Parker Creek Trail

The Parker Creek trail begins amid the rust-colored cabins of the experimental forest. These are modest dwellings where students and rangers stay when they’re working in the area.

Yet the silence was deafening. The cabins sat abandoned. On each door hung a sign. We climbed the stairs to read one and the boards creaked beneath us. The signs issued warnings about bears in the area.

Oh, great.

(Note: any film producer needing a backdrop for a teen horror movie would love this place.)

We found the trail and began climbing, all the while trying to remember the rule about bear encounters. Was it act big and make noises? Run like a rabbit? Play dead?

Eventually, we retraced our steps down the mountain and soon discovered we were not alone.

Sunk deeply into the boot prints we made hiking up the hill were brand-new prints – these belonging to a very heavy cat.

As if bears weren’t bad enough, it seems a mountain lion (I assumed) was stalking our moves.

To give our animal friend more incentive, I twisted my ankle and kissed the ground. Not that I could outrun a cat anyway, but there’s no way I could out-hobble one.

Not surprisingly, we made good time down the hill. And just as we neared the end of the trail, a pair of giant ravens, black as a moonless midnight, welcomed us back with echoing squawks.

About the hike – the trail was a good one, actually, cutting through a forest of towering ponderosa pines. It winds its way up the hill, offering plenty of switchbacks. It’s soft, too, cushioned by seasons of fallen needles.

The sights are wonderful. About halfway to the top, there’s a clearing where you can step onto a rocky cliff and gaze upon the valley and creek below (the creek was dry when we visited, though).

Another fantastic view awaits near the top. Look to the west, and you’ll get a view of Roosevelt Lake and Four Peaks (kind of neat to see it from its backside!)

From the trailhead to the little white cross atop the hill is about 2.5 miles.

To get there, take U.S. Highway 60 east to state Highway 88. Follow 88 north for about 15 miles to the Highway 288 junction. Follow 288 for about 20 miles to reach the turn-off.

Along the way, Highway 288 becomes a gravel road. The turn-off to the trail is 7.5 miles from where the pavement ends. Turn right at the hiking sign. Parking is available a short distance up a hill. From there, follow the road on foot as it leads to the lodges. The trailhead is marked near the headquarters. (The largest of the creepy, empty cabins).

This hike was first featured April 2002 and revised February 2007.