Aufderheide Memorial Drive - Oregon Scenic Drives
This road, formerly called Forest Road 19 and sometimes called the "Box Canyon Road", is a popular 145 mile loop from the Eugene-Springfield area.
Aufderheide Drive is reached from the Eugene-Springfield area either by traveling the McKenzie Highway (Hwy. 126) to a point 3.5 miles above Blue River or by traveling Highway 58 and then turning north to Westfir. The road travels along the South Fork of the McKenzie River and the North Fork of the Willamette River and through Box Canyon. Numerous spots along the route are suitable for picnicking, sightseeing. and fishing. Signs along the route point out shelterwood cuttings. reforested clear-cut areas, results of a wildfire, railroad timber harvesting along the North Fork in the 1940's and other forest management project.
A log cabin replica of the old Box Canyon guard station stands near the summit of the drive, near a roadside monument and plaque erected in Aufderheide's memory. This is also the location of the recently completed Box Canyon Horse Camp. The horse camp provides 13 campsites which allow horse and rider to camp close together. These sites include nine single units and two double units. Associated with the campsites are 26 corrals.
There are several scenic trails in this area that access both roadless and wilderness areas. These include Chucksney Mountain trail, Grasshopper trail, and Crossing Way trail.
Robert Aufderheide
Aufderheide Drive was named after and dedicated to the memory of Robert Aufderheide who was Willamette National Forest Supervisor from 1954 until his death in 1959.
"What an appropriate setting to honor a man who was devoted to professional forest management, "said Jeff Sirmon, Pacific Northwest Regional Forester in his address at the dedication. "I'm sure he would be delighted knowing his monument rests here in the heart of this magnificent forest."
During his career, Aufderheide was instrumental in helping the Forest Service complete the transition from custodial management to professional intensive forest management under multiple-use principles. "Bob was an influential leader of forest managers during this important time in National Forest history," said Sirmon.
"Bob embodied and practice multiple-use during an important growth stage of Willamette National Forest history," said Mike Kerrick, the present Forest Supervisor. "He was a dynamic leader in forest management who made significant contributions to this state during his 25-year career.
Aufderheide Memorial Drive
Distance: 145 miles
Time: 6 hours
The North Fork-South Fork Loop takes you from Eugene out Highway 58 to Highway 126, via Forest Road 19 (Aufderheide Memorial Drive). This trip can be reversed starting on Highway 126 and then returning to Eugene along Highway 58.
Paved roads through scenic forest land, the historic logging community of Westfir, the Constitution Grove, Box Canyon Guard Station, the Aufderheide Memorial, Cougar Reservoir and the McKenzie Highway highlight this trip. This loop follows the Middle and North Forks of the Willamette River, up Box Canyon and down the South Fork and main fork of the McKenzie River. A number of interpretive signs are located along the Aufderheide Memorial Drive for you enjoyment. Large signs explain the drive as one enters Forest Service lands outside of Westfir and Blue River. In addition both Oakridge and Blue River Ranger Stations have more information available on the memorial drive. Additional points of interest and interpretive material will be added to this drive in the future.
Detailed information from Eugene to the Westfir Junction is included in the Crescent Lake Loop trip. Information about the trip from the Cougar Reservoir junction and Highway 126 to Eugene is included in the Clear Lake Loop trip.
(Please note that many of the forest roads are closed seasonally. Check with the ranger station listed at the end of the loop description to find out current conditions.)
| Mileage | |
| Between | |
| Mileage | Points | |
| 00.0 | 00.0 | Junction form Eugene of Highways 105 and Interstate 5.
Take Interstate 5 to Junction with Highway 58.
|
| 4.8 | 4.8 | Junction Interstate 5 and 58. Take Highway 58.
|
| 36.7 | 31.6 | Westfir Junction (Oakridge Ranger station on right).
Turn left. Cross bridge and turn left again.
|
| 38.7 | 2.3 | Westfir. A historic former company mill town,
established in 1924 by the Western Lumber Company and
USDA Forest Service.
|
| 39.4 | 0.7 | The former company office on the right, last owned and
operated by the Hines Lumber Company. Red covered
bridge on the left, built by the lumber company in 1945
and now one of Lane County's recognized historic covered
bridges. Once the location of the 19th Century Oregon
Central Military Road bridge. Proceed straight ahead.
|
| 39.5 | 0.1 | Southern Pacific Railroad Bridge. The Southern Pacific
line known as the "Natron Cutoff" reached Oakridge in
1912. The line was completed across the Cascades to
Klamath Falls and California to the south in 1926.
|
| Mileage | |
| Between | |
| Mileage | Points | Aufdarheide Memorial Drive |
| 40.0 | 0.5 | Beginning of the Aufderheide Memorial Drive. Interpretive loop
sign at pullout on right. You are now travelling upon the old roadbed
for the railroad line that was used to haul 50 million board feet of timber
per year from the North Fork drainage down to the mill at Westfir.
