Kate, Maria, and I did a 6.25 mile round trip hike today to Opal Creek Wilderness. This trail follows the original road into Jawbone Flats along the Little North Fork of the Santiam River. We passed some of the oldest trees in the Opal Creek Wilderness, 700 year-old trees, peered into abandoned mines, and saw some of the prettiest water ever.

At 2 miles into the hike you reach the historic Merten Mill, built in 1943, a steam-powered sawmill that logged five of the surrounding acres. The operation ended after two of the company’s logging trucks fell off a steep area of the road, proving the logging risky and unprofitable. A steam engine repurposed from the U.S.S. Battleship Oregon still lies in the clearing.

When the road forked 0.2 miles past the mill, we opted to get off the 'main' road and actually crossed Opal Creek and hiked on the other side of the river. It was a gorgeous hike, so much scenery to take in. We hiked into Opal Pool, a scenic gorge.

Eventually, we made our way to the historic mining town of Jawbone Flats, a collection of buildings built between 1929 and 1932. Jawbone Flats was started some time around 1930 as a mining town. The miners arrived in the area near Mill City in 1859 and discovered gold. Other minerals were in greater supply and also found nearby, such as copper, zinc, and lead. Mining continued in the area until 1992, when the Shiny Rock Mining company donated land, valued then at $12.6 million, in the area to the fledgling Friends of Opal Creek. In 1996, the area surrounding the town became part of the Opal Creek Wilderness and Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area. Today the town is run by the same group, now renamed the Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center. The town is being restored as a historic center and outdoor museum of the mining era, and there are cabins there that can be rented. Jawbone Flats gets is electricity from water sent down the pipes from higher elevation into a water turbine.

For more information on Opal Creek Wilderness, check out: www.opalcreek.org/history