DOUGLAS COUNTY OREGON LETTERBOXES

Douglas County, Oregon Letterboxes were placed by Ken, Lori,
Brittany and Amanda (The Paisley Orca) in Glide, Oregon on 1/13/2001
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Colliding Rivers
Directions: From Roseburg, Oregon go East on Hwy 138 for 17 miles.
You will see a sign luring you to the Colliding Rivers Boat Launch.
Don't take that one. Go up the hwy just a bit farther and follow the
sign for the Colliding Rivers Viewpoint, just up the highway a little
farther. Take a left on Glide Loop Rd. and then an immediate left
into the parking lot for the viewpoint.

At Colliding Rivers Viewpoint, the swift, deep waters of the North
Umpqua River funnel into a water chute and meet the rapids of
sparkling Little River head-on. The viewpoint includes a rest area
and comfort station.

Clues: Easy to Moderate

Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult. The distance isn't all that
much, but the terrain getting to the box can be challenging. You
must cross the bridge on a fairly busy highway and go down beneath
the bridge on the other side, and scramble/climb among and on mossy
rocks. This area appears to have potential as an underage drinking
high-use area in the summer months, I imagine, based on what litter
has been left. No one else was present while we were there, though.
Dress for wet and dirty and rock scrambling. Boots with good
traction are a must. Poison Oak can be a prominent life form in
Douglas County, so be mindful of that, as well.

Douglas County Letter Box #1: COLLIDING RIVERS
Park in the viewpoint area and take a nice look at the rivers coming
together here. Go up to the highway (stay on the side you're on you
want to cross the river, not the highway) and cross over the bridge
to the other side. Where you see the "Adopt-A-Highway" sign go over
the guardrail and follow the trail down under the bridge. About
halfway down to the next bridge support (concrete wall) there will be
a flat concrete slab with a chunk of rebar sticking out of it on your
left. Stand on this slab facing the river and look to 9:00 O'Clock.
You'll see a good size fir tree. Not far below it, to the right, is
a "junior" fir. At the very base of this tree there is large rock to
the right. A brown, sandy stone is at the entrance of the crevice
where this letterbox resides.

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Wolf Creek Falls
Directions: In your vehicle, from your parking spot at Colliding
Rivers, go back up to the highway, cross the bridge and take the
first left on the other side of the river (Little River Rd.) Follow
this for 10.7 miles to the Wolf Creek Falls Trailhead (at arched foot-
bridge). Along the way down this road, you will see the Cavitt Creek
Covered Bridge on your right. The hike begins at the Wolf Creek
Falls trailhead. There is a sign on your right, and you'll see the
arched foot-bridge over Little River.

Difficulty: This trail isn't too tough. You will go over several
bridges and there are various ups and downs. It is not considered
disabled accessible because of the slope over the arched bridge of
13%. The trail can be moderately steep in some areas, but it is well
groomed by youth from the nearby Wolf Creek Job Corps. A parking
area, vault toilet and picnic table are located across Little River
road from the foot-bridge.

Wolf Creek Falls Trail is secluded in a tranquil forest setting. The
1.2-mile trail leads to twin waterfalls tumbling over rock cliffs
which drop 50 and 75 feet into pools below. Water volume varies from
a full-fan waterfall in the wet spring to a narrowed spout in the
summer. In April and May, vegetation is lush and verdant. In the late
fall and through the winter months rains increase water flow again
and one must be prepared for a colder and damper hike. This is a
most enjoyable hike anytime of year. Dress for the possibility of
rain. You shouldn't have trouble with Poison Oak on this trail
unless you go where you shouldn't.

Clues: Easy

Douglas County Letter Box #2: WOLF CREEK FALLS
Park in the area on the right-hand side of Little River Road at the
trailhead. Go over the arched bridge and continue on. After the
small bridge look to your left. Frankenstone watches over in solemn
silence as you pass by. This is a very pretty trail within a
beautiful wooded area. You meander along the water here and there
and a sense of peace may overcome you. Keep going. Continue walking
past the large rock cliff to your right. In wet weather this mossy
giant appears as a green weeping wall. You'll encounter steepness,
here and there as you go forward, but it shouldn't be too big of a
deal and you'll be rewarded at the end with wonderful views of the
falls. You'll know you're approaching the falls by the sound and
there is a wonderful clear view of both falls not far from where the
letterbox is hidden. Stop and breathe the clear air deeply into your
lungs. Marvel at the sights and sounds of this magnificent
atmosphere. When you're ready to go to the end of the trail go on up
ahead to the start of the cyclone fence. Stop and turn around facing
the way you came. Go back 18 paces and look at the tree towering
right in front of you on the left hand side. In the very lower left
crevice (the one with the stumpy chunk of branch kind of hanging by)
reach in and up and grasp the letterbox. This box is right on the
trail, so you might want to make sure no one sees you when you find
and return it. Once you've traded stamp images and written a message
and put the box back, please go the rest of the way (you're very
close to the end here) and check the view from the base of the upper
falls. You'll be glad you've discovered this special little place.