Month: January 2025

Crown Zellerbach (CZ) Trail – Ruley TH to Nehalem Divide – 1/25/25

Post author By derwoodynck
Post date January 27, 2025
No Comments on Crown Zellerbach (CZ) Trail – Ruley TH to Nehalem Divide – 1/25/25

We hiked a segment of the 24.8-mile-long Crown Zellerbach (CZ), or Crown Z, Trail in March 2022 (post). For that hike we began at the Nehalem Divide Trailhead and hiked to the Wilark Trailhead. With another sunny, but cold, weekend forecast we decided it was time to check out more of the trail. For this visit our plan was to begin at the Ruley Trailhead and make the 4.5-mile hike to the Nehalem Divide Trailhead where we would turn around.

We arrived at the empty trailhead shortly after 7:30am on a frosty 26°F (-3°C) morning.

After stopping to view the interpretive signs here, we set off on the old logging road turned trail.

1930 Caterpillar Model 30

We followed the trail past several homes along North Scappoose Creek before entering a second growth forest.
Bridge over Cedar Creek.

Cedar Creek

North Scappoose Creek

Sun hitting the top a hill in the distance.

There was a lot of hair ice along the trail.

Forest along the trail.

One of several interpretive signboards along this segment.

The trail ascended gradually through the forest to a “Y” just below the Nehalem Divide Trailhead.
While the Sun was out the trail remained mostly shaded and therefore cold. We both would have benefited from some slightly warmer layers.

Hair ice

More hair ice

Another interpretive sign ahead.

MP 13

The Nehalem Divide TH on the left and the Crown Z Trail continuing on the right.

I believe that is Silver Star Mountain (post) in the distance.

On our way back we kept our eyes open for a use trail that reportedly led down to the eastern end of the abandoned Nehalem Divide Railroad Tunnel. We had visited the west portal in 2022 and thought it might be fun to see the other end. The OregonHikers Field Guide mentioned a red paint dot on a tree 30 yards from a green trail marker, but we didn’t see any such markers in the area where the use trail might be or any red dot on the west side of the trail. There was a red “A” and other markings on a tree along with an apparent use trail that may have been what we were looking for, but after a quick look at the terrain we opted not to go exploring.

We continued back to the trailhead passing roughly a dozen other users, mostly cyclists, before reaching our car.

North Scappoose Creek winding past a private home.

The Ruley Trailhead ahead.

Our hike today came to 9.2-miles with a little under 700′ of elevation gain.

The Crown Z may not be the most exciting trail out there, but it offers plenty of distance opportunities and some easy, peaceful hiking. The interpretive signs providing history and insight to the area are a plus and so is the fact that the trail is accessible year around. We plan on eventually hiking the entire trail which we should be able to do in three more segments. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Crown Z Trail – Ruley TH to Nehalem Divide

Tags Crown Z Linear Trail, Crown Z Trail, Crown Zellerbach Trail, CZ Trail, hiking, Nehalem Divide Trailhead, North Scappoose Creek, Oregon, Ruley Trailhead

Hiking

2024 Wildlife Gallery Part 2 – Featherless Friends

Post author By derwoodynck
Post date January 23, 2025
No Comments on 2024 Wildlife Gallery Part 2 – Featherless Friends

This is part 2 of our 2024 wildlife phots. Please click here for our feathered friends gallery. As with all our wildflower and wildlife posts any corrections or additions to our attempts at identifying what we’ve photographed are greatly appreciated. One other note, while we really enjoy taking pictures as a way to record what we see on our hikes, we are by no means photographers. We use our phones and a point and shoot camera on the auto setting, so the pictures are far from professional, but we hope you enjoy them. Finally, we do practice Leave No Trace Principles including Principle 6: Respect Wildlife which means observing from a distance, never feeding, and respecting any area wildlife closures. We urge others to do the same and recreate responsibly.

It was a pretty good year for wildlife. While we spotted several species of birds that were new to us this year, we didn’t add any new mammals, reptiles, or amphibians to those we’d seen in previous years. Below are photos representing many of the different critters that we saw, including a number of insects on flowers that we only realized were there after viewing the photos.
Starfish, anemones, and mussels – 5/11/24 Crescent Beach, OR

Crab – 5/11/24 Crescent Beach, OR

Trout – 7/13/24 Joyce Lake, OR

Fish – 10/7/24 Salmon River, OR

Frog – 9/13/24 Sprague Lake (Mt. Jefferson Wilderness), OR

Tree frog – 5/26/24 Madison Butte Trail, OR

Toad – 8/31/24 Deep Lake (Sky Lakes Wilderness), OR

Western toad – 7/23/24 McCully Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Rough-skinned newt – 1/27/24 Corvallis to Coast Trail, OR

Sagebrush lizard – 6/19/24 Deception Butte, OR

Western fence lizard – 5/25/24 Barnes Butte Recreation Area, Prineville, OR

Snake – 6/8/24 Tillamook State Forest, OR

Snake – 7/4/24 Horsepasture Mountain Trail, OR

Not sure if this is a vole or a pocket gopher? – 6/8/24 Tillamook State Forest, OR

Townsend’s chipmunk – 9/13/24 Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, OR

Least chipmunk – 8/20/24 Eagle Cap Wilderness, OR

Golden-mantled ground squirrel – 8/20/24 Eagle Cap Wilderness, OR

Columbian ground squirrels – 8/18/24 Eagle Cap Wilderness, OR

California ground squirrel – 5/25/24 Willow Creek Trail, Madras, OR

Red squirrel – 9/9/24 Eagle Cap Wilderness, OR

Douglas squirrel – 2/3/24 Forest Park, Portland, OR

Yellow-bellied marmot – 5/25/24 Willow Creek Trail, Madras, OR

Leaning toward muskrat but it could be a nutria. – 10/10/24 William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, OR

This one is for sure a nutria (invasive). – 2/24/24 Fernhill Wetlands, OR

Pika – 7/24/24 Eagle Cap Wilderness, OR

Cottontail – 9/8/24 National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, Baker City, OR

Rabbit – 2/24/24 Fernhill Wetlands, OR

Roosevelt elk – 5/11/24 Ecola State Park, OR

Black-tailed deer – 3/30/24 Corvallis, OR

Black-tailed deer – 10/10/24 William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, OR

Mule deer – 8/22/24 Eagle Cap Wilderness, OR

Mountain goat – 8/19/24 Eagle Cap Wilderness

Coyote – 10/5/24 Mt. Hood Wilderness, OR

Black bear – 8/22/24 Eagle Cap Wilderness, OR

Cows – 5/27/24 Crooked River Wetlands, Prineville, OR

Slugs – 4/13/24 Wind Mountain Trail, WA

Snail – 6/19/24 Buckhead Nature Trail, Westfir, OR

Beetle – 6/8/24 Tillamook State Forest, OR

Beetle – 8/31/24 Sky Lakes Wilderness, OR

Beetles – 7/22/24 Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Cricket – 9/9/24 Eagle Cap Wilderness, OR

Cicada – 6/29/24 Grasshopper Mountain, OR

Crane flies – 3/16/24 Middle Fork Path Eugene, OR

Dragon fly – 6/19/24 Deception Butte Trail, OR

Dragonfly – 8/31/24 Sky Lakes Wilderness, OR

Dragonfly – 10/10/24 William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, OR

