McClellan Meadows

This gentle, short hike offers spring flowers and a nice forest ramble, following most of George McClellan's railroad survey of 1852. 

Despite the name, the trail does not go to McClellan Meadows, which form the headwaters of the Wind River. The trail begins just south of McClellan Meadows and 1.5 miles from paved Forest Service Road 30 (Wind River Road) and the McClellan Meadows Sno-Park.

Once on trail, you'll hike through second-growth forest with a diversity of tree species. Besides Douglas-fir, look for western white pine, western red-cedar, noble fir, Engelmann spruce, western hemlock and mountain hemlock. Stop and count the rings of any logs you see; most of them will be 65 to 70 years old, indicating roughly the last time logging occurred here. Pass through a thicket of Douglas-firs and as you hike into the second half of your journey, skirt a 15-year old planted forest of more fir that has recently been thinned. 

Looking above your head, you may notice blue diamond markers about 10 feet up on the trees. This trail is also a snowshoe route, though it's a more grueling journey in the winter. In summer, you may share the trail with mountain bikers, who appreciate the moderate grade through here as they head downhill from Oldman Pass to the Falls Creek parking lot. Be sure to share the trail and know the right-of-way rules.

The trail crosses two stock bridges and one turnpike, following a set of rounded ridges and crossing an old overgrown logging road before it ends at Forest Road 65 near the Indian Racetrack trailhead. While there are no vistas and the forest is largely unchanged the whole way, it allows you time to hike meditatively. The similarity of the surroundings lets you bask in the cool forest and imagine Major George McClellan's 1852 railroad survey, which passed through here.