Kilchis Dualsport Loop

Took a dual-sport ride on the DRZ this weekend around the forks of the Kilchis River.

Google Maps doesn’t think the last bit of road exists, but it does – it was actually a loop.

The Kilchis River and the other creek valleys are pretty when the alder have no leaves – you can see further, and the white bark makes a nice color contrast.

Leaving the Kilchis North Fork valley before Triangulation Creek is a great climb up a jeep road. Some nice views can be found going over the ridge to Cook Creek.

I had planned to go over the next couple ridges to the Nehalem River, but the little stub at the north-east part of the loop is where a bridge has been removed, and I turned back. Tin Shack Road is getting a real make-over – deep, freshly laid gravel for the first couple miles, then neglected jeep trail for most of the rest. I ended up going up to Triangulation Point. The view was fantastic on this clear and sunny day, but a big group was having a picnic up there, so I took my photo later.

I missed the turn-off to Kilchis Falls, but it was getting late, so I’ll have to get back to that later. Part of the Kilchis Lookout Road tracks a high ridge top and offers more views.