Month: February 2026

Chehalem Ridge Nature Park – 02/15/2026

Post author By derwoodynck
Post date February 16, 2026
1 Comment on Chehalem Ridge Nature Park – 02/15/2026

February has been quite a bit wetter than our January was, so we hadn’t been out on any hikes in the first two weeks of the month. A brief window of dry weather was forecast for the Portland-Metro area the day after Valentines Day though and we took the opportunity to revisit Chehalem Ridge Nature Park.

Our first visit to the park was in May of 2022 (post). We had hiked the majority of trails in the park during that visit, but our route had missed the 0.3-mile Castor Trail and missed portions of three other trails. Our plan for this outing was to hike what we’d missed on that first visit.

The website lists the park open from Sunrise to Sunset and Google Maps showed it opening at 7am. (Sunrise was at 7:11am today.) We arrived a quarter after seven and were the first car in the large parking area.

We stopped at the signboard map to confirm our route then headed down Timber Road.

Just over two tenths of a mile along Timber Road we came to the junction with the Castor Trail where we turned left.

Map at the junction, thank you Metro Parks.

The Castor Trail angled us back a bit and climbed up to the Woodland Trail where we turned right.

We followed the Woodland Trail for two tenths of a mile then forked right onto a short spur trail that acts as a connector to Timber Road.

It was just 150′ back to Timber Road along this connector trail.

The spur brought us to Timber Road across from the Ammefu Trail. We had taken that trail in 2022 which loops back to Timber Road further to the NW thus missing a short 0.1-mile section of the road.

At the 4-way junction we turned left and hiked the 0.1-mile section of Timber Road. We stayed on the road a total of 0.4-miles where we turned right onto the Witches Butter Trail.

While the forecast had indicated that it would be mostly sunny here at some point it didn’t happen before our hike ended.

We stopped for a bit to try and get a photo or two of some birds that were flitting between trees. At least one of them was a golden-crowned kinglet which is a species that we hadn’t gotten a photo of yet. After a number of attempts we still don’t have a good photo, however I did manage to get an out of focus shot where it could at least be identified.
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The Ammefu Trail rejoining on the right with another connector to the Woodland Trail on the left.

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Squirrel!

Christensen Creek

Witches Butter Trail heading straight into the forest. The trail to the furthest right is the Ayeekwa Trail. We had taken the 0.7-mile Ayeekwa Trail in 2022 which rejoins the Witches Butter Trail just 0.2-miles from this fork.

This time we stuck to the Witches Butter Trail.

Three tenths of a mile along the Witches Butter Trail we came to one of the benches that are placed around the park.

This bench faced a clearing with some smaller trees. I started to make a comment about the view being nice, but wondered where the deer were, then I spotted them.
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After watching each other for a while we continued around the clearing and spotted a third doe.
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Beyond the clearing the trail climbed 0.4-miles to its end at the Chehalem Ridge Trail.

We turned right onto the Chehalem Ridge Trail and followed it for 1.3-miles to the start of the Chehalem Ridge Loop.

Camouflaged stump.

Viewpoint along the Chehalem Ridge Trail.

Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge (post) and Gaston, OR.

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Robin

Post for the Chehalem Ridge Loop.

We paused at the start of the loop to decide if we would hike clockwise or counterclockwise. We decided on counterclockwise and just as we started to move, we spotted another deer.
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We passed the 1.4-mile Madrona Trail part way around the loop. We had hiked that trail in 2022, but today we didn’t want to add the extra 2.8-miles and 400′ of elevation gain needed to climb back up to the loop.

After completing the loop, we followed the Chehalem Ridge Trail back to the Witches Butter Trail junction and continued on it for another tenth of a mile to its end at Timber Road.

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Witches Butter coming up on the left marked by the railings and the Chehalem Ridge Trail continuing to the right.

Timber Road from the Chehalem Ridge Trail. The pointer on the post ahead is for the Mampaɬ Trail which heads off from Timber Road here to the right.

We turned right onto the Mampaɬ Trail and followed it for a mile to Iowa Hill where the trail loops around an open meadow.

