Did you ever hike the Lookout Creek Old Growth Trail? John Cissel, then in his role as the Research Liaison with the US Forest Service, conceived and planned the Lookout Creek Old Growth Trail over 30 years ago as a way to connect the HJA with a broader public. John writes, “It took a lot of help from our friends, but we successfully added sections of new trail at each trailhead that connected to an old, unmaintained administrative trail that ran across the slope of lower Lookout Mountain. Today is the day I had scheduled for my annual return visit to the old growth along the trail, but now I don't know when I'll see my old friend again, or what it will look like when I do. Anyone interested can see my description of the trail and photos on my website.”
The Lookout Creek Old Growth brochure provides natural history information about the forest seen from the trail, prior to the fire. A virtual tour of the old-growth trail leads viewers through the ecosystem (pre-fire) and some of the essential characteristics of an old growth forest. Note: the trail is closed due to the fire.
First posted August 17, 2023