wanderingyuncks

Marion Lake – 07/06/2026

My brother and his family came for a weeklong visit on the 4th of July from Missouri. When we first talked about the visit Jason mentioned they were hoping to join us on a hike so I’d asked what their ideal hike would entail. The answer was something in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, preferably involving a lake and a waterfall with a length of 5 to 6 miles. I immediately thought of Marion Lake, a hike that includes two lakes, a pair of waterfalls, and views of both Three Fingered Jack and Mt. Jefferson. As an extra bonus our son Dominique would also be joining us.

We had done this hike back in 2014 (post) and returned in 2016 for a much longer loop to the Eight Lakes Basin deeper in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderenss (post). Those visits were prior to the implementation of the Central Cascade Wilderness permit system. Permits are now required from June 15th to October 15th. Overnight permits are required to stay anywhere in the Mt. Jefferson. Three Sisters, and Mt. Washington Wilderness areas while day use permits are currently required at 19 of the 79 trailheads accessing these wilderness areas including the Marion Lake Trailhead. Day use permits are released in two rounds. About 40% of the day use permits for a specific date are released at 7am ten days before that day with the reminder made available two days before the date. I was ready at our computer at 7am on 6/26 and secured the six $1 permits we’d need for our families.

They were good sports and were willing to be on the road at 6am to allow us to be at the trailhead around 7:30am and take advantage of the cooler morning temperatures.

We followed the trail gradually uphill for approximately three quarters of mile to the boundary of the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness.

Prince’s pine

Twinflower

Most of the rhododendron were done blooming but a few blossoms remained.

Anemone

There were a few ripe huckleberries along this stretch.

Washington lily

Our sharp-eyed niece spotted this frog along the trail.

Wilderness sign near the boundary.

Sugar sticks, also spotted by Bekkah.

The trail continued its gradual climb which included a couple of switchbacks before arriving at Lake Ann near the 1.6-mile mark.

One of several small springs along the trail.

Wintergreen

Thimbleberry

The outlet of Lake Ann flows beneath the trail here through the porous lava.

The trail passing along Lake Ann.

Lake Ann

After a short break at Lake Ann where we spotted a common merganser on the water and debated whether or not the brown hump on the far side of the lake was a grazing deer or something else (it was something else) we continued on. Just two tenths of a mile later we arrived at a junction where the trail split.

The Marion Lake Trail went left while the Marion Lake Outlet Trail was to the right. We forked right onto the Outlet Trail and in another tenth of a mile came to the unsigned trail to Marion Falls on our right.

We turned right onto this rougher path which crossed over a small ridge then descended to the top of Marion Falls.

This trail had a number of downed trees that required stepping over.

Gnome-plant

Above Marion Falls.

While there was some blowdown over the trail to the top of the falls it isn’t a particularly difficult 0.2-miles. The trail steepens significantly however if you wish to reach the bottom of the waterfall.

The trail disappearing as it drops steeply down the hillside.

Marion Falls

At the bottom of Marion Falls you are also near the top of Gatch Falls. (Some say it is actually just the lower tier of Marion Falls.)

Bachelor Mountain (post) from the top of Gatch Falls.

Monkeyflower

Looking back up the trail from below.

To get a view of Gatch Falls requires an even rougher and steeper descent.

Marion Creek continues tumbling downhill to Gooch Falls (post) a little over two miles downstream.

After admiring the waterfalls, we climbed back up to the top of Marion Falls and took a well-earned snack break before returning to the Marion Lake Outlet Trail.

We followed the trail another half mile around rocky hillsides where my brother’s family spotted a pika as it darted over the rocks and paused briefly before disappearing.

There is plenty of pika habitat such as this in the area.

After the half mile we found ourselves at a junction with the Blue Lake Trail.

At the junction we faced a choice, in order to keep the hike at 6-miles we would have needed to turn left here and hike 0.7-miles along Marion Lake to the Marion Lake Trail and turn left again for 0.4-miles to the junction with the Marion Lake Outlet Trail near Lake Ann. If, however, we wanted to get a view of the wilderness’ namesake, Mt. Jefferson, a detour or two would be needed. By turning right on the Blue Lake Trail for a quarter mile across a talus slope, the top of Mt. Jefferson would be visible across the lake which is what we did.

Better views can be had by going a little further, but because trees line the trail beyond it requires descending steeply to the lake shore which was a little more effort than we had in us today.

After getting a look at Mt. Jefferson we recrossed Marion Creek and hiked along the forested lake shore to the next detour at the day use peninsula.

The only beargrass that had any blossoms left on it.

Three Fingered Jack

Marion Peak is the forested peak to the left and Marion Mountain (post) is the rounded hump just left of center.

We detoured out the peninsula and took a break on some bedrock smoothed by ice age glaciers with a view of the top of Mt. Jefferson.

I continued steeply down the end of the peninsula to get another view of Three Fingered Jack before joining the rest of the group on the rocks.

California tortoiseshell

Creamy stonecrop and beardtongue

Paintbrush

After a nice break we returned to the main trail and continued on to the junction with the Marion Lake Trail.

Vine maple and thimbleberry along the trail.

Signpost at the junction.

We turned left and started the 2.2-mile return to the trailhead.

Lake Ann in the afternoon.

Heading out of the wilderness.

Pearly everlasting at the trailhead.

My GPS registered 6.6-miles for this hike. Total elevation gain for the hike was approximately 975′. My trip to the end of the peninsula added a little over a tenth of a mile.

Everyone survived the hike and more importantly seemed to enjoy it. It was a lot of fun spending the day with family and enjoying God’s creation. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Marion Lake

Tags Blue Lake Trail, gatch falls, hiking, lake ann, Marion Creek, marion falls, marion lake, Marion Lake Outlet Trail, Marion Lake Trail, Marion Lake Trailhead, Marion Mountain, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, Oregon, Three Fingered Jack

Hiking Trip report Old Cascades Oregon Mollala

Table Rock – 07/04/2026

Since 2012 it has been a 4th of July tradition to take a hike in the morning. This year we chose to revisit the Table Rock Wilderness. We’d visited this wilderness three times before including our 4th of July hike in 2015 (post).

Our plan for this outing was an out-and-back visit to the summit of Table Rock starting from the Table Rock Trailhead. We set off shortly after 6:30am on the closed roadbed that leads to the old trailhead and the Table Rock Trail.

It’s 1.4-miles between the current and former trailheads with a short detour into the forest at the 0.4-mile mark to avoid a large slide that took out the roadbed.

Oregon sunshine and paintbrush

Monkeyflower

The top of several strawberries gave the impression that they were ripe, but the bottom halves were still white. I looked for a suggestion box so I could request someone rotate the berries occasionally to ensure they ripen evenly, however no such box existed.

The detour around the slide.

Prince’s pine

Wintergreen

Back on the roadbed.

Foam flower

Youth-on-age

Paintbrush

Twin flower

Table Rock from the roadbed.

Silverleaf phacelia, daisies, and penstemon

Yarrow

Self-heal

The old trailhead and the start of the Table Rock Trail.

We turned onto the trail and began the 2.4-mile climb to the summit of Table Rock.

Queen’s cup

Little prince’s pine

This downed tree required a steep detour around the root ball.

Rhododendron

Bunchberry

Wallflower

Beargrass

Table Rock through the trees.

Near the mile mark the trail begins a rocky traverse below the basalt cliffs of Table Rock.

