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This trail is within the Oregon Cascades Recreation Area of the Umpqua National Forest. Although the usual federal wilderness area regulations and restrictions do not apply here, still practice Leave No Trace (LNT) backcountry skills and ethics: camp 100 feet from fragile areas, and bury human waste at least 200 feet from water, trails, and campsites.

Need to Know

There are no water sources along this trail. This trail is usually closed by snow between November and May.

Description

The primary uses of this trail are as a connector between the Howland Mountain Trailhead and either the Pacific Crest Trail or a climb of Mount Thielsen from that trailhead. It can also be used to form a nice loop from the Howland Mountain Trailhead through Timothy Meadows to the PCT and back.

The Spruce Ridge Trail #1458 leaves the Howlock Mountain Trail #1448 one mile from the Howland Mountain Trailhead. From there it makes a gradual ascent of just 600 feet through stands of lodgepole pine, mountain hemlock, and true fir, to end at the junction with the Mount Thielsen Trail #1456. Near the end, this trail offers glimpses of Diamond Lake, Mt. Thielsen, and Mt. Bailey.