A half mile up the Mampaɬ Trail the Zorzal Trail forks off to the right then loops back to the Mampaɬ Trail two tenths of a mile from this junction. Since we had taken the Zorzal Trail in 2022 we’d missed the 0.2-mile section of the Mampaɬ Trail.

The Zorzal Trail rejoining on the right before the trail crossed Timber Road.

The start of the loop on Iowa Hill.

We hiked the loop clockwise this time and stopped at the stone viewpoint for a break.

Sunlight hitting a field in the valley below.

After a nice break we finished the loop and then made our way back to Timber Road.

A little bit of blue sky over Iowa Hill.

We turned right on Timber Road and followed it downhill 0.6-miles to the Woodland Trail.

We turned right onto the Woodland Trail and followed it 1.4-miles back to Timber Road near the trailhead.

Switchback on the initial climb from Timber Road.

Passing the Castor Trail where we’d come up earlier in the morning.

It wasn’t until we could see the trailhead that the sun finally broke through the clouds enough for us to feel its warmth.

Oregon grape blossoms beginning to form.

Today’s hike came in at 8.6-miles and 750′ of elevation gain.
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While we didn’t get the mostly sunny skies that had been forecast, we did stay dry and we got to see the four deer and a number of birds. Depending on weather this might be our only outing in February, and if so, at least it was a good one. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Chehalem Ridge Nature Park

Tags Castor Trail, Chehalem Mountains, Chehalem Ridge Loop, Chehalem Ridge Nature Park, Chehalem Ridge Trail, Chehalem Ridge Trailhead, hiking, Iowa Hill, Mampaꞎ Trail, Oregon, Timber Road, Witches Butter Trail, Woodland Trail

Hiking

2025 Wildflower Gallery Part 2

Post author By derwoodynck
Post date February 5, 2026
No Comments on 2025 Wildflower Gallery Part 2

Welcome to part 2 of our 2025 wildflower gallery. Part 1 covered our winter and spring hikes so this post will be our summer and autumn hikes which means it will include our alpine hikes from 2025.

Oregon geranium – Umpqua National Forest, 06/21/2025.

Foam flower – Umpqua National Forest, 06/21/2025.

Prince’s pine – Umpqua National Forest, 06/21/2025.

Coastal hedgenettle – Umpqua National Forest, 06/21/2025.

Northern phlox – Umpqua National Forest, 06/21/2025.

Sugarsticks – Umpqua National Forest, 06/21/2025.

Pinedrop – Umpqua National Forest, 06/21/2025.

???? – Cow Creek Trail, Umpqua National Forest, 06/22/2025.

Wintergreen – Umpqua National Forest, 06/22/2025.

Pink pyrola – Umpqua National Forest, 06/22/2025.

Madia – Umpqua National Forest, 06/22/2025.

Pinesap – Umpqua National Forest, 06/22/2025.

Rose clover – Umpqua National Forest, 06/22/2025.

Maybe Oregon yampah (Perideridia oregana)? – Umpqua National Forest, 06/22/2025.

Tiger lilies – Umpqua National Forest, 06/22/2025.

Wormleaf stonecrop – Umpqua National Forest, 06/22/2025.

Little prince’s pine – Sourgrass Mountain, 06/28/2025.

Queen’s cup – Sourgrass Mountain, 06/28/2025.

Columbine – Sourgrass Mountain, 06/28/2025.

Monument plant – Sourgrass Mountain, 06/28/2025.

A fleabane? – Sourgrass Mountain, 06/28/2025.

An arnica? – Sourgrass Mountain, 06/28/2025.

Coneflower – Sourgrass Mountain, 06/28/2025.

Arrowleaf groundsel – Sourgrass Mountain, 06/28/2025.

Bog orchids – Sourgrass Mountain, 06/28/2025.

White bog orchid

Gold threads

Rhododendron

Baneberry

One-sided wintergreen – Sourgrass Mountain, 06/28/2025.

Beargrass – Sourgrass Mountain, 06/28/2025.

Royal Jacob’s ladder – Sourgrass Mountain, 06/28/2025.

Woodland beardtongue – Mount Lowe, 07/04/2025.

Sub-alpine mariposa lily – Mount Lowe, 07/04/2025.

Barestem buckwheat – Mount Lowe, 07/04/2025.

False sunflower – Mount Lowe, 07/04/2025.