Table Rock

Washington lily

Catchfly

Lupine

Paintbrush

Columbine

Bleeding heart

We took a break before crossing the rocks hoping to spot one of the pikas that were occasionally “meeping” around us. We heard several but saw none which seems to be how it goes for us at this location.

After failing to spot a pika we traversed below the columnar basalt of Table Rock where the trail was a little overgrown.

Beardtongue along the trail.

Carolina bugbane

Oregon sunshine

Penstemon along the trail.

Goatsbeard below Table Rock.

Heading back into the forest.

Rhododendron lining the trail.

The trail arrives at a junction in a saddle 1.9-miles from the roadbed.

From this junction we turned left and made the half mile climb to the summit of Table Rock gaining a little over 300′ of elevation.

Beargrass along the trail.

Wild rose

First view of Mt. Jefferson from a little below the summit.

Mt. Jefferson

We could also see several other Cascades including Mt. Washington and the Three Sisters.

Three Fingered Jack

Heading up to the summit along Table Rock’s plateau.

Sub-alpine mariposa lily

Checkerspot butterfly

There were a few clouds, but from the summit we could also see Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams in Washington to the left of Mt. Hood.

It was a little hard to pick out but we finally spotted the top of Mt. Rainier as well.

After a nice rest at the summit, we headed back down.

Bastard toadflax

Pussytoes

Lousewort

Rockfinn

Phlox

Sugar stick

Orange agoseris and paintbrush.

Larkspur

Western featherbells

Bluebells

Once again, several pikas were heard but none were seen.

I detoured on a spur trail up a rock outcrop on the way down and got a nice view of both Mt. Jefferson and Mt. Hood.

Mt. Hood

Mt. Jefferson

Table Rock from the top of the outcrop.

The route on the outcrop.

After checking out the view I returned to the trail and eventually caught back up with Heather.

Coralroot

Back on the old roadbed.

We were kept company by butterflies and birds on the hike back to the trailhead along the roadbed.

Chestnut backed chickadee

Back at the trailhead.

This hike was 7.7-miles (my detour added a tenth) with approximately 1580′ of elevation gain.

We had a good time on this hike. There were a lot of flowers and some nice views. What there wasn’t was a lot of people. We only saw six other hikers all day which provided some nice solitude. We headed home to await the arrival of my brother and his family who were arriving later in the afternoon from Missouri. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Table Rock

Tags hiking, Oregon, wildflowers, table rock, table rock wilderness, Table Rock Trail, Table Rock Trailhead

Hiking Oregon Portland Trip report Willamette Valley

Forest Park via Springville Rd. – 06/28/2026

Post author By derwoodynck
Post date June 29, 2026
No Comments on Forest Park via Springville Rd. – 06/28/2026

A much-needed damp weather system arrived just in time for the weekend which had us looking for a good overcast day hike. We landed on a visit to Portland’s Forest Park. We had visited the 5,200 acre park five previous times (2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024).

Over those five visits we had hiked 46.4 of the more than 80-miles of trails, fire lanes and roads within the park, but our tracks weren’t all connected. Our 2018 and 2024 hikes both began at the Germantown Road Trailhead and the routes shared 0.6 miles of trail. Our 2020 and 2022 routes began at different trailheads but shared a 0.6-mile stretch of the 30.2-mile Wildwood National Recreation Trail. That left our 2019 Maple Trail hike on an island. Today’s planned hike would connect that track to the 2018 track while also including over 6.5-miles of trails we’d yet to hike.

I’d mapped out the route starting from the Springville Road Trailhead.

We were the second car in the lot upon our arrival just before 6am.

The hike started at a gate on Springville Road/Firelane 7 just past an outhouse.

When Springville Road split from Firelane 7 we stayed right on the fire lane.

Approximately 0.3-miles from the trailhead we turned right off of Firelane 7 onto the Trillium Trail.

We passed the Hardesty Trail on our left.

Signs at the junction with the Trillium Trail.

We followed the Trillium Trail downhill 0.2-miles to the Wildwood Trail where we turned right.

Tiger lilies

Selfheal

The Wildwood Trail at the junction.

We stayed on the Wildwood Trail for 2.6 fairly level miles to a junction with Saltzman Road.

Thimbleberry, we found a few ripe ones to taste test.

Red huckleberries

Yarrow and selfheal

Creeping buttercup

Coastal hedgenettle

As always, the junctions were well signed with large maps at several of them.

Saltzman Road

We turned left onto Saltzman Road and followed it downhill for half a mile to Leif Erickson Drive where we again turned left.

We stayed on Leif Erickson Drive for 1.8-miles before turning steeply uphill on Firelane 7A.

Snail

Columbine

Mourning dove giving us the “side eye”.

More tiger lilies.

Firelane 7A.

After a stiff 0.2-mile climb we turned left back onto the Wildwood Trail.

A tall aster or fleabane along the firelane.

The junction with the Wildwood Trail.

We followed the Wildwood Trail half a mile to a junction with Firelane 7.

Mushrooms

Both CalTopo and Gaia GPS label this Northwest Oil-Line Road.

We climbed up the firelane for just under a mile to the Hardesty Trail which we had passed earlier.

Red clover

Passing the Trillium Trail on the left where we turned off Firelane 7 that morning.

The Hardesty Trail. We were just a tenth of a mile from the trailhead at this point, but since we hadn’t been on this trail before we turned right.

The Hardesty Trail dropped steeply downhill to the Wildwood Trail.

The Wildwood Trail below to the left.

The junction with the Wildwood Trail.

We turned left and hiked another 0.8-miles on the Wildwood Trail to reach a junction with Springville Road.

Salal

Blackberries

Red elderberry

The junction with Springville Road.

We turned left on Springville Road and followed it uphill 0.4-miles back to Firelane 7A and the Springville Road Trailhead.

Oregon grape

Invasive Species kiosk at the Springville Road/Fireland 7 junction.

Today’s hike came in at 8.6-miles with approximately 1100′ of elevation gain.

It was a great choice for an overcast morning. The early mornings in Forest Park are generally quiet and today was no different. It started getting busier around 10am but with so many miles of trail they never feel crowded.

This now leaves one final gap in our tracks to not only connect our Forest Park hikes but also our visit to Washington Park (post) and Marquam Park (post).

I have a feeling that as long as my back and leg, which have been feeling quite a bit better, cooperate that gap will be filled before the end of the year. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Forest Park vis Springville Road

Tags Firelane 7, Forest Park, Hardesty Trail, hiking, Leif Erikson Drive, Oregon, Portland, Saltzman Road, Springville Road Trailhead, Trillium Trail, Wildwood Trail

Coastal Range Corvallis Hiking Oregon Trip report

Mary’s Peak – 06/21/2026

Following our hikes at Coffin & Bachelor Mountain we both wound up sick with a nasty head cold. Heather’s lasted almost two weeks and was almost feeling back to normal on the Sunday of Juneteenth weekend. I was fortunate to not get hit as severely and was starting to feel quite a bit better on Juneteenth. After resting for one more day I had planned to head to Mary’s Peak on Saturday the 20th however my left hip had other ideas. When I woke up it was hurting pretty bad so instead of hiking in the morning before heading to my cousin’s daughter’s graduation party, I spent the morning trying to loosen things up. By the time we left the party that afternoon it was back to feeling normal, so I decided to give it another try Sunday morning. Things were still okay in the morning, so the hike was on.

Heather decided that she wasn’t quite feeling well enough for a strenuous hike so headed out solo to the East Ridge Trail on Mary’s Peak starting from the Connor’s Camp Trailhead.

