Calloway Creek and Intensive Management Trail Loop

The Calloway Creek and Intensive Management Trail Loop is an easy hike that generally takes about 1 hour and 38 minutes to complete. This duration can vary based on your pace and how often you stop to enjoy the scenery or read the interpretive signs.

The trail features generally wide, graveled, and smooth surfaces, making for a pleasant hike. You might encounter some occasional roots and minor technical features, along with gentle climbs and descents. It winds through diverse forest ecosystems, including typical Willamette Valley forest with ferns and trillium, and even Ponderosa Pine sections.

Yes, this trail is graded as 'Easy' and is very suitable for beginner hikers and families. Its well-maintained paths and gentle elevation changes make it accessible for a wide range of users looking for an enjoyable outdoor experience.

Yes, dogs are welcome on the trail! Please ensure your dog remains on a leash at all times to protect wildlife and ensure a pleasant experience for all trail users.

The trail is located within the McDonald-Dunn Forest, maintained by Oregon State University. Specific parking information for the Calloway Creek and Intensive Management Trail Loop trailhead is typically available through the OSU Research Forests website or signage at the forest entrance. Look for designated parking areas near the main access points to the McDonald-Dunn Forest.

No, there are no permits required or entrance fees to hike the Calloway Creek and Intensive Management Trail Loop within the McDonald-Dunn Forest. It is open for public enjoyment.

Beyond the diverse forest scenery, you'll cross Calloway Creek twice and pass by Cronemiller Lake. A small meadow with a bench offers a nice resting spot. The Intensive Management Trail section is particularly notable for its interpretive signs, which explain various forest management choices and their effects, providing a wonderful learning opportunity about forest research.

The trail is open year-round, offering different experiences with each season. However, it's worth noting that to enhance the pedestrian experience, the Calloway Creek and Intensive Management Trails are closed to bicycles seasonally from April 15 to October 31. This makes late spring through early fall an especially peaceful time for hikers.

Yes, this route incorporates sections of several other trails within the McDonald-Dunn Forest. You'll find yourself on parts of the Calloway Creek Trail, Intensive Management Trail, and potentially the Section 36 Loop Trail, among others, as you complete the loop.

To prioritize the pedestrian experience, the Calloway Creek and Intensive Management Trails are closed to bicycles seasonally from April 15 to October 31. Equestrians are not permitted on these specific trails year-round. Separate connector trails are available for these users in the wider McDonald-Dunn Forest.

The Intensive Management Trail section is unique for its educational focus. Along this part of the loop, interpretive signs are placed to explain various forest management choices and their effects on the environment. You can observe examples of pruning, thinning, different tree spacing options, and sustainable agroforestry practices in plots planted in the 1960s and 1970s, offering a fascinating insight into forest research.