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There are a couple of trails along the Salmon River just south of Welches, OR. This hike begins at the large bridge that crosses the Salmon River and where Forest Road 2618 turns into gravel. The trailhead and parking area is on the east side of the road, just before the bridge.

Trail #742 follows the Salmon River at varying distances from its banks, and varying elevations above the river, all the way to Forest Road 309, which connects to Forest Road 2656 from Trillium Lake. I will present only the first 6 miles of this trail to the junction with Trail #665, which leads to Kinzel Lake and the trail to Devils Peak.

There are probably two great reasons to hike this trail, if you do not plan to stay at one of the many campsites overnight. One is the Salmon River and it's awesome beauty. The other is the ancient forest that you will get to enjoy from time to time. It is obvious to any visitor that there has been a fire in the not too distant past, which eliminated a lot of the large old trees. Nevertheless, the forest is beautiful and in season there is an abundance of gorgeous wildflowers.

During the first couple miles of the hike, the trail keeps fairly close to the river. But after you enter the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness, the trail begins to climb up and away from the river. One of the features that makes this a fun hike are the occasional rock outcroppings where you can catch some great views of the Salmon River Canyon and the surrounding hills.

Again, the time of year that you choose to hike this trail will determine how prolific the wildflower displays will be. One reason to hike this in the late spring and early summer is because the river is still flowing vigorously and the wildflowers are abundant.

Also, Click Here for useful suggestions on river crossings.