I had left my route open not knowing how my hip, or any of the other back and lower body issues I’ve been in physical therapy for, would react to hiking. My plan was to take the East Ridge Trail up to the Summit Loop Trail to visit the summit of the highest peak in the Coast Range. My route back was open with a couple of possible loop combinations or simply heading straight back down the East Ridge Trail.

Faded trail maps at the information board at Connor’s Camp.

I hadn’t started from this trailhead since 2014 (post) but the forest was as pretty as I had remembered.

Columbine and iris

Rattan’s beardtongue (Penstemon rattanii)

Pink pyrola

Little prince’s pine

Just over a mile from the trailhead, near a bench, the trail arrives at a junction with the Tie Trail.

At the junction the East Ridge Trail made a switchback and began a fairly steep 1.2-mile climb to the Summit Loop Trail.

The number of wildflowers that I was seeing in the forest increased as I climbed.

Vanilla leaf

Fringecup

Anemones

Small-flowered alumroot

Lupine

Chickweed

Inside-out flower

Arrowleaf groundsel starting to bloom with thimbleberry and columbine blossoms lining the trail.

Monkeyflower

A layer of clouds was covering the valley below.

Trail sign at the junction with the Summit Loop Trail.

In another tenth of a mile I came to a new unsigned junction. A steep trail switchbacked up to the right that hadn’t been there on our previous visits. This is a 2025 reroute created by the Trailkeepers of Oregon (TKO) to move a portion of the trail out of sensitive habitat.

This is a photo from later in the morning as I came down to the junction on the new section.

I opted to stay left on the more gradual portion of the loop and soon left the trees.

Queen’s cup

Chipmunk

The trail climbed through the meadow to Mary’s Peak Road.

Penstemon along the trail.

The summit of Mary’s Peak ahead.

Mary’s Peak Road

Beargrass

I turned left onto the road and followed it up and around to the summit in 0.4-miles. While the flowers were past peak there were still a few left and for the first time, I could see the Cascade Mountains. On previous visits clouds had always been in the way.

Paintbrush

One of two grouse that were on the road.

Penstemon and chickweed

Mt. Jefferson to the left of the dead tree and the Three Sisters to the right.

The Three Sisters

Towers on the summit.

Oregon sunshine and bluehead gilia

Paintbrush, Oregon sunshine and bluehead gilia

Catchfly

Cascade desert parsley

Wallflower

Blue head gilia

Olympic onions

The Mary’s Peak West Ridge

The last of the larkspur.

What was left of the phlox.

At the summit.

I took a short break at the summit to take in the views and then took a clear trail downhill to the NE.

Mt. Hood in the distance to the NE.

Tiger lily

Looking back up at the summit.

The trail veered to the NW toward the west ridge of Mary’s Peak before turning east and leaving the meadows.

Shortly after entering the forest I forked left at junction on the Meadows Edge Trail (trail 1325). While on the summit I had decided to do this 1.6-mile loop before heading back.

The Summit Loop Trail I’d come down to the left and the Meadows Edge Trail to the right.

Fifty yards later I stayed left again to hike the loop clockwise. The loop stays primarily in the forest with a couple of forays along the edge of meadows. The forest along this trail might be my favorite in the area.

Map at the start of the loop.

Queen’s cup

The summit towers from the loop.

Moth

Bleeding heart

Footbridge over Parker Creek.

Avens, foam flower, and youth-on-age.

Columbine

Junction with a spur to Mary’s Peak Campground.

An almost ripe salmonberry.

False starry solomon’s seal and a violet.

Beargrass

Nearing the end of the loop.

After completing the loop I turned left and headed back to the Summit Loop then completed that loop.

Mary’s Peak Road on the other side of the trees.

I hiked a short distance down Mary’s Peak Road to check out the beargrass display then walked back and turned uphill (left) on a clear trail that headed NE.

Looking back down at Mary’s Peak Road.

This is the section of the Summit Loop that was realigned by TKO in 2025. The trail leads to some barriers at the top of the hill where the reroute begins.

Butterfly

Mt. Hood in the distance above the clouds.

The Three Sisters

The old alignment went directly over the hill and down to the day use parking area.

The new alignment.

The new section of trail entered the forest on the NE side of the hill and steeply descended via switchback to the junction at the start/end of the Summit Loop (pictured above).

Looking down the switchbacks.

I turned left and hiked downhill to the next junction where I decided to take the longer route back to the trailhead by taking the North Ridge Trail to the Tie Trail and follow that back to the East Ridge Trail.

I headed left here.

This trail led up to the day use area.

California figwort

The day use area.

White crowned sparrow

Looking back toward the summit.

The North Ridge Trail began at the far end of the parking area.

I followed this trail downhill for three quarters of a mile to the junction with the Tie Trail.

Daisies along the trail near the day use area.

Star flowers

Bench at the junction.

I turned right onto the Tie Trail and followed it 1.2 fairly level miles to the East Ridge Trail.

Stripped coralroot

Pacific coralroot

Monkeyflower

Twinflower

Honeysuckle

I was delayed while I battled my nemesis, the varied thrush, in an attempt to get a picture.

The Tie Trail was in good shape, just a bit overgrown near the junction with the East Ridge Trail.

After completing the Tie Trail I followed the East Ridge Trail back downhill to the trailhead.

Thimbleberry and vetch

The trailhead through the trees.

Today’s route came in at 8.6-miles with approximately 1750′ of elevation gain.

This was the longest hike I’d done since my leg/back issues began in February, and it was the best I’d felt after a hike since then as well. I’m still having some issues, but this was encouraging. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Mary’s Peak

Tags Connor's Camp, Corvallis, East Ridge Trail, hiking, mary's peak, Meadows Edge Trail, North Ridge Trail, Oregon, Tie Trail, TKO, wildflowers

Hiking Middle Santiam Old Cascades Oregon Trip report

Coffin Mountain and Bugaboo Ridge Trail – 06/07/2026

Post author By derwoodynck
Post date June 11, 2026
No Comments on Coffin Mountain and Bugaboo Ridge Trail – 06/07/2026

The X-rays on my back came back clear and the new stretches/exercises that PT assigned almost immediately improved my range of motion. Enough so that I felt up to giving another outing a try. We were heading into several days of precipitation, but there was a dry window on June 7th which worked out well for us since we had plans to attend my cousin’s daughter’s senior recital on the 6th.

For the hike Heather had wanted to find some wildflowers, and I was still limited to 6-8 miles, so we decided to give Coffin Mountain and the Bugaboo Ridge Trail a go. We’d last visited this area in 2016 (post) on July 4th.

We started our morning from the Coffin Mountain Trailhead.

We weren’t sure how many flowers would be blooming given we were visiting almost a full month earlier than on our previous visit, but the timing for the flowers is off this year due to the mild winter and dry spring. We were a little early, but there were still quite a few flowers blooming along the lower portion of the trail.

Beargrass at the trailhead.

Sticky currant

Yellowleaf iris

Paintbrush

A yellow paintbrush

Starry false Solomon’s seal

The morning clouds were giving way to some blue sky.

Wildflowers along the ridge.

Phlox

Onion and larkspur

Lupine and a little snow from the night before.

Oregon sunshine, larkspur, and tiny white flowers might be slender phlox.

Sub-alpine mariposa lily

Arrowleaf buckwheat

Bindweed

We knew that there had been a possibility of snow overnight, but we hadn’t expected any of it to stick but as we climbed, we began seeing more and more of the white stuff.