The railroad bed was replaced by the current road after World War II.
|
| 42.1 | 2.1 | Winberry Road (1910), on the left. Proceed straight on
19. Small turnouts allow parking for enjoying fishing,
swimming and hiking along the North Fork. Note: angling
only. This area was logged during the 1920's and 30's.
|
| 47.5 | 5.4 | Cross North Fork on the Lower Gorge Bridge. Gorge on
right. A logging incline once accessed Huckleberry Flats
to the east from the main rail line. The grade was over
70% and was over 7000 feet long.
|
| 50.9 | 3.4 | Junction Roads 19 and 1926, keep right on Road 19. The
end of the historic logging railroad line was at Camp 5
across the river. Christy Flats, to the west, was logged
during and after World War II.
|
| 52.0 | 1.1 | Junction Road 1928. Keep straight on Rd 19. (Right to
Oakridge 15 miles.) Road 1928 connects to the
Huckleberry Flats area, logged by steam donkey and
railroad during the 1930's and 40's.
|
| 57.3 | 5.3 | Kiahanie Campground (USDA Forest Service). Open Spring
through Fall. Small Fee, 21 tent/trailer sites and river
access to the North Fork.
|
| 58.0 | 0.7 | Brock Bridge across the north Fork of the Willamette
River, an Oregon State Scenic Waterway.
|
| 59.0 | 1.0 | Junction with old Box Canyon Road, completed in 1934 by
the Forest Service and the Civilian Conservation Corps,
connecting Oakridge and Blue River. Brock Meadow to the
north was used by cattle ranchers at the turn of the
Century and later for a Guard Station site by the Forest
Service.
|
| 65.5 | 6.5 | Constitution Grove, dedicated 1987 in commemoration of
the 200th anniversary of the signing of the United States
Constitution. A self-guided trail leads you through this
grove of 200 year old trees which were just seedlings
when our country's founding fathers drafted and signed
this important document. Plaques with the names of the
original signers are placed on these old growth trees
along the trail.
|
| 67.0 | 1.5 | Waldo Wilderness Trail Access, Trail #3567. Follows
along the North Fork east of Moolack Mountain, many lakes
and primitive camping opportunities abound. |
| Mileage | |
| Between | |
| Mileage | Points | Aufderheide Memorial Drive |
| 69.0 | 2.0 | Junction Skookum Camp Road (Rd 1957). 3.7 miles to
Skookum Creed Campground and Waldo Wilderness Access via
Erma Bell Lakes Trail #3563.
|
| 69.1 | 0.1 | Box Canyon Guard Station. Built by the Civilian
Conservation Corp. and the Forest Service during the
1930's (Depression Era). Box Canyon Horse Camp on
opposite side of road. Grasshopper Trailhead (#3569)
also on west side of road near horse-camp, offers access
to Chucksney Roadless area.
|
| 69.4 | 0.3 | Willamette National Forest interpretive sign. The log
cab in the meadow is a replica of one built in 1918 by G. J. Landess
and Smith Taylor for a Forest Service Fire Guard. Grazing
livestock was the only use of this area of the Forest at that time.
By 1934 a dirt road and the Box Canyon Guard Station were constructed
by Civilian Conservation Corps enrollees.
|
| 72.8 | 3.4 | Roaring River Bridge.
|
| 72.9 | 0.1 | Roaring River Campground (U.S.D.A. Forest Service). Group
campground, reservations only.
|
| 73.4 | 0.5 | Frissell Crossing Bridge. Cross South Fork McKenzie
River.
|
| 73.5 | 0.1 | Frissell Crossing Campground (U.S.F.S.). 12 camp sites.
This area offers fishing, hunting, scenic enjoyment and
nature study. Rebel Rock and the Three Sisters Wilderness
area are accessible by trail form this point.
Timber adjacent to the South Fork of the McKenzie River is
managed to maintain an attractive area for recreation.
Recreation is part of the planned multiple-use management
of the National Forest Resources.
|
| 75.2 | 1.7 | Twin Springs Campground (U.S.F.S.). 8 camp sites. |
| 77.1 | 1.9 | Homestead Campground (U.S.F.S.). 7 camp sites.
|
| 78.8 | 1.7 | Dutch Oven Bridge. The name origin is explained by an
old story. A burro, packed for a fishing party, fell
over a cliff near this point and was killed. About the
only part of the pack that was undamaged was a demijohn
of whiskey, but an iron Dutch oven was badly broken and
the rest of the pack ruined. The remains of the oven lay
in the vicinity for several years. |
| Mileage | |
| Between | |
| Mileage | Points | Aufderheide Memorial Drive |
| 80.4 | 1.6 | Rebel Rock Trail. Rebel Rock, which is not far away was
named for an old pioneer sheepherder who boasted that he
was the only rebel who had never been whipped, captured,
or surrendered.
|
| 80.7 | 0.3 | Rebel Rock Bridge.
|
| 83.6 | 2.9 | French Pete Creek and trail. It is said that this
stream, which is an important tributary of the South Fork
McKenzie River, was named for French Pete, an early day
sheepherder, who ranged his band in this area.
|
| 83.7 | 0.1 | Yankee Mountain Trail. |
| 83.8 | 0.1 | French Pete Campground (U.S.F.S.). 17 camp sites.
|
| 85.0 | 1.2 | West Side Bridge. Comfort Station. Stay on Road 19 and
go left across bridge. |
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