Plan with
Confidence
The trail is open year-round but may be snow covered between November and May. During the winter, it's a nordic trail. As of late 2018, it needed maintenance (brush and some fallen trees) from about 1.0 mile above the Union Creek Resort to about a 1.5 miles below Union Creek Falls. It's passable in between but slow going. The Forest Service has now made it a priority for maintenance; hopefully that will happen in 2019.
Path Type
Point to Point
The lower trailhead is behind Cabin #21 at the Union Creek Resort. From there, the trail follows along the creek through old-growth forest for 0.85 miles to a gravel road and large bridge. This is one of the Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) roads that are prevalent in this area. The #1035 continues straight ahead past the bridge, staying close to the creek.
At 2.4 miles from the trailhead, you reach a junction with the Old-Growth Trail, a nordic trail that you can use to make a short loop back to the lower trailhead. The #1035 continues on east along the creek, passing "Eight Foot Falls" (where the creek pours through a narrow cleft in the basalt rock) at about 4.0 miles, and reaching Union Creek Falls some 4.4 miles from the trailhead.
Union Creek Falls is actually a series of cascades, with a 10-foot high one being closest to the trail. But you can explore a little upstream on a use trail to see even more cascades and plunge pools.
From the falls, the trail ascends, in 0.3 miles, to the upper trailhead on Forest Road #610.
As noted above, the trail currently needs maintenance in its middle section. This section is still passable but requires some effort. But you can see some nice sections of the creek, and many old-growth trees, in just the first mile in from the lower trailhead. Or, from the upper trailhead, it's less than a mile to Union Creek Falls and "Eight Foot Falls." These beginning and ending miles are presently clear and easy to hike.
Some Issues
Hiked from the lower trailhead to falls, then to upper trailhead and returned to start. Cabin 21 can be hard to notice as the number is painted the same dark color as the cabin. Walk behind the right side of cabin 20 (behind the Union Creek Resort store) and you'll find the trailhead which is signed. Agree that the trail condition for the 1st and last mile or so are better than the middle section and not too bad. The middle 2 miles are pretty overgrown and rough, unless you like "wading" through a forest of 6-7' high ferns were it is often hard to see the trail tread in front of you, which might appeal to some as it is magical is some ways. It was not for me. The ferns are probably seasonal growth and may not reflect previous years trail work. I carried my Felco pruning shears and cut quite a few branches back, but didn't try to tackle the ferns. There were only a few deadfalls, but they were pretty easy to get around. The creek falls themselves are OK, but nothing special.
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