Trillium fading out.

Bluebells

False sunflowers

Penstemon

The large meadow below the summit of Coffin Mountain was covered with a thin layer of fresh snow.

Beargrass

Columbine

Snow covered lupine

The trail traverses uphill through the meadow toward the Coffin Mountain Lookout.

First view of the lookout.

Bleeding heart

The radio towers on the southern end of Coffin Mountain.

The lookout is staffed in the summer, but it was still empty today.

The helipad on Coffin Mountain.

The lookout tower and to the right the radio towers at the other end of the mountain.

Heather had detoured to the southern end, so when I arrived at the lookout she was arriving at the radio towers.

I pulled my Z Seat out and sat down on the helipad and had a snack while I waited for her to make her way over.

The view north which includes Mt. Hood when the clouds aren’t in the way.

Detroit Lake to the NW.

Heather joined me and we stayed a little longer enjoying the snowy summit before heading back down. It was just before 8:30am when we began our descent and much of the snow had already melted.

Junco and bleeding heart

The meadow was rapidly melting out.

Bastard toadflax

Paintbrush

Violet

Silverleaf phacelia

Yarrow

Cinquefoil, sandwort, and penstemon

Ragwort

Oregon sunshine and paintbrush

Larkspur

Violet

The trailhead signboard in view.

Roundtrip this hike comes in just under 3-miles, but with over 1000′ of elevation gain. The snow was a fun surprise and while we were a bit early to see the wildflowers at their peak, we were not disappointed. It did appear that this was not going be a huge beargrass year though. Every few years the big meadow is packed with beargrass, but conditions have to be just right.

On our two previous visits we had road walked from the Coffin Mountain Trailhead to the Bachelor Mountain Trailhead. That is a 1.2-mile walk one-way so to avoid adding unnecessary miles to my back we drove this time.

Rabbit along the road.

Bachelor Mountain Trailhead at the end of the road.

Instead of hiking to the summit of Bachelor Mountain our plan was to take the Bugaboo Ridge Trail out to a rocky viewpoint where we hoped to get a view of Mount Jefferson and see some wildflowers. We headed up the Bachelor Mountain Trail admiring the flowers and some more snow.

Lupine and paintbrush

A cloud had overtaken Coffin Mountain.

Cardwell’s penstemon

Valerian

The trail climbs steeply via switchback through the forest before rounding a ridge to more open terrain.

There were about a half dozen trees down along the trail, but none were too difficult to get over/around.

Bleeding heart

Vanilla leaf

Baneberry and arnica starting to bloom.

Rounding the ridge.

Coffin Mountain

Scarlet gilia

The trail continued to climb but less steeply as it traversed the hillside.

Three Fingered Jack hidden by clouds.

Three Fingered Jack.

Paintbrush and wild rose

Paintbrush along the trail.

Yellowleaf iris

Scarlet gilia, Oregon sunshine, and paintbrush.

A patch of false sunflowers that were just starting to bloom.

False sunflowers

This trail is a stark contrast to the Coffin Mountain Trail.

Stonecrop

Cinquefoil

Penstemon

Buckwheat and a yarrow.

The trail arrives at a large flat area where we spotted a lone rhododendron that hadn’t quite started to bloom.

These may be northern microseris (Microseris borealis).

Cloud over the summit of Bachelor Mountain.

At the far end of the flat area we reached the junction with the Bugaboo Ridge Trail.

Trail sign at the junction. It is approximately 0.8-miles (and 550′) to the summit of Bachelor Mountain. The viewpoint along the Bugaboo Ridge Trail on the other hand was 0.7-miles away with minimal elevation change.

We headed out on the Bugaboo Ridge Trail which was a little rougher and more overgrown than the Bachelor Mountain Trail. It was however mostly free of blowdown to the view point.

Coralroot

The extent of the blowdown.

Anemones

The trail actually passes through several openings along the hillside with views of the Cascade Range, but not of Mt. Jefferson.

The really snowy patch of forest is below Three Fingered Jack. Mt. Jefferson is north (left) of this and hidden by the hillside until the viewpoint where we would be turning around.

Mt. Jefferson is straight ahead hidden behind the hillside.

Jessica’s stickseed

Waterleaf

False sunflower

Jacob’s ladder

Larkspur and a butterfly

Columbine

Serviceberry

Three Fingered Jack still hiding in the clouds.

Diamond Peak was visible in the distance to the south.

Penstemon and paintbrush

Larkspur and monkeyflower

We arrived at the viewpoint for Mt. Jefferson to find it partially hidden by clouds.

We took a break here hoping for a break in the clouds and in the meantime studied the flowers in the area.

Larkspur and Oregon sunshine

Cliff beardtongue

Arrowleaf and sulphur flower buckwheat with some Oregon sunshine and stonecrop.

A sub-alpine mariposa lily hiding in arrowleaf buckwheat.

Paintbrush, larkspur, and arrowleaf buckwheat

Sticky cinquefoil

The clouds were being stubborn, but we did eventually get a little better view of Three Fingered Jack.

Mt. Washington and the Three Sisters also made an appearance.

Snowy Diamond Peak in the distance to the left with peaks of the Old Cascades closer including the nearby Three Pyramids (post) and to their right Iron Mountain where I’d been the week before (post).

We started back but before we’d left the open area the clouds revealed the top of Mt. Jefferson.

After getting our view we headed back. We were treated to some better views of the other Cascades along the way.

Wallflower

Mt. Washington and the Three Sisters.

One of the few Jacob’s ladder blossoms that was open.

Mt. Jefferson from the flat area.

Coffin Mountain from the Bachelor Mountain Trail.

Catchfly

Three Fingered Jack

Heading back into the forest for the descent to the trailhead.

A couple cars had joined us at the trailhead.

To hike to the viewpoint and back came in at 3.8-miles with approximately 700′ of elevation gain giving us 6.7-miles and 1750′ of elevation gain on the day.

This was a great hike despite being a little early for the peak wildflower bloom. The overnight snow more than made up for that. By the end my hips were feeling the hike a little but overall I felt better than I have for the past few months. I still have a way to go but it was encouraging. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Coffin Mountain and the Bugaboo Ridge Trail

Tags Bachelor Mountain, Bachelor Mountain Trailhead, bugaboo ridge trail, Coffin Mountain, Coffin mountain lookout, Coffin Mountain Trailhead, hiking, Oregon, wildflowers

Hiking Middle Santiam Old Cascades Oregon Trip report

Cone Peak Meadows – 05/31/2026

Post author By derwoodynck
Post date June 4, 2026
7 Comments on Cone Peak Meadows – 05/31/2026

I suffered a setback in my rehab coming out of Memorial Day Weekend. My back stiffened up going into the week and by late Thursday night I could barely turn my head to the left. Sleeping was also difficult and I was relegated to back only due to the amount of discomfort laying on my sides was causing. By Friday night I had pretty much given up on thoughts of hiking during the weekend and was instead looking forward to my next PT appointment Monday afternoon. Heather went on a solo hike Saturday to Ramona Falls while I stayed home and rotated between an ice pack and heating pad on my back. Since she isn’t writing up her solo outings here is a link to our 2013 visit to the falls (post). By Saturday night I was feeling quite a bit better, still stiff and limited to back sleeping, but improved enough to be considering an outing to see the wildflowers in Cone Peak Meadows the next day. I woke up the next morning, did my PT stretching and felt good enough to give it a go. I did a lot of praying on the drive to the trailhead that God would grant me the wisdom to know if this was a bad idea and not to overdo anything.