Flying ants – 7/13/24 Nasty Rock, OR

A pollinator – 6/29/24 Grasshopper Mountain, OR

Seet bee – 8/18/24 Cliff Creek Trail, OR

Bees – 6/29/24 Grasshopper Mountain, OR

Bumble bee – 8/19/24 Pine Creek Trail, OR

Spider – 4/13/24 Sams-Walker Day Use Area

Find the crab spider (hint: one of the white blooms). – 7/4/24 Olallie Trail, OR

Spider hunting a moth. – 7/22/24 – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Millipede – 6/19/24 Deception Butte, OR

Caterpillar – 6/22/24 Big Huckleberry Mountain, OR

Caterpillars – Pine Lakes Trail, OR

Woolly bear caterpillar – 10/10/24 William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, OR

Crescent butterfly and another pollinaotr – 7/23/24 McCully Creek Trail, OR

Skipper and flies – 5/25/24 Barnes Butte Recreation Area, Prineville, OR

Arctic skipper – 6/1/24 Cook Hill, WA

Northern cloudywing – 6/19/24 Deception Butte, OR

Persius duskywing (Erynnis persius) – 7/4/24 Horsepasture Mountain, OR

Possibly a Pacuvius duskywing – 7/23/24 McCully Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Western meadow fritillary – 6/29/24 Grasshopper Mountain, OR

Fritillary – 7/13/24 Nasty Rock, OR

Fritillary – 8/22/24 Eagle Cap Wilderness, OR

Myllita crescent (female) – 7/22/24 Eagle Cap Wilderness, OR

Myllita crescent (male) – 7/24/24 Eagle Cap Wilderness, OR

Field crescent – 9/13/24 Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, OR

Edith’s checkerspot – 6/29/24 Grasshopper Mountain, OR

Snowberry checkerspot (male) – 7/13/24 Nasty Rock, OR

Snowberry checkerspot (female) – 7/13/24 Nasty Rock, OR

Green comma – 8/20/24 Eagle Cap Wilderness, OR

Hoary comma – 7/23/24 Eagle Cap Wilderness, OR

Painted lady – 9/13/24 Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, OR

California tortoiseshell – 7/23/24 Eagle Cap Wilderness, OR

Milbert’s tortoiseshell – 5/26/24 Madison Butte, OR

Common woodnymph – 7/22/24 Eagle Cap Wilderness, OR

Great arctic – 6/29/24 Grasshopper Mountain, OR

Monarch butterfly – 7/24/24 Eagle Cap Wilderness, OR

Orange tip – 5/26/24 Madison Butte, OR

Pine white – 8/31/24 Sky Lakes Wilderness, OR

Becker’s white – 8/18/24 Cliff Creek Trail, OR

Clodius parnassian – 6/29/24 Grasshopper Mountain, OR

Margined white? – 7/23/24 McCully Creek Trail, OR

Not sure which sulphur this is – 7/22/24 Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Also unsure which sulphur this is – 8/20/24 Chimney-Wood Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Ochre ringlet – 5/25/24 Barnes Butte Recreation Area, Prineville, OR

Cedar hairstreak – 5/25/24 Barnes Butte Recreation Area, Prineville, OR

Oregon swallowtail – 5/26/24 Madison Butte, OR

Western tiger swallowtail – 7/23/24 McCully Creek Trail, OR

I rarely ever attempt a guess at the gossamer wings.
6/29/24 Grasshopper Mountain, OR

6/29/24 Grasshopper Mountain, OR

8/18/24 Cliff Creek Trail, OR

7/22/24 Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

7/24/24 Eagle Cap Wilderness, OR

8/20/24 Chimney-Wood Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

7/23/24 McCully Creek Trail, OR

Echo azure? – 4/13/24 Beacon Rock State Park, WA

Moth – 06/08/24 Tillamook State Forest, OR

Moth – 6/29/24 Grasshopper Mountain, OR

Moth – 7/21/24 Hat Point, OR

Eight-spotted forester moth – 7/4/24 Olallie Trail, OR

Police car moths – 7/24/24 Eagle Cap Wilderness, OR

Hiking

2024 Wildlife Gallery Part 1 – Feathered Friends

Post author By derwoodynck
Post date January 22, 2025
3 Comments on 2024 Wildlife Gallery Part 1 – Feathered Friends

A couple of my favorite posts to put together every year is our wildlife galleries. Seeing animals on our hikes is always a highlight. (Maybe not rattlesnakes, but in 15 years of hiking we’ve still only seen one on trail.) A couple of years back we spilt our gallery post into two, feathered and featherless. This helps keep the number of pictures to a more reasonable number. While we do our best at identification, we are not experts’ Any corrections or further identification of species are appreciated.

A couple of other notes, while we really enjoy taking pictures as a way to record what we see on our hikes, we are by no means photographers. We use our phones and a point and shoot camera on the auto setting, so the pictures are far from professional, but we hope you enjoy them. We also practice Leave No Trace Principles including Principle 6: Respect Wildlife which means observing from a distance, never feeding, and respecting any area wildlife closures.

Acorn woodpecker – 3/30/24 Mulkey Ridge Trail, Corvallis, OR

Lewis’s woodpecker – 8/31/24 Sky Lakes Wilderness, OR

Northern flicker – 6/19/24 Deception Butte, OR

Black-backed woodpecker? – 9/13/24 Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, OR

Hairy? woodpecker (I have a hard time with Hairy vs Downy woodpeckers) – 6/19/24 Deception Butte Trail, OR

Anna’s hummingbird – 2/24/24 Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, OR

Rufous hummingbird – 8/3/24 Crater Lake National Park, OR

American goldfinch – 4/20/24 Jackson Bottom Wetlands, Hillsboro, OR

American robin – 4/20/24 Jackson Bottom Wetlands, Hillsboro, OR

American dippers (ouzels) – 5/12/24 Lee Wooden Fishhawk Falls County Park, Clatsop County, OR

Black-headed grosbeak – 6/8/24 Cedar Butte (Tillamook State Forest), OR

Bullock’s oriole (top of photo) – 5/25/24 Willow Creek Trail, Madras, OR

LOL! This is the best photo of a varied thrush I could get this year. 2/3/24 Forest Park, Portland, OR

Hermit thrush – 6/15/24 O’Leary Mountain Trail (Willamette National Forest), OR

Chickadee – 9/9/24 Hidden Lake Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Dark-eyed junco – 3/30/24 Mulkey Ridge Trail, Corvallis, OR

Common yellowthroat – 5/28/24 Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, OR

Dusky flycatcher – 8/19/24 Pine Lakes Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Hammond’s flycatcher – 8/22/24 East Fork Wallowa River Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Ash-throated flycatcher – 5/25/24 Willow Creek Trail, Madras, OR

Lazuli bunting – 5/25/24 Willow Creek Trail, Madras, OR

Mountain bluebirds – 8/18/24 Cliff Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Western bluebirds – 3/16/24 Middle Fork Path, Eugene, OR

Cedar waxwing – 5/28/24 Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, OR

California jay – 3/30/24 Mary’s River Natural Park, Corvallis, OR

Canada jay – 6/19/24 Deception Butte Trail, OR

Stellar’s jay – 10/10/24 William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, OR

Crow – 4/20/24 Jackson Bottom Wetlands, Hillsboro, OR

Raven – 5/11/24 Ecola State Park, OR

Sage thrasher (new sighting for us) – 9/8/24 National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, OR

Western meadowlark – 5/28/24 Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, OR

Western tanager – 7/24/24 Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Pine siskins – 8/20/24 Chimney-Wood Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Ruby-crowned kinglet – 3/16/24 Middle Fork Path, Eugene, OR

Spotted towhee – 5/28/24 Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, OR

Townsend solitaire – 9/13/24 Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, OR

