Natural Rock Arch

The Santiam Forest is well known for its many beautiful spots, but this one is fairly uncommon. It's likely you will be the only person out here. Since it's such a short hike, just about a mile round trip, you could easily make it a pit stop on your way to or from someplace else and not have to worry about being too tired to be able to make. It's a short and fairly steep climb through pretty dense forest along the well worn trail which can get muddy and slick in spots depending on the weather. The arch itself is pretty massive and on a clear day it offer nice views of the forest beyond. There are wildflowers along the route too and the arch is a wonderful spot to linger on a nice day. I've been up there a couple of times and it's always worth it.

It's pretty easy to get to and also pretty easy to go racing by the turn off on Hwy. 22. You want to look for Niagara Heights road. It's almost directly across from Sevenmile Creek Falls before you get to Detroit Lake if your heading east on Highway 22. You want to turn left onto Niagara Heights Road. Turn right to stay on Niagara Heights at the first intersection (after 1.8 miles), go straight through the next one then turn right (after 2.7 miles) to get to the trail head which is about 1.5 miles and just park on the edge of the road. There is a trailhead marker and the trail is just back from the marker a bit. The trailhead is a bout 6.2 miles from Hwy. 22 and Google Maps gives good directions.