Noonday Trail, OR
The Noonday Trail is the original wagon road to the Bohemia gold mine region east of Cottage Grove. The trail has several 180 degree switchbacks at the Champion Creek end. The trail climbs steeply and then levels to a steady climb. The trail requires a Class 2 with low range. The trail is an easy 1.5 to 2 hour drive. It is also a great trail for Class I and Class III. Fairview Peak Lookout is a must visit. A picnic table and primitive toilet is available at the fire lookout on top. A small picnic site is available at the junction at the base of the Lookout road. An active mine is visible from the Lookout on the northwest side. The return trip has two options. If time is a factor Sharps creek is an easy run. Champion Creek is much more scenic and offers several mine shafts at road grade to look in. They are dangerous and not to be explored. The old Champion mine site is at the base of the steepest decent. A walk back to the old shaft is guaranteed to cool you off on even the hottest of days. You will also see many mining claims posted along the creek. Take you time and enjoy the creek. The road is maintained by the mine owners association and varies in condition to time of season with the spring time the best and it gets rougher as the summer and traffic increases. The road is not recommended for passenger cars.
Class I, II, III. For Class I & III a wide parking area is available at the junction of Champion Creek Road. If the Noonday Trail and Champion Creek Rd. are used a loop can be enjoyed on gravel roads and return to your vehicle.
Picnic table and primitive toilet at Fairview Peak. Primitive toilet approximately Lund Park. Two table picnic site at junction at base of Fairview Lookout road.
contact:
(541) 942-5591
Address:
Umpqua National Forest
Cottage Grove Ranger District
78405 Cedar Parks Road
Cottage Grove OR. 97424
Getting There:
I-5 to Cottage Grove. Follow the Dorena Lake signs heading East. Continue on past Dorena Lake. The two lane road turns into a single track paved road just past Disston. Continue to a bridge that takes a slight left turn and crosses the creek. Champion Creek Road is to the right. Champion Creek Road is signed. Just a short distance is a bridge, just across the bridge to the left is the start of Noonday Trail. It is easy to drive past. It is signed.