Yellow-rumped warbler – 4/20/24 Jackson Bottom Wetlands, Hillsboro, OR

Orange-crowned warbler – 4/20/24 Jackson Bottom Wetlands, Hillsboro, OR

Wilson’s warbler – 6/8/24 Kilchis Forest Road (Tillamook State Forest), OR

Purple martins – 4/20/24 Jackson Bottom Wetlands, Hillsboro, OR

Tree swallows – 4/20/24 Jackson Bottom Wetlands, Hillsboro, OR

Barn swallows – 5/11/24 Fort Stevens State Park, OR

European starling – 2/24/24 Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, OR

Brewer’s blackbird – 5/27/24 Crooked River Wetlands, Prineville, OR

Yellow-headed blackbird – 5/27/24 Crooked River Wetlands, Prineville, OR

Red-winged blackbird – 2/10/24 Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Bushtit – 7/6/24 Independence River Front Park, Independence, OR

Brown creeper – 6/19/24 Deception Butte Trail, OR

White-breasted nuthatch – 3/16/24 Middle Fork Path, Eugene, OR

Red-breasted nuthatch – 7/23/24 McCully Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Pacific wren – 3/16/24 Middle Fork Path, Eugene, OR

Marsh wren – 5/27/24 Crooked River Wetlands, Prineville, OR

Rock wren – 5/25/24 Willow Creek Trail, Madras, OR

Golden-crowned sparrow – 4/20/24 Jackson Bottom Wetlands, Hillsboro, OR

Savanah sparrow – 4/20/24 Jackson Bottom Wetlands, Hillsboro, OR

Song sparrow – 4/20/24 Jackson Bottom Wetlands, Hillsboro, OR

Chipping sparrow – 4/13/24 Sams-Walker Day Use Area, WA

White-crowned sparrow – 4/13/24 Sams-Walker Day Use Area, WA

House finch – 5/28/24 Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, OR

Cassin’s finch – 8/4/24 Crater Lake National Park, OR

Cassin’s vireo – 8/21/24 Maxwell Lake Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

American kestral – 2/24/24 Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, OR

Peregrine falcon – 10/10/24 William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, OR

Copper’s hawk – 3/16/24 Middle Fork Path, Eugene, OR

Red-tailed hawk – 5/25/24 Willow Creek Trail, Madras, OR

Northern harrier – 5/28/24 Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, OR

Osprey – 5/27/24 Crooked River Wetlands, Prineville, OR

Bald eagles – 2/24/24 Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, OR

Turkey vulture – 3/16/24 Middle Fork Path, Eugene, OR

Dusky grouse – 7/23/24 McCully Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Sooty grouse – 8/31/24 Sky Lakes Wilderness, OR

Ruffed grouse – 11/28/24 Silver Falls State Park, OR

California quail – 10/10/24 William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, OR

Dove – 5/27/24 Crooked River Wetlands, Prineville, OR

Pigeons – 9/8/24 National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, OR

Band-tailed pigeons – 6/8/24 Kilchis Forest Road (Tillamook State Forest), OR

Pigeon guillemont – 5/11/24 Ecola State Park, OR

Oyster catcher – 5/11/24 Ecola State Park, OR

Whimbrel – 5/11/24 Ecola State Park, OR

Seagull – 5/11/24 Ecola State Park, OR

Spotted sandpiper – 7/24/24 Bonny Lakes (Eagle Cap Wilderness, OR

Wilson’s phalarope (another first for us) – 5/27/24 Crooked River Wetlands, Prineville, OR

Double-crested cormorant – 2/24/24 Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, OR

American bittern – 5/28/24 Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, OR

Great egret, female mallard, and great blue heron – 10/10/24 William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, OR

Mallard drake – 2/24/24 Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, OR

Ruddy ducks – 2/24/24 Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, OR

Northern shoveler – 2/24/24 Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, OR

Buffleheads – 2/24/24 Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, OR

Green-winged teal – 2/24/24 Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, OR

Northern pintail and American wigeons – 2/10/24 Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Canvasbacks (first time sighting for us) – 2/10/24 Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Common merganser drake – 3/16/24 Middle Fork Path, Eugene, OR

Hooded mergansers – 3/16/24 Middle Fork Path, Eugene, OR

Cinnamon teal – 4/20/24 Jackson Bottom Wetlands, Hillsboro, OR

Lesser scaups – 4/20/24 Jackson Bottom Wetlands, Hillsboro, OR

Greater scaup – 5/11/24 Skippanon River, Warrenton, OR

Ring-necked duck – 5/26/24 Bull Prairie Lake (Umatilla National Forest), OR

Gadwalls – 5/27/24 Crooked River Wetlands, Prineville, OR

Barrow’s goldeneye – 9/11/24 Pyramid Lake (Mt. Hood National Forest), OR

American coot – 2/24/24 Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, OR

Pie-billed grebe – 2/24/24 Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, OR

Eared grebe – 5/26/24 Bull Prairie Lake (Umatilla National Forest), OR

Horned grebe – 2/10/24 Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Canada geese – 4/20/24 Jackson Bottom Wetlands, Hillsboro, OR

Cackling geese – 2/24/24 Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, OR

Tundra swans (first sighting for us) – 2/24/24 Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, OR

Hiking

Shellburg Falls – 01/20/2025

Post author By derwoodynck
Post date January 21, 2025
No Comments on Shellburg Falls – 01/20/2025

It had been nearly 14 years since we visited Shellburg Falls (post). Since that time a lot has changed there, most notably the area was burned in the 2020 Beachie Creek Fire. The area remained closed until May 2024, when it was reopened thanks in large part to volunteer work done by the Trail Keepers of Oregon (TKO). I had MLK Day off from work and while the polar vortex was keeping people from outdoor activities in some parts of the country the low at Shellburg Falls was forecast to be a crisp but reasonable 25F with nothing but blue skies.

I couldn’t pass up hiking weather like that so while Heather was getting ready for work I headed out to the Shellburg Falls Trailhead. Please note that access roads for the trailhead changed post fire and that some information online and certain navigation apps (I’m looking at you Google Maps) still show the pre-fire route. The directions in Oregon Hikers Field Guide (linked above) are correct as of this writing.

One of the other changes post fire is that the loop we did back in 2011 is no longer possible due to the closure of the section of trail that passed behind Shellburg Falls. You can still reach Shellburg Falls on either the west side or east side, you just can’t make a loop out of it. There are several other loops that are possible in the area on the east side of the creek and my plan was to check out three of those and also take a detour to the Silver Falls State Park Backcountry.

Prior to doing any of that though I headed down the Shellburg Falls Trail to do the roughly 1.5-mile out-and-back on the west side of the falls.

The trail parallels Shellburg Road and briefly joins it after passing a gate to cross Shellburg Creek and then returns to a single track recrossing Shellburg Creek on a new footbridge installed by TKO volunteers.

Shellburg Creek

Trail sign ahead on the right marking the resumption of the Shellburg Falls Trail.

The trail soon passes the top of the falls before descending via new switchbacks and turning back up the creek for a view of the full waterfall.

May 2011 view.

First sunlight hitting the rocks above the trail.

Barricade and sign marking the closed section of trail.

2011 view

After admiring the falls I headed back up toward the trailhead but stayed on Shellburg Road and turned right across the parking area to head toward the shelter and day use area.
Some survivors on the far hillside.

I heard a number of woodpeckers throughout the day, but this was the only one I was able to spot.

Outhouse at the day use area up ahead.

Parking spots at the day use area along with the shelter. The trails on the left and right are the Vine Maple Trail, the shortest loop option at about 1-mile.

