As many of you may or may not know, Shellburg Falls recreation area (Site of our annual Shellburg Falls 5.2 Mile Trail Run in December) sustained significant damage due to the September 2020 wildfires. Currently the area remains closed and off limits to everyone including special use groups, volunteer crews and mountain biking/runners. There is currently no timeframe when the area will reopen.
Here is a copy of the email we recently received regarding Shellburg Falls.
Some of the Santiam’s most popular destinations were severely damaged, including Shellburg Falls, Rocky Top/Niagara area, and the Rhody Lake/High Lakes areas. These areas remain closed. Damage includes full tree mortality around many campsites, complete or partial sign loss, and vault toilet heat damage.
Recovery and restoration activities continue in closed areas. These include re-establishing and repairing trails, replacing infrastructure like signs and bridges, removing hazard trees, and post-fire timber harvesting in some areas.