Rock Creek Horse Camp, Yacolt Burn State Forest, Washington

I always like it when I have low expectations, then I go somewhere and I end up enjoying it better than I thought I would. This was the case with Rock Creek, which is near Battle Ground. I had done a day ride there years ago, and didn't remember that much about it, but it ended up being more scenic than I anticipated. 

Mt. St. Helens views.

Rock Creek Horse Camp is on DNR land, which means the camp is free if you have a Discover Pass. I have never been much of a reservations type of person, so with the pass, I showed up, picked any spot, and then decided while I was there, how many nights I actually wanted to stay. If your coming from the south there's a good chance your GPS will take you on the short cut, which is definitely shorter mileage wise, but not worth dragging your rig up and over a steep mountain and back down the other side onto gravel, when the longer route is pretty flat and paved.

The camp has 23 spots all together, but 8 of them are for non horse people. The camp map and online info is not correct, several unnumbered spots have been added to the camp. There are two loops "A" and "B". "A" has a few really nice big spots especially A1, A9 and A10, but the rest are for pretty small rigs. Loop B has decent sized spots, especially the two that aren't numbered. Update: In 2022 these spots are now numbered, but they are different from the numbers on the camp map. Not every spot has corrals, although most do, the way it is set up is that sometimes a couple of spots will share corrals. Each loop has a stock water trough with a spigot and hose, and there is another spigot in front of the B loop bathroom, but the water is not potable. There are multiple manure bins throughout the camp, a wheelbarrow, as well has two day use areas, and three bathrooms. Four sites have new pipe corrals, but the rest are log. There is also a large picnic shelter, a mounting ramp, maps of the trails, and a camp host. Update: In Oct. of 2022 there is currently no camp host, but they are looking for someone. It was pretty quiet when I was there, but if it gets busy with non horse campers, the horse spots are held for horse people until 8pm, after that they are fair game. I did not have cell service in camp, but I did while riding. Update: in 2022 I was able to send texts and sometimes get email, but calls would not go through.

One of the unnumbered spots in the B loop.

Site B4, which is pull through.

There turned out to be a lot of riding, the trails are marked, and I considered them to be easy, unless your horse is a total couch potato, in which case most of the trails have some elevation gain.  There are lots of bridges to cross, quite a few old and new clear cut areas that provide views, and although the trails are shared with mountain bikers, I did not run in to any cyclists on any of the trails while I was there. (I was not there on a weekend)

The Tarbell Trail is a 23 mile loop which you can do in one fell swoop or break it up into sections and make smaller loops, or get creative and make huge loops partially using gravel roads. I decided to go to Hidden Falls first, starting on the Tarbell Trail, then taking a steeper short cut along the Silver Shadow Trail, which eventually rejoins the Tarbell Trail. I also passed a junction to a trail leading up onto Silver Star Mountain, and I really wanted to ride up there, but knew I didn't have time to do both in one day....so this means I may have to return another time!

On the Tarbell Trail.

All the junctions are marked.

On the Tarbell Trail.

Once at the falls, there is an area that people can highline horses, if need be. I did about 16 miles, turning back after the falls, but taking the slightly longer route home, skipping the Silver Shadow Trail. This was one of those perfect situations, the weather was amazing, no pesky insects, or any other annoyances, just a perfect riding day.

Hidden Falls.

Hidden Falls.

Silver Star Mountain.

Paragliders launch off of Silver Star. Mt.

So lush on the Tarbell Trail.

The next day I followed the Tarbell Trail the other direction towards the Yacolt Burn Trailhead, but only briefly, since I was on my way to the Bells Mountain Trail. I got onto a "mountain biker only section" by mistake, but then shortly found the trailhead I was looking for. The Bells Mountain Trail runs beside Cold Creek for a pretty long time, and then climbs up along Bells Mountain. I did about 18 miles round trip, since I turned back at the top, but it continues another couple of miles over towards Moulton Falls County Park. 

On the Bells Mountain Trail.

On the Bells Mountain Trail.

Views from Bells Mountain.

On the Bells Mountain Trail.