Washington lily – Mount Lowe, 07/04/2025.

Snowberry – Mount Lowe, 07/04/2025.

Angelica – Mount Lowe, 07/04/2025.

Blue-head gilia – Mount Lowe, 07/04/2025.

Sticky currant – Mount Lowe – 07/04/2025.

Scarlet gilia – Mount Lowe, 07/04/2025.

Scouler’s woollyweed – Mount Lowe, 07/04/2025.

Glaucous penstemon (Penstemon euglaucus) – Mount Lowe, 07/04/2025.

Rainiera – Mount Lowe, 07/04/2025.

Oregon beadstraw – Mount Lowe, 07/04/2025.

Pacific lupine – Mt. Hood Meadows, 07/12/2025.

Cascade aster – Mt. Hood Meadows, 07/12/2025.

Bracted lousewort – Mt. Hood Meadows, 07/12/2025.

Fan-leaf cinquefoil – Mt. Hood Meadows, 07/12/2025.

Mountain heather – Mt. Hood Meadows, 07/12/2025.

Canadian goldenrod – Mt. Hood Meadows, 07/12/2025.

California Jacob’s ladder – Mt. Hood Meadows, 07/12/2025.

Pussypaws – Mt. Hood Meadows, 07/12/2025.

Greene’s goldenbush – Mt. Hood Meadows, 07/12/2025.

Tundra aster – Mt. Hood Meadows, 07/12/2025.

Avalanche lilies – Mt. Hood Meadows, 07/12/2025.

Musk monkeyflower – Mt. Hood Meadows, 07/12/2025.

Lewis’ monkeyflower – Mt. Hood Meadows, 07/12/2025.

Alpine speedwell – Mt. Hood Meadows, 07/12/2025.

Northwestern rabbit-tobacco – Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, 07/14/2025.

Pearly everlasting – Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, 07/14/2025.

Sickle-top lousewort – Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, 07/14/2025.

Gorman’s aster – Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, 07/14/2025.

Marsh marigold – Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, 07/14/2025.

Red elderberry – Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, 07/14/2025.

White mountain heather – Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, 07/14/2025.

Sandwort, possibly Crater Lake (Eremogone pumicola) – Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, 07/14/2025.

At least one saxifrage – Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, 07/14/2025.

Partridgefoot – Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, 07/14/2025.

Fireweed – Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, 07/14/2025.

Spreading dogbane – Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, 07/14/2025.

Western mountain aster – Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, 07/14/2025.

Cobwebby paintbrush – Three Sisters Wilderness, 07/15/2025.

Western pasque flower – Three Sisters Wilderness, 07/15/2025.

Alpine false dandelion – Three Sisters Wilderness, 07/15/2025.

Alpine mountainsorrel – Three Sisters Wilderness, 07/15/2025.

Rocky Mountain goldenrod – Three Sisters Wilderness, 07/15/2025.

Silvery raillardella – Three Sisters Wilderness, 07/15/2025.

Alpine wild buckwheat – Three Sisters Wilderness, 07/15/2025.

Dwarf alpinegold – Three Sisters Wilderness, 07/15/2025.

Orange agoseris – Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, 07/17/2025.

Milk kelloggia – Mt. Washington Wilderness, 07/19/2025.

Scouler’s bluebells – Mt. Washington Wilderness, 07/19/2025.

An aster or fleabane – Mt. Washington Wilderness, 07/19/2025.

Hardhack – Mt. Washington Wilderness, 07/19/2025.

Harebells – Goat Rocks Wilderness, 08/03/2025.

Sub-alpine fleabane – Goat Rocks Wilderness, 08/03/2025.

Aster? – Goat Rocks Wilderness, 08/03/2025.

False hellebore – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/04/2025.

Yellow penstemon – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/04/2025.

Bird’s beak lousewort – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/04/2025.

Coiled lousewort – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/04/2025.

Edible thistle – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/04/2025.

Mountain Indian paintbrush – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/04/2025.

Sitka valerian – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/04/2025.

Western pasque flower gone to seed – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/04/2025.

Rosy spirea – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/04/2025.

Bistort – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/04/2025.

Arctic lupine? – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/04/2025.

Yellow willow-herb – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/04/2025.