I had been wanting to get back to Cone Peak Meadows in late Spring to look for a particular wildflower, Longhorn steer’s-head (Dicentra uniflora). It is at the top of my most wanted list of wildflowers within day hiking range. I wasn’t sure about timing though given that blooms are early this year due to the lack of snow this past Winter. I had seen reports from other years of these flowers blooming during the first couple of weeks of June. Our two previous visits had been on July 25th & July 4th (post) which was much too late. I spent some time online familiarizing myself with the size and look of the flowers so that I would know what I was looking for. Spoiler alert I did not spot any. It may have been too late this year or I might have simply failed to notice any of the penny sized blooms. Regardless it was an excellent hike which I will finally get to.

I began at the Tombstone Pass Trailhead shortly after 5:30am and set off on the loop counterclockwise.

The trailhead just off Highway 20 at Tombstone Pass.

The start/end of the loop on the left and right of FR 60.

I turned left onto the loop and descended through the forest to Tombstone Prairie.

Valerian along the trail.

Bunchberry and starry false solomon’s-seal

Salmonberry

The Tombstone Prairie Nature Trail is an optional short loop that can be done around the prairie. I opted to skip the loop this time.

Tombstone Prairie

The other end of the Tombstone Nature Trail.

I forked left at this junction, crossed a branch of Hackleman Creek then climbed to Highway 20.

The Cone Peak Trail picks up across the highway to the west near some road signs.

The Cone Peak Trail climbs gradually through the forest before coming to increasingly large openings.

Trillium, fairy bells, Solomon’s seal, and starry false Solomon’s seal.

There were a few trees that needed to be stepped over.

Valerian starting to bloom in a meadow.

Vanilla leaf

This was the only beargrass bloom I spotted on the hike.

Northwestern twayblade

Larkspur was the most prevalent of the flowers that were currently blooming.

Sub-alpine mariposa lily

Larkspur and maiden blue-eyed Mary

Larkspur and paintbrush

Solomon’s seal

Another patch of larkspur.

Larkspur and monkey flower

Strawberry patch

Ball-head waterleaf

Baneberry

Phlox and maiden blue-eyed Mary

Biscuitroot and phlox

Olympic onion

Sandwort

Cone Peak as the trail enters Cone Peak Meadows.

Buckwheat

Death camas

Littleflower penstemon

Paintbrush, larkspur and sandwort?

Iron Mountain

Oregon sunshine

Smallflower woodland star

The lupine was just getting started.

Heading toward Iron Mountain.

Another buckwheat

The trail left Cone Peak Meadows and descended slightly as it passed through the forest on the way to Iron Mountain.

Columbine

Jessica’s stickseed

Bleeding heart

Bluebells

Arrowleaf groundsel

Scarlet gilia

Sticky cinquefoil and bastard toadflax?

Not sure what this tiny flower is.

Wormleaf stonecrop

Silverleaf phacelia

Wallflower

Another one that I’m not sure of.

The trail eventually began climbing to a saddle between Cone Peak and Iron Mountain.

Violets

Vetch

The Three Pyramids (post) to the right and the flat top of Coffin Mountain (post) straight ahead.

Mt. Hood behind Coffin Mountain.

After the saddle viewpoint the trail begins to traverse along the flank of Iron Mountain where it comes to a junction with the Iron Mountain Tail.

Arnica

This was the worst of the blowdown.

Fairy bells and trillium

Flax

Yarrow and larkspur

The Iron Mountain Trail forking off to the left.

I hadn’t originally planned on taking the side trip up Iron Mountain as it adds a little over a mile and a half, and 600′ of elevation gain to the hike. From the junction I only had another 1.5-miles to get back to the Tombstone Pass Trailhead, and I was feeling really good. I been continuing to pray that I would know my limitations and was at peace with the decision to try the climb. I turned up the trail behind a couple of other hikers and climbed through the frosty meadows to the former lookout site atop the mountain.

Frosty paintbrush

Larkspur

The Three Sisters from the Iron Mountain Trail.

The Three Sisters

Diamond Peak (post)

Lupine

Chickweed

Saxifrage

The final climb to the top.

Viewing platform

Mountain locator

The view to the north includes Mt. Hood and Mt. Jefferson.

Mt. Hood behind Coffin Mountain.

Mt. Jefferson

Mt. Washington

The Three Sisters and Diamond Peak to the SE.

I’d passed the three hikers ahead of me and had the platform to myself long enough to send a video to family and take a snack break on the platforms bench. Shortly after the next hiker arrived I headed down to give her a few moments alone at the summit.

While climbing up always feels like it requires effort it is descending that is harder on the body. I was reminded of this on my way down the trail when my right Gluteus Medius announced its presence. It wasn’t much more than a slight burn letting me know it was having to do some extra work on the way down. I kept a slower pace and took several breaks one the way back to the junction where I then continued my loop.

Rock wren

Cliff beardtongue. One of the brightest wildflowers we see.

The view on the way down.

The trail junction ahead.

The final 1.5-miles back to the Tombstone Pass Trailhead was mostly a gradual descent.

I stayed left at this junction with the connector trail to the Iron Mountain Civil Road Trailhead.

Alpine knotweed

The trail recrossing Highway 20.

Spotted coralroot

At a junction, I turned left on the Santiam Wagon Road Trail.

Wild ginger

The Tombstone Pass Trailhead below.

Back on FR 60.

Today’s hike tallied 7.2-miles with 1740′ of elevation gain.

This is a great hike for both flowers and views. We’ll be heading back, possibly next year, to try once again to spot a Longhorn steer’s-head (Dicentra uniflora).

From a purely hiking standpoint I felt better during this hike than I had on a hike since February. My middle back however was still tight and giving me problems at night. Since then, I’ve had another PT visit, a doctor’s appointment, and x-rays (no results yet). Hopefully it is just tight muscles but if not, we’re working on getting to the bottom of it. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Cone Peak Meadows

Tags Cone Peak, Cone Peak Meadows, Cone Peak Trail, hiking, Iron Mountain, Iron Mountain Trail, Oregon, Santiam Wagon Road, tombstone pass, Tombstone Prairie, wildflowers

Hiking Oregon Portland Trip report Willamette Valley

Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge – 05/25/2026

Post author By derwoodynck
Post date May 28, 2026
3 Comments on Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge – 05/25/2026

On the morning of Memorial Day I headed to the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge in hopes of photographing some wildlife while taking my longest hike since beginning physical therapy. Heather wasn’t able to join me for this one, so I was on my own when I set off from the Roy Rogers Road Trailhead just before 5:30am.

I followed the same general route as I had last year on May 1st (post) so instead of describing it here please refer to that post if you are interested in those details. Instead, here are some of the sights that I saw on this visit.

Mt. Hood at sunrise.

Lots of lupine in bloom.

Yarrow

Mourning dove

Gadwall and a cinnamon teal drakes

Gadwall

Savannah sparrow

Mallards and a nutria

Mama and ducklings

Cedar waxwings

Northern shovelers and a killdeer

Northern shoveler drake

Nutria

The Visitor’s Center on the hill ahead.

Geese and nutria

Hardhack

Grand collomia and an insect

Goose family

Swallow and purple martin

This viewpoint paid off big today.

A buck and a duck from the viewpoint.

White pelicans from the viewpoint.

