. Descend into timber, passing Lake Sahalee Tyee, ending at Blue Lake with the junction of the Pacific Crest Trail.

Lake Sahalee Tyee lies in the shallow crater of an old volcano, where Native Americans built slow-burning fires in trenches, preserving berries for later use by drying them over the radiant heat.

Trail Index

This Ride

McClellan Meadows Trail 157, Valley Ski Trail 151

Area

Falls Creek Trail 152, Middle Trail 26, Paradise Trail 153, Service Trail 35, Terminator Trail 159

Hiking

Trail 124, Lava Butte Trail 200

Indian Heaven Wilderness Hiking

East Crater Trail 48, Indian Racetrack Trail 171, Lemei Lake Trail 179, Pacific Crest Trail 2000H, Thomas Lake Trail 111, Tombstone Lake Trail 55

XC Ski

McClellan Meadows Trail 157, Oldman Pass Trail 154, Snofoot Trail 148, Snofoot Trail 150, Valley Ski Trail 151

Campgrounds

Paradise Creek Campground

Trail Rankings

Ranking consistently applied to all of the listed trails.

  • Overall Rating: Ride quality and challenge
  • Aerobic: Ascent challenge
  • Technical Difficulty: Terrain challenge
  • Steepness: Average incline
  • Flow: Uninterrupted riding
  • Elevation Change: Total elevation gain
  • Ride Difficulty: Terrain challenge