While my plan was to do the Vine Maple Loop it would not be all at once. Instead, my plan was to take the left (northern) section to the Shellburg Creek Trail where I would turn left onto that loop which would eventually lead me back to the trailhead where I would then take the southern section of the Vine Maple Loop to the August Mountain Trail.

The only tree I had to step over on a trail all morning.

Arriving at the 4-way trail junction with the Shellburg Creek, August Mountain, and southern portion of the Vine Maple Trail.

At the junction I made a hard left onto the Shellburg Creek Trail.

We had not been on this trail in 2011, so it was brand new to me. The trail climbed gradually along Shellburg Creek (no views) for a third of a mile before turning away from the creek and climbing more steeply.

I saw a good number of varied thrushes including 4 or 5 in this spot, but once again I failed at getting a clear picture.

The forest along the creek held up pretty well in the fire.

I was keeping an eye out for the Lost Creek Trail which would be heading uphill to the right (or left if you’re going the other way) of the Shellburg Creek Trail. I first spotted a faint trail signed as a horse route.

I had seen this trail on at least one map and knew it wasn’t the trail I was looking for. (It theoretically rejoins the Shellburg Creek Trail a short distance later, but I did not notice the other end.)

Frosty leaves

A short distance later the trail crossed a roadbed that was not on any of the maps that I had available to me. (This road is shown on several other maps that I did not happen to be using.)

Referring to the maps I had, and my GPS track this old roadbed looked like it might be what I was looking for. There was no sign for the Lost Creek Trail but the other tail signs at the junction increased my confidence that this could be the trail. I turned uphill on the roadbed and climbed 150′ in a quarter of a mile to the end of the road.

End of the line. I briefly searched for old tread before deciding that this was not in fact the Lost Creek Trail.

I returned to the Shellburg Creek Trail and continued on that loop. A tenth of a mile later I passed an abandoned trail that had been covered with debris. A few feet beyond the abandoned trail I came to an unsigned T-junction at the edge of a clearcut.

The T-junction

The trail leading uphill here was in good shape and I was confident that I had finally found the correct trail, so I turned right.
Heading uphill from the Shellburg Creek Trail.

After climbing for a bit I passed the upper end of the closed trail and a trail marker for the Snag Loop Trail.

As near as I can tell the decommissioned section of trail was the Lost Creek Trail as some maps show both the Lost Creek and Snag Loop Trails.

I continued uphill crossing a roadbed at the half a mile mark and arriving at Shellburg/Ayers Creek Road at the three-quarter mile mark.

Arriving at the road crossing.

Shellburg/Ayers Creek Road (depending on the map)

I turned right on the road for a tenth of a mile to an intersection where I proceeded straight into a wide muddy area.

On the other side of the intersection.

The Lost Creek Trail followed the muddy roadbed for another 0.2-miles before splitting off to the left at a trail pointer.

The trail continued uphill to Lookout Mountain Road at the edge of Silver Falls State Park.
Some of the forest up higher had survived the fire as well.

Arriving at Lookout Mountain Road.

Gate at the border of Silver Falls State Park.

I had been on the other side of that gate in 2022 during my 21.5-mile perimeter loop of that park(post).

The unmistakable flat top of Coffin Mountain (post) in the distance.

After tagging the gate, and shedding a layer, I headed back down to the Shellburg Creek Trail.

Shortly after starting back down I spotted a couple of early wildflowers.
Evergreen violets – Viola sempervirens

Snow queen

Back at the Shellburg Creek Trail.

From the junction the Shellburg Creek Trail descended at a good pace through a recently replanted clearcut before ending at Shellburg Road after two thirds of a mile.

While the Sun was out and it had warmed up a bit the shady areas were still frosty.

The trail crossed this road at the 0.3-mile mark. It turns out this roadbed is the one I turned up earlier in error.

Shellburg Road

I turned left onto the road and followed it approximately 500′ to the trailhead where I again headed for the day use area (left this time) and picked up the southern section of the Vine Maple Trail.

I followed the Vine Maple Trail back to the 4-way trail junction and turned right onto the August Mountain Trail.

The back of the shelter.

The August Mountain Trail crossed Shellburg Creek on another nice new bridge then climbed August Mountain to a signboard at a roadbed.

Following a pointer for the Shellburg Falls Trail I headed downhill into a creek drainage where I spotted a few deer on the opposite hillside.
While not unobstructed, the fire had opened up partial views of Mt. Jefferson.

Mt. Jefferson through the trees.

Two of the deer.

The trail dropped to Shellburg Road (again) and continued on the far side.

I however turned left onto the road in order to make another little loop, and to see if the fire had opened up any views of Stassel Falls. While the waterfall is on private property the Santiam State Forest Boundary extends far enough that it is possible to get glimpses of the 125′ waterfall. There is no official trail but I picked up a use trail which I followed, keeping an eye out for private property or no trespassing signs.

While the fire had burned away much of the trees the angle looking toward the falls from this side of Stout Creek still doesn’t provide a great view.
Stassel Falls

Given the rough terrain, dangerous hillside, and lack of a view I don’t recommend this side trip. I returned to the road and followed it down to a picnic table next to Lower Shellburg Falls. Along the way I was passed by a bike, the first person I’d seen on trail all morning.

The picnic table in the distance.

Lower Shellburg Falls

2011

I saw a second trail user, an equestrian, just before I headed up toward Shellburg Falls from the road.

I had the waterfall to myself and as a bonus there was a nice rainbow at its base.

Rainbow and ice below Shellburg Falls.

Icicles on the rocks above Shellburg Creek.

After admiring the falls again I headed back by taking the August Mountain Trail through the burned forest to the road crossing.
August Mountain Trail on the left.

At Shellburg Road I turned left and followed it above the falls and back to the bridge over Shellburg Creek.

At the gate I hopped back onto the Shellburg Falls Trail and took it back to the trailhead.

My convoluted route came to 10.8-miles with a little over 1700′ of elevation gain and consisted of five loops.

Given the numerous options and proximity to Salem (about an hour) it’s an area we need to make more use of. There is also a network of mountain bike only trails in the area making it a popular destination at times but on a day like to today it provided a lot of solitude.

One interesting prospect that I found myself thinking about was the possibility of shuttling from Shellburg Falls over to Silver Falls State Park. It would make for a long outing but could include at least a dozen waterfalls with the right planning. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Shellburg Falls

Tags August Mountain Trail, hiking, Lost Creek Trail, Lower Shellburg Falls, Oregon, santiam state forest, Shellburg Creek Trail, Shellburg Falls, Shellburg Falls Recreation Area, Shellburg Falls Trail, Silver Falls State Park, Snag Loop Trail, TKO, Trail Keepers of Oregon, Vine Maple Trail

Central Coast Hiking Oregon Oregon Coast Trip report

Yachats and Waldport Area Trails

Post author By derwoodynck
Post date January 13, 2025
No Comments on Yachats and Waldport Area Trails

We kicked off our 2025 hikes with a multi stop day on the Oregon Coast. During our offseason, Nov-Apr, I spend a fair amount of time looking for hikes to add to our list of to-do hikes. The Oregon Hikers Field Guide provided me with three short hikes in and around Waldport Oregon that we had yet to check out.

We started our morning in Yachats at the Smelt Sands State Recreation Site.

