2023 Map of Marion Forks

About this map

The settlement at Marion Forks serves as a lone outpost at the junction of Independence Road and mountain waterways in the high Cascades of Linn County. This map documents a landscape defined by dramatic elevation changes, where several cataracts including Gooch Falls, Gatch Falls, and Marion Falls mark the descent of drainage toward the North Santiam River valley. To the south and east, the Mount Jefferson Wilderness boundary protects a cluster of peaks and alpine lakes such as Turpentine Peak, Saddle Mtn, and Lula Lake. The map details an extensive network of footpaths like the Bingham Ridge Trl and Pine Ridge Trl, illustrating the region's long-standing importance for forest management and backcountry recreation within the Willamette National Forest. Geographers can trace the varied terrain from the level ground of Marion Flats to the steep rises of Marion Mtn and Bugaboo Ridge.