Great egret near the viewpoint.

Tree swallow

I got hissed at by a goose from each of these families ahead. We eventually came to an agreement and they allowed me to pass.

Gadwall pair

Purple martins

Common madia

Oregon sunshine

Savannah sparrow and daisies.

Red-winged blackbird

Bald eagle

Song sparrow

Rabbit

Heading toward the Visitor’s Center.

Great blue heron

Blue-winged teal

Barn swallow

Female wood duck and ducklings

Robin

Mule’s ears?

The difference between today’s hike and the route in 2025 was I took a handful of short out-and-back detours at various exploration sites.

Junco

Finch

Rock Creek

Bushtit

Tualatin River

Fringecup

Thimbleberry

Douglas squirrel

Spotted towhee

Bleeding heart

For once this “Wildlife Ahead” sign was correct. There was a rabbit at the far end of the bridge.

Hummingbird

Northern harriers harassing ducks.

Ookow

Cedar waxwings

This covered bench was new.

I spotted a pair of deer in the field shortly before arriving back at the Roy Rogers Road Trailhead.

I was also spotted.

Wildflower garden next to the trailhead. (TH is in the trees.)

Biscuitroot and checker mallow.

A few golden paintbrush were still in bloom.

I wound up adding half a mile to my 2025 route with the out-and-back detours with today’s hike coming in at 5.2-miles.

This was my first time over 5-miles since my injury which was encouraging. So far, I don’t seem to be any worse for the ware. The hike itself was great. After a somewhat disappointing visit to Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge earlier in the month (post) it was nice to see such a variety of wildlife. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge

Tags Bald Eagle, Blue-winged teal, cedar waxwings, great blue heron, hiking, Oregon, tualatin river, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Wildlife

Hiking Portland Trip report Willamette Valley

Parrett Mountain West Loop – 05/23/2026

Post author By derwoodynck
Post date May 25, 2026
No Comments on Parrett Mountain West Loop – 05/23/2026

I visited Bob and Crystal Riley Park for the first time on my previous outing. On that visit I hiked the 3.5-mile Parrett Mountain East Loop (post) described in the Oregon Hikers Field Guide. I had really enjoyed that hike and knew I wanted to return at some point to try the slightly longer West Loop that is also described in the Field Guide.

I hadn’t planned on that visit being my next hike, but after looking over nearby options for hikes in the 4 to 4.5-mile range the Parrett Mountain West Loop was the one that I hadn’t previously done. It also gave me the opportunity to introduce Heather to the park.

Like my previous hike we began the West Loop from the Farmhouse Trailhead.

For the West Loop we crossed Parrett Mountain Road and passed through an opening along a fence to pick up Curtis’ Field Loop (trail #5).

The opening next to the sign across Parrett Mountain Road.

We turned left next to a field of crimson clover and followed the wide track next to Parrett Mountain Road.

Coastal manroot and crimson clover

Robin. Just like my experience on my previous visit we could hear birds almost constantly throughout our hike.

At the end of the field, we left trail 5 and stayed straight along the fence following trail 6 aka Bobcat Loop on the 2026 park trail map.

Rabbit

The trail turned right along a fence line at a vineyard and entered a nice forest.

The trail quickly split with trail 7 Forrest’s Loop on the left and trail 6 heading right. We stayed left along the fenceline.

Thimbleberry

Columbine

Inside-out flower

At the next fork we stayed right. A narrow connector path on the left dropped steeply along the fence line before rising just as steeply to rejoin the official Forrest’s Loop which avoided this drop and climb.

After the connector trail rejoined the Forrest’s Loop this trail made its own steep climb. We stayed left at junctions as we followed the fence line to a 90-degree turn. The trail steepened again here as it continued along the fence.

Rose

Honeysuckle

Starflower

Plumed solomonseal

Coming up on another junction with trail 6 (Bobcat Loop).

There are some older signs with trail names on this side of the park. One thing to note is that trail 6 which is named the Bobcat Loop on the park map is signed as Ed Casey’s Way on the signs.

Forrest’s Loop arrived at a junction near another field with Bert’s Field Loop (trail #9) where we turned left.

We stayed along the edge of this field until we came to a sign for “Bert’s 80 Field Loop” on our left next to a narrow trail heading into the forest.

The old wooden sign in the distance.

This path, Donald T. Everest Family Heritage Trail (shown as a part of the Bert’s Field Loop trails on the current map) began by dropping through a nice forest full of sword ferns and Oregon grape before coming to a more open grassy section where things got interesting.

There had been some occasional poison oak along the trails so far, but the amount increased drastically in the more open section. On the plus side we did come across a group of blooming ookow.

Head high poison oak on both the left and right.

Ookow with poison oak behind.

More ookow and poison oak.

There was enough poison oak that Heather decided to turn around at the ookow and go back to Bert’s Field Loop where we would join back up. I kept going hoping to be able to finish the loop I was on. I did a lot of dodging before the trail left the grassier section and for a moment, I thought I’d made it past the worst of the poison oak.

Then I came to this hanging over the trail.

It was about chest/neck high across with a branch hanging straight down in the middle of the trail. Luckily, after several minutes of studying the understory, it appeared that the ground next to the trail was clear. I wound up doing a duck walk with my head down, and my hands off the ground just in case, to get past the obstacle. There was a little more dodging to be done after that, but this was by far the trickiest bit to navigate.

I kept an eye out for hidden leaves of three in the bracken fern here.

A lone iris in bloom.

Toward the far end the trail rejoined the fence line and denser forest where the poison oak was back to just an occasional plant off to the side.

When I arrived back at the field I turned right on Bert’s Field Loop and headed for Heather who was making her way toward me along the field.

Sign for the Donald T. Everest Family Heritage Trail at the north end of the trail.

It had gotten a lot cloudier than we’d expected which was unfortunate. On a clear day Mt. Hood and the top of Mt. Jefferson would be visible from this trail.

After reconnecting with Heather, we continued back along Bert’s Field taking a short detour to the right into the forest along Lind’s Vista Trail at a sign on the right.

There is no vista along this spur loop, just some shade in the trees.

Lind’s Vista Trail popped us back out along Bert’s Field and we continued back to the junction at the SE corner of the field.

At the junction we turned right on the trail we’d come up on earlier then took a left at the signed junction with trail 6 (Bobact Loop on the map but signed Ed Casey’s Way) where we forked left.

We forked right at the next junction near Dani’s Field following the sign for Ed Casey’s Way.

This trail briefly joined Dani’s Field Loop along Dani’s Field before splitting off to the right at a trail 6 post.

Bachelor button with crimson clover behind.

We forked left at the first junction we came to.

Then stayed left at the edge of Dani’s Field leaving trail 6 which forked right to join the Dani’s Field Loop. We headed right along this field until we came to a sign at a junction.

The sign just says Dani’s Field Loop. The path to the right is a short connecter for trail 6.

We forked right to rejoin the Bobcat Loop (Ed Casey’s Way) on the trail 6 system.

The connector brought us to a four-way junction with the trails on the right, left, and straight ahead all marked with trail 6 posts.

We turned left.

We soon arrived at a three-way junction where again all trails belonged to the trail 6 system. We turned left again which led us back to the edge of Dani’s Field where we turned right.

The old signpost at the three-way junction is for Willard’s Way and the Tomcat Trail.

Following Dani’s Field Loop (trail #8) brought us to another four-way junction at the edge of Curtis’ Field.