Spreading phlox – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/04/2025.

Tilling’s monkeyflower – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/04/2025.

Rusty saxifrage – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/04/2025.

Cusick’s speedwell – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/04/2025.

Parry’s catchfly – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/04/2025.

Littleflower penstemon – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/04/2025.

Davidson’s penstemon – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/04/2025.

Golden fleabane – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/04/2025.

Explorer’s gentians – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/04/2025.

Tolmie’s saxifrage – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/04/2025.

Shrubby cinquefoil – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/05/2025.

Talus collomia – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/05/2025.

Forked wormwood (Artemisia furcata) – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/05/2025.

Silverback luina – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/05/2025.

Dwarf mountain ragwort – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/05/2025.

Narrow-sepal phacelia – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/05/2025.

Lupine (possibly broadleaf – Lupinus latifolius) – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/05/2025.

Elephants head – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/05/2025.

Hooded ladies tresses – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/06/2025.

Goatsbeard – Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/07/2025.

Larkspur, possibly rockslide larkspur (Delphinium glareosum) – Naches Peak Loop, Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/08/2025.

Fringed grass of parnassus (and an arnica) – Naches Peak Loop, Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/08/2025.

Whie rhododendron – Naches Peak Loop, Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/08/2025.

Lyall’s angelica – Naches Peak Loop, Mt. Rainier National Park, 08/08/2025.

Foxglove (non-native) – Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, 08/30/2025.

Alpine gentians – Three Sisters Wilderness, 09/13/2025.

Glaucous beardtongue (Penstemon euglaucus)? – Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, 09/17/2025.

Possibly few-leaf thistle – Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, 09/17/2025.

Scarlet paintbursh? – Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, 09/20/2025.

And the award to the final flower spotted in 2025 goes to:

Bleeding heart – Santiam State Forest, 12/11/2025.

Hiking Year-end wrap up

2025 Wildflower Gallery Part 1

Post author By derwoodynck
Post date February 4, 2026
No Comments on 2025 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. In 2024 we decided to split the gallery into two posts due to the large number of different flowers we were seeing each year. We aren’t botanists and have to rely heavily on online resources, primarily Wildflowersearch.org along with what we’ve learned over our years of hiking. With that in mind here are some (but not all) of the flowers we saw during our Winter and Spring hikes in 2025. Please note that any IDs provided are best guesses and any corrections or additional IDs are greatly appreciated.

The honor of being the first wildflower we photographed in 2025 belongs to this yarrow along Lint Slough on 01/11/2025.

Evergreen violets – Viola sempervirens – Santiam State Forest, 01/20/2025.

Snow Queen – Eagle Fern Park, 03/08/2025.

Death camas – Catherine Creek Recreation Area, 03/29/2025.

Dutchman’s breeches- Catherine Creek Recreation Area, 03/29/2025.

Pungent desert parsley- Catherine Creek Recreation Area, 03/29/2025.

Columbia desert parsley- Catherine Creek Recreation Area, 03/29/2025.

Blue-eyed Mary- Catherine Creek Recreation Area, 03/29/2025.

Glacier lily – Catherine Creek Recreation Area, 03/29/2025.

Toothwort- Catherine Creek Recreation Area, 03/29/2025.

Coastal manroot- Catherine Creek Recreation Area, 03/29/2025.

Yellow bell lily- Catherine Creek Recreation Area, 03/29/2025.

Grass widow- Catherine Creek Recreation Area, 03/29/2025.

Daffodils- Catherine Creek Recreation Area, 03/29/2025.

Gold stars- Catherine Creek Recreation Area, 03/29/2025.

Woolly-pod milkvetch- Catherine Creek Recreation Area, 03/29/2025.

Miniature lupine, redstem storksbill, and a popcorn flower- Catherine Creek Recreation Area, 03/29/2025.

Fiddleneck- Catherine Creek Recreation Area, 03/29/2025.

Poet’s shooting star- Catherine Creek Recreation Area, 03/29/2025.

Naked broomrape- Catherine Creek Recreation Area, 03/29/2025.

Saxifrage- Catherine Creek Recreation Area, 03/29/2025.

Tomcat clover- Catherine Creek Recreation Area, 03/29/2025.

