Old Sauk Trail No. 728

Published 9:00 pm Friday, November 21, 2003

Old Sauk Trail No. 728

What: An easy walk along the banks of the Sauk River.

Length: 3 miles roundtrip

Difficulty: Easy.

Beginning elevation: 600 feet.

Elevation gain: None.

Permit: Northwest Forest Pass

Map: Green Trails No. 110, Silverton

Notes: If you want to take a look at the flood damage The Herald wrote about Nov. 16, this trail is a good choice. After a nearly level stroll for 1.5 miles along the Sauk River, the trail dead ends in a huge washout. Don’t get too close to the washout – the erosion is continuing. Along the way, you’ll see logs stacked like matchsticks and saplings bent flat by October’s floods. There are also a few peek-a-boo views of the surrounding mountains. If you drive a few miles farther on the Mountain Loop Highway, you can see what’s left of White Chuck Bridge.

Andy Wineke