The heart of the walk — old gorge forest along Hardy Creek, its footbridges and plants, and the wildlife: dippers walking underwater, pileated woodpeckers, black-tailed deer, and banana slugs.
Settle into the rhythm of the climb now, because you're walking through one of the loveliest forests in the whole gorge, and it's worth slowing down for. That sound off to your side is Hardy Creek, tumbling down its canyon — it'll keep you company the whole way up, sometimes right beside the trail, sometimes far below as the path wraps around the folds of the mountainside. You'll cross it on a couple of footbridges; pause on one and watch the water work its way down over the rocks.
Look around at the undergrowth, too. In the warm months the trail is lined with sword ferns, the shiny holly-like leaves of Oregon grape, soft-leaved thimbleberry, and wild rose; come fall, the vine maples turn butter-yellow under the dark green firs. And this forest is full of quiet life. Watch the creek for the American dipper — a plump little gray bird that actually walks underwater, right along the stream bottom, hunting bugs. Listen for the loud, laughing hammer of a pileated woodpecker, big as a crow with a flaming red crest. You might startle a black-tailed deer, or find a banana slug easing across the trail — yellow, glistening, and up to six inches long. It's a busy, breathing woods. Take it in as you go.
Photo: Mattsjc · CC BY 4.0