Bigleaf maple- Catherine Creek Recreation Area, 03/29/2025.

Pacific hound’s tongue- Catherine Creek Recreation Area, 03/29/2025.

Sagebrush false dandelion- Catherine Creek Recreation Area, 03/29/2025.

Salmonberry – Oswald West State Park, 04/05/2025.

Skunk cabbage – Oswald West State Park, 04/05/2025.

Pink fawn lilies – Oswald West State Park, 04/05/2025.

Wood sorrel – Oswald West State Park, 04/05/2025.

Trillium – Oswald West State Park, 04/05/2025.

Pioneer? violets – Oswald West State Park, 04/05/2025.

Sweet coltsfoot – Tillamook State Forest, 04/12/2025.

Indian plum – Tillamook State Forest, 04/12/2025.

???? – Thurston Hill Natural Area, 04/19/2025.

White wakerobin – Thurston Hill Natural Area, 04/19/2025.

Largeleaf sandwort – Thurston Hill Natural Area, 04/19/2025.

Red-flowering currant – Thurston Hill Natural Area, 04/19/2025.

Fairy lanterns – Thurston Hill Natural Area, 04/19/2025.

Oregon grape – Thurston Hill Natural Area, 04/19/2025.

Fairy slippers – Thurston Hill Natural Area, 04/19/2025.

Small Solomon’s seal – Thurston Hill Natural Area, 04/19/2025.

Tough leaf iris – Thurston Hill Natural Area, 04/19/2025.

Vetch – Thurston Hill Natural Area, 04/19/2025.

Strawberry – Thurston Hill Natural Area, 04/19/2025.

Henderson’s shooting star – Thurston Hill Natural Area, 04/19/2025.

Baby blue eyes – Thurston Hill Natural Area, 04/19/2025.

Woodland star – Thurston Hill Natural Area, 04/19/2025.

Dogwood – Thurston Hill Natural Area, 04/19/2025.

Fawn lily – Thurston Hill Natural Area, 04/19/2025.

Biscuitroot – Thurston Hill Natural Area, 04/19/2025.

Striped coralroot – Thurston Hill Natural Area, 04/19/2025.

Wild ginger – Thurston Hill Natural Area, 04/19/2025.

Apple? – Thurston Hill Natural Area, 04/19/2025.

Starflower – Thurston Hill Natural Area, 04/19/2025.

Fairy bells – Thurston Hill Natural Area, 04/19/2025.

Western buttercup – Thurston Hill Natural Area, 04/19/2025.

Columbian larkspur – Jasper Recreation Site, 04/19/2025.

Western meadowrue – Jasper Recreation Site, 04/19/2025.

Purple deadnettle – Jasper Recreation Site, 04/19/2025.

????(guessing it is invasive) – Jasper Recreation Site, 04/19/2025.

Elderberry – Elijah Bristow State Park, 04/19/2025.

Thimbleberry – Fanno Creek Trail, 04/26/25.

Camas – E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area, 04/27/2025.

Largeleaf avens – Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, 04/28/2025.

Blackberry – Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, 04/28/2025.

Plectritis – Basket Slough National Wildlife Refuge, 04/29/2025.

Lilac – Basket Slough National Wildlife Refuge, 04/29/2025.

Meadow checker-mallow – Basket Slough National Wildlife Refuge, 04/29/2025.

Grass pea – Basket Slough National Wildlife Refuge, 04/29/2025.

Rose checker-mallow – Basket Slough National Wildlife Refuge, 04/29/2025.

Tolmie’s mariposa lily – Basket Slough National Wildlife Refuge, 04/29/2025.

Golden paintbrush – William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, 04/30/2025.

Serviceberry – William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, 04/30/2025.

Pacific waterleaf – William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, 04/30/2025.

Checker lily – William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, 04/30/2025.

Spotted coralroot – William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, 04/30/2025.

Plumed Solomon’s seal – William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, 04/30/2025.

Inside-out flower – Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, 05/01/2025.

Non-native flower – Jackson Bottom Wetlands, 05/01/2025.

Rose – Jackson Bottom Wetlands, 05/01/2025.

Fringecup – Fernhill Wetlands, 05/02/2025.

Ash – Fernhill Wetlands, 05/02/2025.

