Salmon River, West Canyon Trail

The Salmon River Canyon Trail, also known as the West Trail, is a natural extension of the Salmon River Old Trail. It starts at the Welches Road Bridge and follows the Salmon River through an old-growth forest of Douglas fir, western hemlock and western red cedar into the 62,455-acre Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness. Unlike the Old Trail, the Canyon Trail provides views that are closer to the riverbank and higher in elevation for unique perspectives on this scenic and pristine watershed. A tributary of the Sandy River, the Salmon River is named for the Steelhead, Chinook and Coho Salmon that spawn in the river's clear and healthy waters every year. Because the Sandy River is one of the few remaining undammed Wild and Scenic Rivers, it is also one of the best places in northwestern Oregon to view wild salmon making their upriver pilgrimage (the lower portion of Eagle Creek in the Columbia River Gorge is another). Attention!: Because the US Forest Service does not have sufficient funds or staff they are considering closing the Salmon River to all camping outside the Green Canyon Campground due to excessive tree cutting for firewood, trampled plants, and large amounts of garbage, human waste and toilet paper left at the backcountry campsites. If you want to continue camping alongside the river, pack out all garbage and toilet paper and dispose of it properly, bury your feces 6a down and greater than 100a from river, bring in your own firewood, and stay on established paths. Using the area responsibly will increase the chance that visitors will be allowed to continue enjoying the land.