Crabtree Valley Hike

A fortress of rocky cliffs has protected the trees in Crabtree Valley from fire, wind, and logging for many centuries. This remote pocket of old-growth surrounds Crabtree Lake, an excellent destination for a wanderer seeking to spend time in quiet, old-growth forest.

Some of Oregon's largest and oldest trees grow here, including the giant King Tut. In the 1970s the land in Crabtree Valley was under private ownership and was threatened by logging. Local conservation advocates feared that this unique patch of old-growth forest would be lost, and they sought to build public interest in the land. They found a particularly large tree buried deep in the woods and named it King Tut as a way to draw attention to this special place. As a result of these efforts, the BLM eventually purchased the land in the mid 1980s. It is now identified as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern and protected as a valuable natural resource.

Don't plan on venturing off looking for King Tut today, as the route leading there has been lost under years of growing vegetation. Instead, stick to the path that follows trails and old logging roads to reach the edge of the lake. From there, you can find any number of old-growth trees nearly as big as the famed King Tut. Take some time to wander off to rocky viewpoints overlooking nearby meadows and enjoy the peace and quiet that this isolated treasure has to offer.