Vine maple – Fernhill Wetlands, 05/02/2025.

Azalea – Fernhill Wetlands, 05/02/2025.

Pale flax – Fern Ridge Wildlife Area, 05/03/2025.

Ivy-leaved toadflax (non-native) – Beaver Falls, 05/11/2025.

Scouler’s corydalis – Clatsop State Forest, 05/11/2025.

Seaside bittercress – Clatsop State Forest, 05/11/2025.

Youth-on-age – Clatsop State Forest, 05/11/2025.

Coastal monkeyflower – Clatsop State Forest, 05/11/2025.

Littleleaf miners-lettuce – Clatsop State Forest, 05/11/2025.

Violet (not sure which one) – Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, 05/12/2025.

Vanilla leaf – Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, 05/12/2025.

Violet (not sure which one) – Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, 05/12/2025.

Candyflower – Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, 05/12/2025.

Best guess is some sort of rockcress – Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, 05/12/2025.

Forget-me-nots (non-native) – Lake Crescent, Olympic National Park, 05/13/2025.

Common whipplea – Lake Crescent, Olympic National Park, 05/13/2025

Harsh? Indian paintbrush – Lake Crescent, Olympic National Park, 05/13/2025

Beach pea – Lake Crescent, Olympic National Park, 05/13/2025

Small-flowered alumroot – Lake Crescent, Olympic National Park, 05/13/2025

Common cryptantha? – Lake Crescent, Olympic National Park, 05/13/2025

Madrone – Lake Crescent, Olympic National Park, 05/13/2025

Wallflower – Lake Crescent, Olympic National Park, 05/13/2025

Saxifrage (possibly Saxifraga bronchialis) – Lake Crescent, Olympic National Park, 05/13/2025

Field chickweed – Lake Crescent, Olympic National Park, 05/13/2025

Broadleaf stonecrop – Lake Crescent, Olympic National Park, 05/13/2025

Variable-leaf collomia – Lake Crescent, Olympic National Park, 05/13/2025

Bid deervetch – Rialto Beach, Olympic National Park, 05/14/2025.

Bunchberry – Ozette Triangle, Olympic National Park, 05/15/2025.

Bog laurel – Ozette Triangle, Olympic National Park, 05/15/2025.

Salal – Ozette Triangle, Olympic National Park, 05/15/2025.

Evergreen huckleberry – Ozette Triangle, Olympic National Park, 05/15/2025.

Groudncone – Ozette Triangle, Olympic National Park, 05/15/2025.

Arrowleaf buckwheat – Mt. Hood National Forest, 05/24/2025.

Wooly-head clover – Mt. Hood National Forest, 05/24/2025.

Groundsel – Mt. Hood National Forest, 05/24/2025.

Oregon sunshine – Mt. Hood National Forest, 05/24/2025.

Spurred lupine – Mt. Hood National Forest, 05/24/2025.

Rayless arnica – Mt. Hood National Forest, 05/24/2025.

Salisfy (non-native) – Mt. Hood National Forest, 05/24/2025.

American vetch – Mt. Hood National Forest, 05/24/2025.

Oregon anemones – Mt. Hood National Forest, 05/24/2025.

Sulphur-flower buckwheat – Mt. Hood National Forest, 05/24/2025.

Threadleaf phacelia – Mt. Hood National Forest, 05/24/2025.

Bitterbrush – Mt. Hood National Forest, 05/24/2025.

Manzanita – Mt. Hood National Forest, 05/24/2025.

Finetooth beardtongue (Penstemon subserratus) – Mt. Hood National Forest, 05/24/2025.

Raceme pussytoes – Mt. Hood National Forest, 05/24/2025.

Heartleaf arnica – Mt. Hood National Forest, 05/24/2025.

Prairie smoke – Mt. Hood National Forest, 05/24/2025.

Slender clarkia – Mt. Hood National Forest, 05/24/2025.

Desert yellow fleabane and threadleaf? fleabane – Criterion Tract, 05/25/2025.

Varileaf phacelia – Criterion Tract, 05/25/2025.

Lemon-scented madia – Criterion Tract, 05/25/2025.

Velvet lupine? – Criterion Tract, 05/25/2025.

Carey’s balsamroot – Criterion Tract, 05/25/2025.