We’d used this trailhead in 2020 for a hike on the 804 Trail. We set off on the 804 Trail again this time but after two tenths of a mile we turned right off the 804 Trail.
We started with this hike in part due to it being the first day of the final king tides, abnormally high tides, for the season. High tide for Smelt Sands was going to be 9:45am so we were hoping to see some of the wave action.

It was just before 8am as we hiked the 804 Trail.

We made a mistake and turned right on the paved path here, but we should have continued beyond the large signboard to a second path marked by a wooden post. You can see the small white and black to the left of the green signboard. We may have been distracted by “Free Coffee” being printed on the bottom of the green sign.

We wound up walking through the Fireside Motel’s parking lot and out to Highway 101 via its driveway instead of the Overleaf Lodge & Spa. Either way we faced a choice at the highway. We could go directly across to Diversity Drive and walk up it 125 yards to the start of the Ya’Xaik Trail. (There are a small number of parking spots available at the end of Diversity Drive but be careful not to take any of the spots reserved for the townhomes here.) Our other option was to turn north (left) along the highway for a tenth of a mile and then cross (at the Earthworks Art Gallery) where we could pick up the public footpath at the Gerdemann Botanic Preserve. Please note that dogs are not allowed on the paths at the Gerdemann Botanic Preserve. Dog owners who would like to do a loop can find a dog friendly trail to the north of the fire station between the art gallery and Diversity Drive.

We chose to walk the highway shoulder to try and minimize the amount of traffic that would be passing by.

This post is similar to the one along the 804 Trail where we should have turned right.

Information about the preserve.

The public entrance.

The path through the preserve is only about a quarter mile. The trail climbs gradually along Mitchell Creek with numerous interpretive signs. It also passes “Grandmother Spruce” a 300+ year old Sitka spruce that spans the small creek.

One of the interpretive signs on the left.

Boardwalk over Mitchell Creek.

The plaque at the base of Grandmother Spruce.

Grandmother Spruce

The upper end of the preserve trail.

Pointer for the Ya’Xiak Trail on the far side of the upper gate.

Going right on the Ya’Xiak Trail would complete the loop to Diversity Drive, but before we did that we turned left on the unmarked Starr Creek Trail. This well maintained trail led a third of a mile to Starr Creek and Starr Creek Road. (Note there is no parking available at Starr Creek Road.)

The Starr Creek Trail.

Mushrooms

Approaching Starr Creek.

Starr Creek

Starr Creek Road

After tagging the road we headed back to the Ya’Xaik Trail junction and followed it south for a third of a mile before it turned west and headed downhill to Diversity Drive.
The upper gate at the junction.

Ya’Xaik Trail

The right hand fork here is the trail leading down to the fire station that dog owners can use to make a loop. A local had warned us that this trail can be pretty slick. We went left to remain on the Ya’Xaik Trail.

There was a little climbing involved before the trail headed down to Diversity Drive.

The Ya’Xaik Trail at Diversity Drive.

We walked down Diversity Drive, recrossed Highway 101, and returned to the 804 Trail which we followed back to our car. It was a little after 9am so it was still about 45 minutes from high tide, but there were already a lot of people watching the waves come crashing in.

Our hike here clocked in just under two and a quarter mile with a little over 225′ of elevation gain.

We could have extended this hike up to 14 miles by continuing north on the 804 Trail and then walking the beach to the Alsea River as we’d done in 2020, but since we’d already hiked that section of the Oregon Coast, we opted not to extend this hike but instead check out a different section of beach later in morning. From Smelt Sands we drove north on Highway 101 to Waldport and the John Maré Woodland Trailhead.

Simply put the three-quarter mile Woodland Trail runs between this lower trailhead and the Red River Disc Golf Course at Woodland Park off South Crestline Drive. The hike however is not simple, even with the fairly detailed descriptions in the OregonHikers Field Guide and a input from a local who provided some useful information. Abandoned roadbeds, trails connecting to neighborhoods, and paths used by the disc golf course create a web of interconnected trails/paths with the only signage being for the disc golf holes. With many pauses to check our map and the descriptions I believe we only took one wrong turn which resulted in us doing a figure eight near Woodland Park instead of a loop as we’d intended.

The trail set off from the interpretive signs at the trailhead and quickly crossed the Red River (actually just a creek).

The Woodland Trail continues to the left while the right connects up to a road.

At the quarter-mile mark the trail crosses an abandoned roadbed.

It was at the end of this stretch where we ran into a local who gave us some tips on our route.

The trail climbed fairly steeply via switchbacks to another roadbed and after passing a cement barricade we veered left onto an unmarked path.

Just up this path we encountered the first signs of the disc golf course.

A footbridge over the Red River below with a disc golf hole on the opposite ridge. We were able to use the OregonHikers Field Guide map to identify this connector trail as one we did not want to take. That map had many of the connector trails identified in red which helped keep our position located as well as keep us on the correct route.

We managed to arrive at the skate park having stayed on course.

The Woodland Trail between the skate park and playground.

Our (my) mistake came at a junction near the playground. I misinterpreted the map and had us turn right on a wide path at a junction then take a quick left when we should have stayed more of less straight.

I had taken one of the red trails then regained the OregonHikers route when we turned left only we were now hiking in the opposite direction of their route.

Heather was able to get me to understand my error and we simply looped back around to the playground then once again took the connector trail to where we’d turned left and this time turned right.

The right hand fork led us to a large opening which the local we’d spoken with earlier aptly described as a landing strip.

At the northern end of the opening the trail reentered the forest.

We continued to refer to the OregonHikers track to stay on the correct path which followed a ridge to its end above the Red River.

We dropped down to the footbridge over the creek and then continued straight on an abandoned roadbed.

The gentleman we’d spoken to earlier had mentioned these three sets of stairs.

We followed this roadbed back to the switchbacks where we’d encountered the local and at the bottom of the switchbacks turned right on another roadbed that led us back to the trailhead.

The old roadbed at the bottom of the switchbacks.

Rainbow over the baseball fields at the trailhead.

This hike was just 1.6-miles with approximately 175′ of elevation gain.
Woodland Trail on the left and our next stop, the Lint Slough Trail, on the right.

Our next trailhead was just under a mile drive away (0.4 as the crow flies) at the Lint Slough Trail.

This short out-and-back begins on a wide grassy track along the Lint Slough before becoming single track. There are several benches along the trail which according to the city is approximately 0.8-miles long, but we only managed to get half a mile out before we lost the tread in the vegetation.

Memorial plaque

There was a bypass uphill for this short flooded section.

There were a number of bufflehead ducks, a pair of geese, and one noisy great blue heron at the slough. All of the wildlife seemed to be positioned as far away from the trail as possible.

The great blue heron in a tree across the slough.

This little group of buffleheads was the exception.

I turned around at this bench due to not seeing an obvious continuation of the trail here. I had also lost Heather who had stayed up to avoid the flooded section and instead of returning to the trail I was on, on the other side of the flooded bench, stayed up on the higher path. That path began leading up uphill away from the actual trail without another way to get back to the correct path. She wound up backtracking and we met shortly after I had started back.

The slough from my turn around point.

A little blue sky reflecting in the water on our hike back.

Yarrow

Bull thistle (non-native)

Rose (probably non-native)

From Lint Slough we drove back to Highway 101 and headed north toward Newport and stopped at the Driftwood Beach State Recreation Site.

The king tide was now heading out which provided us with the ability to walk the beach and enjoy the breaks in the clouds giving us some much-needed glimpses of blue sky.

Looking north along the beach.

The view south.

We headed north first in the direction of Seal Rock (post). We turned back after 0.4-miles at a creek on Holly Beach.
The wet sand and debris from the high tide was up to the vegetation along much of the beach.

