Park here. There are two large vault restrooms. the trailhead will be to the right of the barn in front of you.

Before you start your hike, back track a few feet down the road you just drove down and visit the Plunkett House.

Built about 1875, the Plunkett House is typical of Kings Valley farmhouses of the period. It was owned by ashnah Norton Plunkett (1847-1933), the first pioneer child born in Kings Valley, whose parents Hopestill King and L... Moreucius Norton came across the plains in 1845.

Described by Oregon histornian J.B. Horner as "the beautiful daughter of Lucius Norton," Ashnah Norton was the oldest girl in a family of twelve. In her later years, Ashnah described how she met her husband: "I wasn't much of a hand to go to dances. My folks didn't approve of them, but I went to a dance given in Kings Valley and was introduced to one of the California soldiers. His name was James Plunkett." Ashnah, 18, and James, 32, married on June 28, 1864. by 1883, they had seven sons and two daughters.

Ashnah took ownership of this house and property in 1886. Ashnah, James and the Plunkett family lived a generally self-sufficient life on the property, with garden, fruit trees, farm animals and hunting activities common to farm life. Supplies, services and social life were available at nearby Kings Valley with its general store, grist mill, blacksmith shop, schoolhouse and church.

A notable feature of this farm was its outhouse that sat over a diversion trench of running water fed from nearby Plunkett Creek. The trench water ran back to the creek after passing under the outhouse.

James Plunkett died in 1911, but Ashnah continued to live on this property until her death in 1933 at age 86. She had a reputation in the valley for being productive and busy, bringing her crochet, quilting and knitting projects whenever she went visiting. Family members recall her large spinning wheel and huge carpet loom, which she used to weave rag carpeting and hall runners for King valley homes.Less

Benton County envisioned a new use for the historic Plunkett family barn, originally constructed in the 1930’s from lumber milled on site. The barn had not been used for many years, but was structurally sound. Transformation of this barn to become the Beazell Forest Education Center began in 2005. An ADA-compliant, structurally stable design, utili... Morezing “green” materials where possible, was planned. The historic feel, simplicity and openness of the original barn were retained, and enclosed areas where light can penetrate through exterior barn planks were provided. The project involved low impact construction and maintenance, utilizing components of reduce, reuse, and recycle. Much of the original barn framework and planks were reused, and unusable parts were recycled. Barn floors and interior stalls were salvaged for reuse as railings, display partitions, and benches. Though the Beazell Forest Education Center has a classroom, caterer’s area, and a large assembly room, it maintains a barn-like appearance. When not in use, the windows and doors on the front façade are covered by barn doors.Less

While you can turn left here, if you are going to do the hike around the hill I suggest continuing straight and follow the creek.

Turn left for the bird habitat trail. Turn right for the Plunkett Creek Trail.

Turn either

The trail follows this old road along Plunkett Creek. When it's been raining it can get muddy.

Here you can choose to follow the road left or split off right down to a trail by the creek. I highly recommend the trail down by the creek.

Eventually both trails end up connecting again later.

Look across the creek to spot this car that I think rolled down the hill from the road above.

Turn right to continue on the trail which leads up the hill by switchbacks. If you don't want to hike up the hill you can follow the trail left which will return you to the road and back to your car.

You can turn left here and follow a trail down to a meadow, or continue straight ahead for the meadow viewpoint.

This is where the trail from POI 11 connects.

The trail ahead can be very muddy when it's been raining.

Turn left here to head back to the parking lot. There is another trail a few feet ahead as well that will also return you to the parking area.