Trail 8 (Dani’s Field Loop) to the left, trail 6 (Bobcat Loop) to the right, and a connector to trail 5 (Curtis’ Field Loop) straight ahead.

The Field Guide mentioned a short detour left along Dani’s Field Loop to Parrett Mountain Road at Bob’s Corner Park. The park was gated closed in 2025 most likely due to the entrance being next to the sharp corner.

The sign and gate for the closed park across the road.

We turned around and headed back veering left at a junction to cross over to Curtis’ Field.

We followed Curtis’ Field Loop back down to the four-way junction then made a slight right back onto trail 6.

We stayed on the leftmost trail6 at junctions.

That is poison oak down over the trail. There was no way to avoid our shoes brushing against it.

We eventually wound up back at Curtis’ Field where we turned right on trail 5.

Trail 5 split and we veered right opting for the more forested route.

A brief stint in the trees brought us to the SE end of Curtis’ Field next to Parrett Mountain Road where we turned left and returned to the Farmhouse Trailhead.

The trailhead was pretty full at 8:30am.

The GPS showed 4.3-miles which was a tenth of a mile less than the Field Guide, but we didn’t actually cross the road and enter Bob’s Corner Park which accounts for the slight discrepancy. Total elevation gain was just under 600′ with some steep sections early on.

West Loop – dotted. East Loop – solid.

On a positive note, my legs, hips and back felt better during this hike than they had in a couple of months and it was my longest outing since the issues flared up.

As we were packing up to leave Heather heard a familiar voice and realized it was our former neighbor Denise and her daughter Emily. We had a nice chat before letting them get started on their hike. It was a pleasant surprise to end another great day on the trails. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Parrett Mountain West Loop

Tags Bob and Crystal Rilee Park, hiking, Oregon, Parrett Mountain, Parrett Mountain Farm

Hiking

Parrett Mountain East Loop – 05/17/2026

Post author By derwoodynck
Post date May 21, 2026
3 Comments on Parrett Mountain East Loop – 05/17/2026

In my search for nearby 3-to-5-mile hikes that we can do while I rehab, I found a pair of loops at Bob and Crystal Rilee Park in the Oregon Hikers Field Guide. Located on the flank of Parrett Mountain near Newberg, OR, 327 acres of the Parrett Mountain Farm were donated to the Chehalem Park & Recreation District in 2014 by the Rilees after their deaths.

The park hosts over 12-miles of trails weaved throughout the park, most open to both hikers and equestrians. The Field Guide describes two loops, an east loop at 3.5-miles and a west loop at 4.4-miles. Longer hikes are obviously possible by combing the two and/or adding some of the other trails. At this point in my rehab the 3.5-mile east loop and its 450′ of elevation gain sounded perfect.

Heather wasn’t able to join me on this one, so I set off by myself from the trailhead next to the Parrett Mountain Farmhouse.

Note that horse trailers are not allowed in this lot. The equestrian trailhead is located 0.4-miles west on NE Parrett Mountain Road.

I followed the Field Guide’s directions and walked past the Farmhouse along NE Parret Mountain Road to a hiker sign next to a gate.

I turned right on a wide path marked “1” aka Russ’ Loop.

Russ’ Loop paralleled Parrett Mountain Road before veering away across from a vineyard.

The J.K. Carriere vineyard across the road.

I kept right at junctions with the Farmhouse Loop (trail number 2) and followed Russ’ Loop downhill through the woods.

One of the junctions with the Farmhouse Loop.

Inside-out flower

Blackberry

The trail eventually began to climb back uphill.

Honeysuckle

At an unnumbered junction I left Russ’ Loop by forking right on a narrower path not shown on the 2026 park map.

I then almost immediately forked left.

This path ran parallel to Russ’ Loop and soon rejoined that trail where I turned right.

Back on Russ’ Loop.

I continued on Russ’ Loop until reaching a junction with the Cistern Loop (trail #3) where I stayed straight.

On the Cistern Loop.

The Cistern Loop descended to a crossing of a tributary of Corral Creek.

Pacific waterleaf

On the far side of the creek was a spur trail to the right marked by a small yellow sign.

The spur trail extends approximately a quarter mile before ending at the creek.

Youth-on-age was prevalent along the creek.

I returned to the Cistern Loop and turned right. The trail began a slow climb past a rusty piece of farm equipment and the trail’s namesake cistern.

Spotted towhee on the farm equipment.

The cistern.

Coastal manroot

The Cistern Loop ended at a junction with Russ’ Loop where I turned right back onto that trail.

I stayed on Russ’ Loop ignoring another yellow signed spur trail on the right.

This spur looked a bit overgrown and was not mentioned in the Oregon Hikers Field Guide.

I stayed right at this unmarked junction.

Sparrow

Just before Russ’ Loop came to an open field I turned right on an unnumbered trail at a blank post.

The path ran parallel to the Art Loop (trail #4) and eventually joined it.

Art along the Art Trail on the left seen from the unnumbered trail.

Arriving at the Art Loop.

The unnumbered trail from the Art Loop.

The junction was close to the field, so I took a quick look across it. The Art Loop also runs along the edge of the field so just a few feet separated the loop from itself at this point.

The Art Loop along the field.

I could have simply turned left along the field but I stuck to the Field Guide route and returned to the portion of the Art Loop in the forest and headed north (left now but it would have been a right coming up from the unnumbered trail.) I followed the Art Loop uphill to Parrett Mountain Road across from the equestrian trailhead.

After crossing the road to get a closer look at the trailhead I returned to the Art Loop and followed it to the field.

Northern flicker

As I was hiking along the field I spotted a coyote hunting for breakfast.

The coyote straight ahead.

Zoomed in look.

After watching the coyote disappear into the forest I continued on around the field.

The start/end of the Art Loop to the left. Russ’ Loop can be seen ahead joining from the left.

The Art Loop connected to Russ’ Loop which I followed uphill back to the Farmhouse Trailhead.

This was a fun little hike. There were birds galore. Most preferred to be heard and not seen, but I don’t think there was ever more than a 10-15 second stretch without a bird singing. My GPS said 3.5-miles just as the Field Guide had indicated. The elevation gain for this loop is approximately 450′.

I’m looking forward to heading back for the West Loop at some point and also returning to check out some of the trails that I skipped on the east side of the park. This was probably the best I’d felt on a hike since my leg issue started, just some occasional lower back tightness. I had a little flair up of my sciatic nerve the next day but not nearly as bad as it had been the week before which was encouraging. Things seem to be headed in the right direction even if it isn’t as fast as I’d like. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Parrett Mountain East Loop

Tags Art Loop, Bob and Crystal Rilee Park, Cistern Loop, Farmhouse Loop, hiking, Newberg, Oregon, Parrett Mountain, Parrett Mountain Farm, Russ' Loop

Hiking Mollala Old Cascades Oregon Trip report

Hopkins Demonstration Forest – 05/09/2026

Post author By derwoodynck
Post date May 12, 2026
1 Comment on Hopkins Demonstration Forest – 05/09/2026

I spent some time recently looking through the Oregon Hikers Field Guide looking for shorter hikes, preferably under 6-miles, within an hour and a half of Salem. I wanted to make the most of my currently being limited on distance while I work through my leg/hips/lower back issues. One of the hikes that I found an entry for is the Hopkins Demonstration Forest. The Field Guide describes a 4.2-mile loop with 715′ of elevation gain with a number of options to shorten or lengthen the visit using the network of trails on the 140-acre property.

