Directions To Opal Creek

From I-5 North or South bound

• Take Exit 253 for Hwy 22 (Stayton/Detroit).
• At the end of the ramp turn left/east on Hwy. 22.  Continue for approximately 22 miles.
• You will come to a flashing yellow light and on the right side of the road you will see the Swiss Village Restaurant.
• Turn left/north at the flashing yellow light onto the North Fork Rd. The Opal Creek trailhead is at the very end of this road, approximately 20 miles.
• After 14 miles of pavement you will enter the Willamette National Forest where the road turns to gravel. You are now on Forest Road 2209.
• After approx 1.5 -2 miles you will see a turn-off on the right towards Three Pools. Stay to the left on Forest Road 2209.
• Continue another 4 miles to the Opal Creek/Jawbone parking area and trail head.

From Bend, Hwy 97 or Hwy 20

• From either of these highways, make your way to Hwy 22 West.
• Follow Hwy 22 West to Gates, OR. It is approx. 96 miles from Sisters, OR to Gates.
• Approx 11 miles past Gates you will come to a flashing yellow light and on the left side of the road you will see the Swiss Village Restaurant.
• Turn right (north) at the yellow flashing light onto the North Fork Rd. The Opal Creek trailhead is at the very end of this road, approximately 20 miles.
• After 14 miles of pavement you will enter the Willamette National Forest where the road turns to gravel. You are now on Forest Road 2209.
• After approx 1.5 -2 miles you will see a turn-off on the right towards Three Pools. Stay to the left on Forest Road 2209.
• Continue another 4 miles to the Opal Creek/Jawbone parking area and trail head.

Alternate Directions During Summer Months Only:

• Coming West on Hwy 22, you’ll enter the town of Gates.
• Turn North (right) onto Gates Hill Road, which is located across from the Gates General Store in Gates, OR.
• Gates Hill Rd is a paved and approx 3-mile road that lets out on North Fork road, approximately 9 miles up (near Elkhorn Golf Course).
• Turn right onto the North Fork Road and follow the remaining directions listed above.
• Please note: Gates Hill road is 16% grade both up and down, and is not maintained in the winter. Please drive with extra caution when using this road.

Permits/Fees

All visitors to Opal Creek need a Trail Park permit to park at the trailhead. The permits cost $5/car for a one-day pass or $30 for a full-year pass. Full-year passes are available at most Forest Service offices and outdoor stores, or you can pay per day from a self-serve pay station (cash or check only) at the trailhead. To find online retailers of the Northwest Forest Pass, visit the Forest Services website, here.

Maps

Google Maps has this aerial view of the area around the trail head and Jawbone Flats. Link, here.

MapTech: Jawbone Flats

Or, purchase a Forest Service map that covers the Opal Creek Wilderness and Scenic Recreation Area, Bull of the Woods Wilderness, and Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness. We also sell these maps at our Jawbone Company Store (hours vary).