Keystone Rapids & Lone Pine Trails

The Keystone Rapids Trailhead is post No. 26 and from there you head north to follow the east bank of the Boardman River. Almost immediately the namesake rapids appear and the whitewater is enjoyed at several viewing points including an observation deck reached in less than quarter mile. The Keystone Rapids are legitimate Class II whitewater in the spring but due to the ongoing project to eventually remove the Sabin and Boardman Dams, the river is in a constant state of change. That includes the rapids. The velocity of the river is increasing and no doubt new stretches of whitewater will appear along this stretch.

Post No. 21 is reached at Mile 0.4, marking the south end of a long foot bridge across the Boardman River. On the other side is a nearly mile-long loop. If followed in a clockwise direction, just past post No. 25 is an aviary-viewing overlook, or wildlife blind, perched above open meadows and wetlands.

You return to post No. 21 at Mile 1.3 and head east to quickly pass the two spur trails, marked by at post No. 20 and post No. 18, from Oleson Bridge Trailhead.  Just past the second spur is another viewing deck. The trail continues to skirt the riverbank for a very scenic stretch that includes a foot bridge over a side stream. A posted detour forces you to climb around an area of riverbank erosion before the trail resumes skirting the riverbank, arriving at post No. 17 at Mile 1.6. The post marks the start of the paved, barrier-free Lone Pine Trail with the trailhead just to the east (right).

Lone Pine Trail continues north to quickly pass the Lone Pine Canoe Launch and the stairway descending to it. Eventually the paved trail leaves the forest to more expansive views of the Boardman River where a handful of benches have been placed. Two of them have been placed at post No. 16, reached at Mile 2.2, marking the north end of the Lone Pine Trail, where you can look out over the Boardman Riveand what remains of the Boardman Pond.

You need to backtrack to return to the Keystone Rapids Trailhead on Beitner Road, a 1.3 mile walk if you skip the loop to the  aviary-viewing overlook.

Boardman Pond Trail

The Boardman Pond Trail begins at post No. 14, marking a trailhead and parking area on the south side of Cass Road across from the Beaver Pond Trailhead, post No. 13 and the Boardman Dam. The trail begins on a levy with views of the Boardman Pond but in less than a quarter mile swings south and descends a stairway to a side stream gushing out of a pair of culverts like a waterfall.

Just beyond the cascade, the trail swings within view of the railroad and then away from it for the rest of the hike. You remain in the forest with views of the impoundment and the Boardman River until arriving at post No. 15 at Mile 0.75. There is no observation deck here but there are views in almost every direction. Backtrack to return to the trailhead on Cass Road for a round-trip outing of 1.5 miles.