The forest is located in the foothills of the Old Cascade Mountains approximately 11-miles SE of Oregon City, 11-miles E of Canby, 12-miles N of Molalla and an hour from Salem. The property is run by the non-profit Forests Forever, Inc. and is home to the relocated Clatskanie Mountain Fire Tower as well as the also relocated Molalla Log House. The latter is almost certainly the oldest surviving building in Oregon if not the entire Pacific Northwest. The forest is open 7 days a week during daylight hours however please note that logging activities do close trails/roads from time to time. An event hall, amphitheater, interpretive signs and other guided tours make this a great destination for school field trips or other events.

I was on my own today due to Heather unfortunately waking up to a massive headache. I arrived at the large parking lot next to the event cneter and fire tower at 6:30am.

The event center.

The Clatskanie Mountain Fire Tower was built in 1954 atop 2081′ Clatskanie Mountain in the Oregon Coast Range.

I began by following the Oregon Hikers Field Guide entry which led me downhill from the parking lot to a kiosk with several interpretive signs.

One of the signs was this helpful map. I had downloaded the Field Guide map and the online map from the Hopkins Demonstration Forest website, but you can never have too many maps, so I took a picture with my phone.

From the kiosk I continued downhill on gravel Grouse Hollow Road past an outhouse to another information signboard and donation box.

The rest room on the left.

Tough-leaved iris

Beyond the donation box I passed through a green gate on Grouse Hollow Road and at this point I decided to hike in the opposite direction from the Field Guide and turned right onto the signed Hopkins Trail.

The Hopkins Trail led through a “mature forest” demonstration area to the Cedar Shelter picnic area.

Thimbleberry

Fringecup

Passing through a thinned section. There are similar signs throughout the forest providing information on when and what has been done to the surrounding forest.

Possibly thin-leafed pea.

Honeysuckle

Starflower

The Hopkins Trail continued on the far side of the picnic area and quickly passed the amphitheater.

Beyond the amphitheater the forest demonstration type changed to “thinning and pruning” and Hopkins Trail passed a Big Leaf Maple Tapping Project.

Yes, maple syrup can be made from these trees.

A short distance later I arrived at a junction with the Pacific Madrone Trail where I forked right.

The Pacific Madrone Trail was a narrower trail that climbed up and over a rocky ridge end with a bench and several madrone trees. The forest demonstration type along this trail was “young-stand management”.

The unmistakable trunks of Pacific madrone trees ahead.

The bench under the madrones.

Pacific Madrone

The Pacific Madrone Trail descended from the ridge and ended at Low Gear Road. I had options here for shorter loops by either heading back to the left on Low Gear Road, taking the Shortcut Trail on the opposite side of Low Gear Road, or turning right for a longer loop. I turned right and followed it downhill and around a bend to a junction with Grouse Hollow

Plumed Solomon’s seal

The junction with Grouse Hollow Road.

I turned right onto Grouse Hollow Road and quickly arrived at another informational kiosk.

After checking out the interpretive signs I continued past a gate on the road.

Approximately 200 feet beyond the gate I came to the signed Redwood Loop Trail which was only shown on the map I’d taken a picture of back near the trailhead.

I turned up this 0.1-mile trail and followed it through an “uneven-aged management” demonstration area.

Starry Solomon’s seal

Dropping back down to Grouse Hollow Road.

I turned right on Grouse Hollow Road to continue the loop. The road continued downhill as it bent around to the NE.

One of several informative signs along Grouse Hollow Road.

Grouse Hollow Road ended in a grassy clearing at a sign for the Uneven Age Trail.

The Field Guide route follows the Uneven Age Trail (albeit coming from the other direction) and doesn’t mention the unnamed trail leading to Little Buckner Creek and a small waterfall. I took this unnamed trail down to the creek.

The trail became a bit rough just before reaching the little waterfall.

The small waterfall.

Now a smart person would have gone back the way they’d come but a rough trail continued uphill from the falls.

The trail was a bit steep but not too hard to follow until I neared the Uneven Age Trail. I was close enough to see a jogger pass by through the trees when I started seeing an increase in poison oak. While I was wearing long pants, sleeves and gloves I did some contorting to try and avoid brushing against it.

Poison oak stretching across the use trail.

Safe on the Uneven Age Trail.

I turned right on the Uneven Age Trail and came to a railed boardwalk followed by a clearcut.

The Uneven Age Trail ended at the West Loop Watershed Trail where I again stayed right.

This trail passed by a clearcut and ended at a junction with Down Creek Road and the Middle Loop Watershed Trail.

Lots of bleeding heart in the clearcut.

I veered right onto the Middle Loop Watershed Trail but veered downhill on another unnamed trail to visit the creek again.

After visiting the creek I returned to the Middle Loop Watershed Trail and continued on my loop. The trail initially passed between the clearcut and the creek before leaving the clearcut behind.

Youth-on-age

Violets

Bent tree

The trail ended at another clearcut at Up Creek Road.

Trillium

Up Creek Road

I detoured from the loop here to visit the Molalla Log House. I turned left on Up Creek Road staying right at junctions to another informational kiosk.

I continued uphill on Up Creek Road past the RedCedar Trail to a junction with the Ponds Trail.

I turned left on the Ponds Trail to check out the ponds then headed right toward the visible log house.

The log house through the trees on the right.

I walked around the house looking at the interpretive signs before returning back down to Up Creek Road via the Pond Access Road and resumed my loop.

Spotted towhee

Just beyond the junction with the Middle Loop Watershed Trail I came to the Little Buckner Creek Trail which I turned down.

This trail crossed Little Buckner Creek on a footbridge and climbed through a “reforestation” demonstration area.

Pacific waterleaf

Turkey tails

The Little Buckner Creek Trail ended at the East Loop Watershed Trail where I turned right.

The East Loop Watershed Trail followed Little Buckner Creek for a bit before crossing on another footbridge.

False lily-of-the-valley

I paused on the other side of the bridge to talk to a hiker out with her two cats. Continuing on I followed the trail uphill to its end at Up Creek Road.

Roads made a small loop here and I stayed right and quickly arrived at a sign for Post Road where I turned right.

I detoured down a short spur trail to a viewing platform

Wetlands along Little Buckner Creek from the viewing platform.

Post Road climbed to a junction with the Hardwoods Trail. This trail provides a shortcut back to the trailhead. The Oregon Hikers Field Guide skips this shortcut, but I did not.

The Hardwoods Trail ended at a 3-way junction with the Sawmill and Red Alder Trails.

I turned right onto the Red Alder Trail. This trail climbed, crossing Grouse Hollow Road near the forest entrance, and continued another 375′ to the parking lot near the fire tower.

Passing around the Outreach Center.

This section of Grouse Hollow Road is open to traffic.

Vetch

My hike came in at 3.7-miles, a half mile shorter than the described route in the Field Guide.

This was a very enjoyable hike and would be a great place to bring the kids. I plan on returning with Heather at some point so she can check it out firsthand. I felt better during this hike than any of my recent hikes which was encouraging. My left hip did tighten up again later in the evening but not as badly as it had following our visit to Ankney Wildlife Refuge two days ago (post). My next PT appointment is this week, so we’ll see what the therapist has to say but things do seem to be slowly improving. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Hopkins Demonstration Forest

Tags Clatskanie Mountain Fire Tower, hiking, Hopkins Demonstration Forest, Little Buckner Creek, Molalla Log House, Old Cascades, Oregon