That evening while I was taking a stroll through camp, a couple of small boys starting running towards me yelling "mommy, mommy"! Since I'm pretty sure I haven't actually had any children, I was a bit taken aback, but they figured out their mistake fairly quickly, and we all thought it was pretty funny.

My last ride was a shorter 11 mile loop along the Tarbell Trail, climbing up to near the top of Larch Mt. and then going back down the Sixth Sense Trail. This particular loop seems to have the most obvious signs of potential cyclist traffic. There is a gravel road that is in the middle of the loop, and I noticed cyclists going uphill along the road, so that they could then ride one of the trails back down. 

On the Tarbell Trail.

Just one of the many bridges in this area.

On the Tarbell Trail, almost to the top of Larch Mt.

Some of the signs for the Tarbell Trail have mileage, so if you were doing the whole loop, you would be able to keep track of how far you had gone. 

Every time I got to a higher elevation, once I was out in a clear cut area, I got some nice Mt. St. Helens views, and on this particular ride I could see Mt. Adams as well.

Near the top of Larch Mt.

Magnificent Mt. St. Helens.

Starting down the Sixth Sense Trail.

Happy Mother's Day, a scary balloon on the trail.

I drove home after my ride, but instead of the four hours it should have taken, I got to the Government Camp area immediately after a really bad wreck, consequently the highway was closed for over two hours. There was a place for me to pull off the road, while Life Flight was called in, people had to be cut out of cars, and an investigation was conducted. I talked to some other horse people briefly who were on their way to Sisters, but they thought the wait was going to be too long, and they turned around and went home. I did not really want to drive a lot of extra miles out of my way, so my patient pony and I waited it out. I arrived back home at a decent hour... a small inconvenience in the grand scheme of things.

In October of 2022 I returned to Rock Creek on the way back from a 10 day trip to a couple of other Washington camps. Just like the last time I was there, the place was deserted when I arrived, except for one non horse camper, so I was able to nab A-1, the best spot, in my opinion.

Site A-1 at Rock Creek Horse Camp.

 

My goal was to ride to the top of Silver Star Mt. so the next morning I got an early start and headed out on the Appaloosa Trail. The Appaloosa Trail reaches the Tarbell Trail, where I turned left, until I reached the junction with the Silver Star Trail. From there I climbed up to the top, with lots of views back down into the valley. I was quite surprised to see what awaited me on the other side, a steep drop off with a beautiful view over to another mountain, as well as some rather severe wind.

Crossing a bridge on the Appaloosa Trail.

Views from the Appaloosa Trail.

 

On the Silver Star Trail.

On the Silver Star Trail.

On the Silver Star Trail.

The amazing view from atop Silver Star Mt.

On top of Silver Star Mt.

Instead of going back the same way, I decided to make a loop along the Grouse Vista Trail over to Grouse Vista Trailhead. This area is not as well marked, and it was pretty rocky most of the way down. When I got to the trailhead there was a warden parked there, he told me he was surprised to see a horse in that particular area. From there I continued on the L 1200 Road for about 5 miles, which comes out very close to camp. This was about a 16 mile ride, but if you are not a fan of road riding, you could do a 19 mile lollipop loop by getting back on to the Tarbell Trail, which goes past Hidden Falls, and then retrace your steps on the Appaloosa Trail.

Heading back down the Grouse Vista Trail.

At the bottom of Road L-1200, looking back at Silver Star Mt.

Later that day I was hanging out at camp and my horse was out grazing, when she suddenly looked very alert. I was sitting nearby and I glanced over and saw a bobcat emerge from the foliage. The bobcat was also a bit startled to see her, and he decided to retreat back into the bushes. A few minutes later, he got brave and sauntered back out, at which point I was able to get a video ( which is on my FB page.) He couldn't have cared less about my presence. This time my horse and the cat mostly ignored each other, and he went about his business, which I assume was to get down to the creek for water. 

That night a few more people arrived at camp, including one couple with horses whom I chatted with for awhile, but for a Friday it was still not very busy. The next day I headed home, concluding my camping season for the year... can't wait for next summer! 

GPS COORDINATES TO ROCK CREEK