Onion Creek Trail #368

Area Status: Unknown

Spring Strawberry Summit via Onion Creek

This trail is in the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness and is a very steep trail from Forest Road 6001 to junction with Summit Trail #5002 (up to 52% incline). It travels through an area burned in a wildfire along the north face of Strawberry Mountain. The trail can be difficult to follow in upper alpine meadows and is marked by rock cairns. Hikers must be careful to follow cairns and blaze marks.

Water becomes scarce further along the trail as hikers climb higher in elevation, carry water.

Onion Creek Trail Brochure

At a Glance

Current Conditions:	Visitors should be prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions. Please remember that if you pack it in, please pack it out with you.
Usage:	Light
Restrictions:	Wilderness Regulations apply. Motorized and mountain bike use prohibited.
Closest Towns:	Prairie City, OR
Information Center:	Prairie City Ranger District

General Information

Directions:

Onion Creek Trailhead (north): From Prairie City, OR., turn onto South Main Street. Follow South Main Street to the junction with Bridge Street. Turn left on Bridge Street, follow Bridge Street 0.5 to the junction with Bridge Street again, the turn will be on the right. Follow Bridge Street to the city limits, the road then becomes County Road 60. Follow County Road 60 to the forest boundary the road then becomes Forest Road 6001. Trailhead is marked on right side of the road approximately 1/2 way to Strawberry Campground.

Roads End Trailhead (south): From Prairie City, OR., turn onto South Main Street. Follow South Main Street to the junction with Bridge Street. Turn left onto Bridge Street. Follow Bridge Street past the cemetary, the road then becomes County Road 62. Follow County Road 62 approximately 20 miles to the junction with Forest Road 16. Turn west onto Forest Road 16. Follwo Forest Road 16 approximately 7 miles to the junction with Forest Road 1640. Follow signs to High Lake and Strawberry Mountain Wilderness on Forest Service Road 1640. Roads End trailhead is 1/4 mile before end of road (at High Lake Rim).

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Activities

Day Hiking

Hikers can enjoy a single day hike following the Onion Creek Trail. The trail has a steep elevation climb of roughly 52% incline. The beginning of the trail goes through a variety of vegetation. In late spring and early summer visitors can enjoy beautiful wildflowers. Hiking further visitors will travel through open areas that are recovering from a past wildfire.

Visitors can see a variety of wildlife in the area including Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule deer, a wide variety of birds and smaller creatures such as squirrels and chipmunks.

Backpacking

The Onion Creek Trail is a great trail for backpacking. Hikers can follow the trail and connect with others such as the Strawberry Basin Trail #375, Pine Creek Trail #201. Other trails can be connected to make longer or shorter trails. Visitors have the opportunity to see a variety of wildlife ranging from big game such as Rocky Mountain Elk and Mule deer, a variety of birds down to smaller creatures such as squirrels and chipmunks.

In later spring and summer hikers can enjoy wildflowers of varying types.

Horse Riding

Horse riders can enjoy a great ride through upper alpine meadows, allowing riders to see a variety of wildflowers in the late spring and early summer months. Riders have the opportunity to witness natural forest recovery after a wildfire. A wildfire burned through part of the trail in the mid 1990's. The trail is very steep Forest Road 6001 to the junction with Summit Trail #5002 there is a 52% incline.

Water becomes scarce further along the trail as riders climb higher in elevation, carry water.

Please remember that this trail is used by hikers as well as horse riders. Be prepared to share the trail.