We decided to turn back at the creek partly to avoid crossing it, but also because we had been walking into the wind. It wasn’t a particularly cold day, but the wind chill was almost making it uncomfortable.

Seagull with a crab.

We decided to continue south past the recreation site though to add a little time and distance to our day. (Our rule of spending as much time hiking as driving was in jeopardy of being broken.) We hiked 0.6-miles to the south turning around once we were confident our self-imposed rule wouldn’t be broken.
Cape Perpetua (post) to the south.

Buckley Creek

We had to ford Buckley Creek which was only a couple of inches deep at most.

Semipalmated plovers

Western gull

Heading back north.

The path back up to the parking area at Driftwood Beach.

This was a quiet 2.1-mile walk on the beach. We only saw a couple other people and at Noon the parking lot was nearly empty.

The weather held up great for us. I think we drove through at least one rain shower every time we were in the car except between the Woodland and Lint trails, but we never got rained on. The four hikes came to just 6.9-miles with 425′ of cumulative elevation gain making it a good early season outing. With the exception of the 804 and Ya’Xaik trails these probably aren’t destination hikes, but they were enjoyable hikes and would be worth a visit if you were staying nearby or in the area and looking for a quick outing. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Waldport Area Trails

Tags 804 Trail, Crestline Park, Driftwood Beach State Recreation Area, Gerdemann Botanic Preserve, hiking, John Maré Woodland Trailhead, Lint Slough Trail, Lint Slough Trailhead, Oregon, Oregon Coast, Smelt Sands, Waldport, Woodland Trail, Ya'Xaik Trail, Yachats

Trip report

2024 Wildflower Gallery Part 2

Post author By derwoodynck
Post date January 7, 2025
1 Comment on 2024 Wildflower Gallery Part 2

This is part 2 of our annual wrap up of wildflowers we saw during the year on our hikes. (Part 1) I’ve tried to identify non-natives as well as indicate if this was our first time (that we know of) seeing a particular flower. We continue to work on learning to identify the flowers we see and remain a long way from being able to tell some of the different species apart, so any corrections or additional IDs are greatly appreciated.

The date and hike/trail of our observation is inculded.
Ocean spray – August 4th – Wizard Island (Crater Lake NP), OR

Olympic onion – June 8th – Cedar Butte, OR

One-sided wintergreen – July 25th – Minam River Trail, OR

Tapertip onion – July 21st – Granny View Overlook (Hells Canyon), OR

Ookow – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA

Orange agoseris – June 29th – Grasshopper Mountain, OR

Orange globe mallow- May 25th – Barnes Butte (Prineville), OR

An orchid – July 22nd – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Oregon bluebells – June 29th – Grasshopper Mountain Trail, OR

Oregon grape – March 30th – Mulkey Ridge Trail (Corvallis), OR

Oregon sunshine – July 13th – Nasty Rock Trail, OR

Pacific coralroot – July 13th – Joyce Lake Trail, OR

Pacific hound’s tongue – March 30th – Mulkey Ridge Trail (Corvallis), OR

Pacific waterleaf – May 12th – Cathedral Tree Trail, OR

Indian paintbrush – May 25th – Willow Creek Canyon, OR

Paintbrush – probably scarlet (Castilleja miniata) – August 18th – Cliff Creek Trail (Wallowa-Whitman National Forest), OR

Parry’s arnica – July 21st – Hat Point, OR

Patridge foot – September 13th – Pacific Crest Trail (Mt. Jefferson Wilderness), OR

Gray sagewort – July 21st – Granny View Overlook (Hells Canyon), OR

Pea-vine – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR

Pearly everlasting – June 19th – Deception Butte Trail, OR

Woolly head clover – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Pennycress – July 23rd – McCully Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Penstemon – May 25th – Barnes Butte (Prineville), OR

Penstemon – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA

Pestemon – July 13th – Nasty Rock Trail, OR

Venus penstemon – July 21st – Granny View Overlook (Hells Canyon), OR

Globe penstemon – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

A phacelia – July 26th – East Peak (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Phantom orchid – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA

Phlox – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA

Pinedrops – August 3rd – The Pinnacles Trail (Crater Lake NP), OR

Pink pyrola – June 19th – Deception Butte Trail, OR

Pioneer violet – April 13th – Wind Mountain, WA

Woolly goldenweed? (If so this was a first for us.) – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR

Prairie smoke – May 26th – Bull Prairie Lake, OR

Prince’s pine – July 22nd – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Purple dead-nettle – February 24th – Fernhill Wetlands, OR

Purpleflower honeysuckle – June 29th – Grasshopper Mountain, OR

Pussypaws – July 26th – Mount Howard, OR

Pussytoes – July 13th – Nasty Rock Trail, OR

Queen’s cup – June 22nd – Big Huckleberry Mountain, WA

Raceme pussytoes – June 29th – Grasshopper Mountain, OR

Rosy pussytoes – June 22nd – Big Huckleberry Mountain, WA

Ragwort – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR

Red clover – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Red flowering currant – April 13th – Wind Mountain, WA

Rhododendron – June 15th – O’Leary Mountain Trail, OR

Rockcress – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR

Rose campion (non-native) – June 19th – Buckhead Nature Trail, OR

Rosy bird’s-foot trefoil – June 8th – Kilchis Forest Road, OR

Sagebrush mariposa lily – July 22nd – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Salal – June 8th – Kilchis Forest Road, OR

Salmonberry – April 13th – St. Cloud Trail, WA

Sandwort – July 24th – Bonny Lakes Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Saxifrage – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Scarlet gilia – July 4th – Horsepasture Mountain, OR

Scouler’s bluebell – June 19th – Deception Butte Trail, OR

Scouler’s corydalis – April 13th – Lower Archer Falls, WA

Scouler’s woollyweed – July 24th – Bonny Lakes Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Seaside bittercress – May 11th – Ecola State Park, OR

Self-heal – June 19th – Deception Butte Trail, OR

Serviceberry – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR

Shooting star – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR

Silverleaf phacelia – May 25th – Willow Creek Canyon, OR

Silvery raillardella (new to us) – August 4th – Crater Lake National Park, OR

Sitka mist-maidens – April 27th – Wahkeena Trail, OR

Skunk cabbage – May 11th – Ecola State Park, OR

Slender phlox – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR

mall-flowered woodland-star – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR

Small bluebells – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR

Snowberry – June 19th – Deception Butte Trail, OR

Solomonseal – April 20th – Jackson Bottom Wetlands, OR

Oregon oxalis – April 13th – Lower Archer Falls, WA

Spirea betulifolia – June 22nd – Big Huckleberry Mountain, WA

Spiraea douglasii – July 6th – Independence Riverfront Park, OR

Spiraea splendens – July 25th – Minam River Trail, OR

Spotted coralroot – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA

Spreading dogbane – July 22nd – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Spreading stickseed? – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA

Star-flowered false solomonseal – June 8th – Cedar Butte, OR

Starflower – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA

Stonecrop – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA

Wormleaf stonecrop – July 13th – Nasty Rock, OR

Strawberry – March 30th – Mulkey Ridge Trail (Corvallis), OR

Streambank globe-mallow – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Sub-alpine mariposa lily – June 19th – Deception Butte Trail, OR

Sugar sticks – July 4th – Olallie Trail, OR

Swamp onion – July 24th – Bonny Lakes Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Chicory (non-native) – August 18th – Cliff Creek Trail (Wallowa-Whitman National Forest), OR

