Hays Creek Trail #400

Dogs Off-leash

Features Historical Significance · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

This trail has not been maintained in recent years. The trail itself is in fair condition and is easy to follow, but expect to see a few down trees.

The trailhead is located on the right about 3 miles up Hungry Ridge Road 309, after crossing the last bridge and just before the road leaves the creek, there is no sign.

From the trailhead the trail immediately begins to climb through a shady forest of Grand Fir. In the spring the roar of Mill Creek is audible for most of the first part of the hike.

At about 0.3 miles the trail crosses Jackass gulch, this is the only water on the trail and may be dried up in the summer months.

At 0.5 miles there is a great view up Mill Creek Canyon and the trail turns and begins to switchback steeply up the slope.

At 1.1 miles the ridge levels off slightly. The trail continues to climb, just without switchbacks. From this point on the trail leads through the Hungry Ridge Project area, so expect to see some logging activity here in the coming years.

At 1.4 miles the trail crosses Canyon Creek Road 9408, there is some illegal ATV use on the trail at this point. There are some
impressive Ponderosa Pines along this part of the trail.

At 1.8 miles the trail connects with Forest Service Road 76832 which it follows the rest of the way, towards the end of the hike the trail follows a fence-line along the edge of some private property.

The trail ends at an abandoned section of Road 309B, the original Hungry Ridge Road.