Sweet coltsfoot – April 27th – Wahkeena Trail, OR

Tall bluebells – June 29th – Grasshopper Mountain Trail, OR

Tansy ragwort (non-native) – July 6th – Independence Riverfront Park, OR

Tasselflower brickellbrush – July 22nd – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Thimbleberry – April 20th – Jackson Bottom Wetlands, OR

Thistle – June 8th – Kilchis Forest Road, OR

Thistle (non-native) – July 6th – Independence Riverfront Park, OR

Greene’s thistle (Cirsium inamoenum) – July 26th – Mount Howard, OR

Threadleaf phacelia – May 25th – Barnes Butte (Prineville), OR

Tiger lilies – June 19th – Deception Butte Trail, OR

Dalmation toadflax (non-native) – May 25th – Willow Creek Trail (Madras), OR

Tolmie’s mariposa lily – June 19th – Deception Butte Trail, OR

Toothwort – March 30th – Mulkey Ridge Trail (Corvallis), OR

Trillium – March 30th – Mulkey Ridge Trail (Corvallis), OR

Twinberry – April 20th – Jackson Bottom Wetlands, OR

Twin flower – July 4th – Olallie Trail, OR

Valerian – June 8th – Kilchis Forest Road, OR

Vanilla leaf – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA

Variable-leaf collomia – June 8th – Cedar Butte Road, OR

Vetch – May 28th – Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, OR

Vine maple – April 13th – Lower Archer Falls, WA

Violet – March 6th – Dorris Ranch (Eugene), OR

Violet – July 25th – Minam River Trail, OR

Canary violet – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR

Hookedspur violets – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR

Wallflower – June 8th – Kilchis Forest Road, OR

Wallowa paintbrush – July 25th – Minam River Trail, OR

Washington lily – July 4th – Olallie Trail, OR

Western buttercups – March 16th – Middle Fork Willamette Path (Eugene), OR

Western clematis – August 19th – Pine Lakes Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Western featherbells – July 13th – Nasty Rock Trail, OR

Western Labrador tea – July 25th – Minam River Trail, OR

Western meadowrue – April 27th – Angel’s Rest Trail, OR

Western snakeroot – August 4th – Wizard Island (Crater Lake NP), OR

White mariposa lily – July 24th – Bonny Lakes Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Bushy blazing-star (Mentzelia dispersa) – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Tough-leaved iris – March 30th – Mulkey Ridge Trail (Corvallis), OR

Wild onion (Tolmie’s?) – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR

Wild roses – May 28th – Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, OR

Willowherb – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Wintergreen – July 13th – Nasty Rock Trail, OR

Possibly woolly groundsel – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Yarrow – June 22nd – Big Huckleberry Mountain, WA

Yellow bell – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR

Yellow columbine – July 22nd – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Yellowleaf iris – June 15th – O’Leary Mountain Trail, OR

Yellow sweet clover (non-native) – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Youth-on-age – June 8th – Kilchis Forest Road, OR

Zigzag groundsmoke – August 3rd – The Pinnacles Trail (Crater Lake NP), OR

Unceremoniously the last flower seen was the non-native Queen Anne’s Lace at William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge on October 18th.
Invasive Queen Anne’s Lace lower right corner.

I’m sure we saw more varieties than we are able to identify, but even with our limited knowledge I’m confident we easily topped 300 by years end. The five best wildflower hikes we took in 2024 by date order were:
Madison Butte, OR – 5/26/24 (post)
Cook Hill, WA – 6/1/2024 (post)
PCT to Big Huckleberry Mountain, WA – 6/22/24 (post)
Olallie Trail to Horsepasture Mountain, OR – 7/04/24 (post)
Bonny Lakes, OR – 7/24/24 (post)

We look forward to seeing what kind of variety 2025 will bring. Wildflowers will start popping up in January when the grass widows make their appearance at the eastern end of the Columbia River Gorge with many others to follow. Happy Trail!

Tags hiking, Oregon, Washington, wildflowers

Year-end wrap up

2024 Wildflower Gallery Part 1

Post author By derwoodynck
Post date January 6, 2025
2 Comments on 2024 Wildflower Gallery Part 1

In 2018 we began a tradition of posting a collection of the variety of flowers that we encountered during that year’s hikes. We continue to work on learning to identify the flowers we see and remain a long way from being able to tell some of the different species apart. That doesn’t take away from our ability to enjoy the flowers though, so with that in mind here are some (but not all) of the flowers we saw this past year. We’ve split this into two posts this year due to the number of pictures (Part 2). (Any IDs provided are best guesses and any corrections or additional IDs are greatly appreciated.)

The first blooms we spotted were Indian plum during a February 24th hike at Fernhill Wetlands in Forest Grove (post).

Here are the others with date and location/hike. I’ve tried to identify non-natives as well as indicate if this was our first time (that we know of) seeing a particular flower.
Agoseris – July 26th – Mount Howard, OR

Allumroot – July 26th – Mount Howard, OR

Alpine pennycress – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA

American Sawwort (Saussurea americana) – July 24th – Bonny Lakes Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Arnica – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Drummond’s anemone seedhead – August 4th – Crater Lake National Park, OR

Columbia windflower (Anemone deltoidea) – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA

Apple blossoms – April 13th – St. Cloud Trail, WA

Heartleaf arnica – May 26th – Bull Prairie Lake, OR

Broadleaf arnica – June 22nd – Big Huckleberry Mountain, WA

Arrowleaf buckwheat – July 13th – Nasty Rock, OR

Western mountain aster – July 13th – Nasty Rock, OR

Showy? aster – August 22nd – East Fork Wallowa River Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Thick-stemmed aster and buckwheat – July 21st – Granny View Overlook (Hells Canyon), OR

Another aster (or fleabane) – August 20th – Bowman Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Largeleaf avens – June 8th – Kilchis Forest Road, OR

Bachelor buttons (non-native) – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA

Ballhead sandwort – July 24th – Bonny Lakes Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Ballhead waterleaf – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR

Carey’s balsamroot – May 25th – Willow Creek Canyon, OR

Arrowleaf balsamroot – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR

Baneberry – May 18th – Wilson River Trail, OR

Bastard toadflax – June 29th – Grasshopper Mountain, OR

Woodland beardtongue – July 13th – Nasty Rock, OR

Beargrass – June 8th – Cedar Butte, OR

Bigleaf maple – March 30th – Mulkey Ridge Trail (Corvallis), OR

Bindweed – August 18th – Cliff Creek Trail (Wallowa-Whitman National Forest), OR

Barestem biscuitroot – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR

Trailing blackberry – June 19th – Deception Butte Trail, OR

Bleeding heart – April 27th – Devil’s Rest Trail, OR

Blue-eyed Mary – April 13th – Wind Mountain, WA

Bluebell-of-Scotland – July 13th – Nasty Rock, OR

Bluehead gilia – June 22nd – Big Huckleberry Mountain, WA

Bog Orchid – July 23rd – McCully Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Bolander’s Ragwort – June 22nd – Big Huckleberry Mountain, WA

Daisies (non-native) – June 19th – Buckhead Nature Trail, OR

Sulphur-flower wild buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum) – July 13th – Nasty Rock, OR

Barestem wild buckwheat (Eriogonum nudum) – July 13th – Nasty Rock, OR

Cushion wild buckwheat – July 26th – Mount Howard, OR

Alpine wild buckwheat – August 4th – Crater Lake National Park, OR

Buek’s groundsel – July 26th – Mount Howard, OR

Carolina bugbane – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Bunchberry – July 13th – Joyce Lake Trail, OR

Buttercup – June 8th – Kilchis Forest Road, OR

Bistort – July 4th – Olallie Trail, OR

California-tea – June 19th – Deception Butte Trail, OR

California cornlily – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Camas – April 20th – Jackson Bottom Wetlands, OR

Canadian milk-vetch – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Candy flower – April 13th – Sams-Walker Day Use Area, WA

Cardwell’s penstemon – June 8th – Tillamook State Forest (Road FB3), OR

Catchfly – June 22nd – Big Huckleberry Mountain, WA

Ceanothus – June 15th – O’Leary Mountain Trail, OR

Chocolate lily – April 13th – Doetsch Ranch, WA

Meadow checker-mallow – May 28th – Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, OR

Rose checker-mallow – May 28th – Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, OR

Oregon checker-mallow – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Chickweed – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA

Cinquefoil – June 29th – Hiyu Ridge, OR

Shrubby cinquefoil – July 21st – Hat Point, OR

Farewell to spring (Clarkia amoena) – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA

Cliff beardtongue – June 22nd – Big Huckleberry Mountain, WA

Coyote mountain mint – July 13th – Nasty Rock, OR

Clover – August 22nd – East Fork Wallowa River Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Coastal manroot – May 11th – Crescent Beach Trail, OR

Columbian larkspur – March 16th – Middle Fork Willamette Path (Eugene), OR

Columbine – June 29th – Hiyu Ridge, OR

Common butterwort? – July 22nd – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Common madia – May 28th – Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, OR

Common whipplea – June 19th – Deception Butte Trail, OR

Coneflower – August 17th – Emigrant Springs State Heritage Area, OR

Cusick’s speedwell – July 23rd – McCully Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Cut-leaf thelypody – May 25th – Willow Creek Trail, OR

Cutleaf anemone – July 24th – Bonny Lakes Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Death camas – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR

Desert yellow fleabane – May 25th – Willow Creek Trail, OR

Devil’s club – June 8th – Kilchis Forest Road, OR

Dogwood – April 20th – Rood Bridge Park, OR

Dusty maidens – July 26th – East Peak (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Dwarf alpinegold – August 4th – Crater Lake National Park, OR

Dwarf lupine – August 4th – Crater Lake National Park, OR

Elderberry – June 29th – Grasshopper Mountain, OR

Elephants head – July 25th – Minam River Trail, OR

Elkhorn clarkia – July 21st – Granny View Overlook (Hells Canyon), OR

Engilish plantain (non-native) – May 11th – Fort Stevens State Park, OR

Explorer’s gentian – September 21st – Black Wolf Meadows, OR

Fairy bells – April 27th – Wahkeena Trail, OR

Fairy lanterns – June 8th – Kilchis Forest Road, OR

Fairy slipper – April 13th – Wind Mountain, WA

Fawn lilies – March 30th – Mulkey Ridge Trail (Corvallis), OR

Felt-leaf everlasting – August 4th – Crater Lake National Park, OR

Finetooth beardtongue – June 22nd – Big Huckleberry Mountain, WA

Fireweed – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

False hellebore – July 24th – Bonny Lakes Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

A fleabane? – June 29th – Grasshopper Mountain, OR

Showy? fleabane – July 22nd – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Flett’s ragwort – June 8th – Kilchis Forest Road, OR

Ground-ivy (non-native) – April 13th – Sams-Walker Day Use Area, WA

Foam flower – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA

Fringecup – April 13th – Lower Archer Falls, WA

Fringed pinesap – July 4th – Olallie Trail, OR

Gentian – August 19th – Pine Lakes Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Geranium – July 22nd – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Ghost pipe – August 22nd – East Fork Wallowa River Trail, OR

Giant purple wakerobin (Trillium kurabayashii) – April 20th – Jackson Bottom Wetlands, OR

Giant white wakerobin (Trillium albidum) – April 20th – Jackson Bottom Wetlands, OR

Wild ginger – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA

Glacier lilies- May 26th – Madison Butte, OR

Rocky Mountain goldenrod – July 22nd – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Gold stars – April 27th – Wahkeena Trail, OR

Grass-of-parnassus – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Grass widows – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR

Gray’s licorice-root – August 3rd – Castle Crest Wildflower Trail (Crater Lake NP), OR

Greene’s goldenbush – August 3rd – The Pinnacles Trail (Crater Lake NP), OR

Groundsel – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA

Harebells – July 22nd – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Hedgenettle – June 8th – Kilchis Forest Road, OR

Hoary Cress (non-native) – May 25th – Barnes Butte (Prineville), OR

Honeysuckle – June 29th – Hiyu Ridge Trail, OR

Hooded ladies tresses – August 20th – Chimney Lake Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Idaho licorice-root – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Inside-out-flower – June 8th – Kilchis Forest Road, OR

Royal Jacob’s ladder – July 4th – Olallie Trail, OR

Jacob’s ladder – July 24th – Bonny Lakes Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Jessica’s stickseed – July 4th – Olallie Trail, OR

Lance-leaf spring beauty – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR

Large-flower triteleia – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA

Largeleaf sandwort – June 29th – Grasshopper Mountain Trail, OR

Menzies’ Larkspur (Delphinium menziesii) – July 4th – Olallie Trail, OR

Possibly rockslide larkspur (Delphinium glareosum) – July 13th – Nasty Rock, OR

Sierra larkspur (Delphinium glaucum) – July 24th – Bonny Lakes Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Leafy fleabane – June 19th – Deception Butte Trail, OR

Leafy miterwort – May 18th – Wilson River Trail, OR

Lemon-scented madia – May 25th – Willow Creek Canyon, OR

Lewis flax – June 29th – Grasshopper Mountain, OR

Lewis monkeyflower – August 3rd – Castle Crest Wildflower Trail (Crater Lake NP), OR

False lily of the valley – April 20th – Rood Bridge Park, OR

Littleleaf montia – June 8th – Kilchis Forest Road, OR

Little prince’s pine – June 15th – O’Leary Mountain Trail, OR

Longhorn plectritis – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR

Sickletop louswort – July 4th – Olallie Trail, OR

Coiled lousewort – July 23rd – McCully Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Lupine – May 18th – Wilson River Trail, OR

Lupine – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Lyall’s goldenweed – July 26th – Mount Howard, OR

Microseris – June 22nd – Big Huckleberry Mountain, WA

Basalt? milk-vetch – May 25th – Barnes Butte (Prineville), OR

Mock orange – July 22nd – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Common monkey-flower (Erythranthe guttata) – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA

Chickweed monkey-flower (Erythranthe alsinoides) – June 8th – Cedar Butte Road, OR

Coastal monkey-flower (Erythranthe dentata) – June 8th – Kilchis Forest Road, OR

Monkshood – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Mountain ash – July 22nd – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Mountain death camas – July 22nd – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Mountain heather – July 24th – Bonny Lakes Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR

Musk monkey-flower (Erythranthe moschata) – July 4th – Olallie Trail, OR

Naked broomrape – June 29th – Grasshopper Mountain, OR

Nettle-leaf giant hyssop – July 21st – Granny View Overlook (Hells Canyon), OR

Northern phlox – June 15th – O’Leary Mountain Trail, OR

Northwestern rabbit-tabbaco – September 13th – Pacific Crest Trail (Mt. Jefferson Wilderness), OR

Northwestern twayblade – July 13th – Nasty Rock Trail, OR

Nuttall’s linanthus – July 25th – Minam River Trail, OR

Tags hiking, Oregon, Washington, wildflowers