Douglas’ wild buckwheat – Criterion Tract, 05/25/2025.

Rough eyelashweed – Criterion Tract, 05/25/2025.

Hawksbeard – Criterion Tract, 05/25/2025.

A lomatium – Criterion Tract, 05/25/2025.

A milkvetch – Criterion Tract, 05/25/2025.

Tapertip onion – Criterion Tract, 05/25/2025.

Allumroot – Criterion Tract, 05/25/2025.

Cusick’s sunflower – Criterion Tract, 05/25/2025.

Mock orange – Criterion Tract, 05/25/2025.

Ocean spray – Criterion Tract, 05/25/2025.

Cut-leaf thelypody – Criterion Tract, 05/25/2025.

Bindweed (Nightblooming or Chapparel) – Criterion Tract, 05/25/2025.

Mahala mat – Mt. Hood National Forest, 05/26/2025.

I think this is a sandwort, possibly mountain (Eremogone capillaris) – Mt. Hood National Forest, 05/26/2025.

Silvercrown – Mt. Hood National Forest, 05/26/2025.

Elkhorn clarkia – Mt. Hood National Forest, 05/26/2025.

Bastard toadflax – Mt. Hood National Forest, 05/26/2025.

Common monkeyflower – Wildwood Falls County Park, 05/31/2025.

Annual honesty (non-native) – Wildwood Falls County Park, 05/31/2025.

Sticky cinquefoil? – Umpqua National Forest, 05/31/2025.

Columbia windflower (Anemonastrum deltoideum) – Umpqua National Forest, 05/31/2025.

Pacific coralroot – Umpqua National Forest, 05/31/2025.

Rhododendron – Umpqua National Forest, 05/31/2025.

Northwestern twayblade – Umpqua National Forest, 05/31/2025.

Yellowleaf Iris – Umpqua National Forest, 05/31/2025.

Trailing blackberry – Roger’s Peak, 06/07/2025.

A thistle – Roger’s Peak, 06/07/2025.

Rosy bird’s-foot trefoil – Roger’s Peak, 06/07/2025.

False lily-of-the-valley – Roger’s Peak, 06/07/2025.

Clover – Roger’s Peak, 06/07/2025.

Stink currant – Roger’s Peak, 06/07/2025.

California figwort – Roger’s Peak, 06/07/2025.

Self-heal – Roger’s Peak, 06/07/2025.

A mustard? – Roger’s Peak, 06/07/2025.

Slender phlox – Roger’s Peak, 06/07/2025.

Cardwell’s penstemon – Roger’s Peak, 06/07/2025.

Thyme-leaved speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia)? – Roger’s Peak, 06/07/2025.

Cascade desert parsley – Roger’s Peak, 06/07/2025.

Broadleaf arnica – Roger’s Peak, 06/07/2025.

Red sandspurry – Roger’s Peak, 06/07/2025.

Rosy pussytoes – Mt. Hood National Forest, 06/14/2025.

Honeysuckle – Mt. Hood National Forest, 06/14/2025.

White-stemmed frasera – Mt. Hood National Forest, 06/14/2025.

Diamond clarkia – Mt. Hood National Forest, 06/14/2025.

Nevada deervetch – Mt. Hood National Forest, 06/14/2025.

Grand collomia – Mt. Hood National Forest, 06/14/2025.

Snowbrush – Mt. Hood National Forest, 06/14/2025.

Tall mountain bluebells – Mt. Hood National Forest, 06/14/2025.

Large-flower triteleia – Mt. Hood National Forest, 06/14/2025.

Creamy stonecrop – Mt. Hood National Forest, 06/14/2025.

Twinflower – Mt. Hood National Forest, 06/14/2025.

Orange jewelweed (non-native) – Champoeg State Park, 06/19/2025.

Bittwersweet nightshade (non-native) – Champoeg State Park, 06/19/2025.

Possibly celery leaf lovage (Ligusticum apiifolium)? – Champoeg State Park, 06/19/2025.

Moth mullein (non-native) – Champoeg State Park, 06/19/2025.

Daisies (non-native) – Champoeg State Park, 06/19/2025.

Lavender (non-native) – Champoeg State Park, 06/19/2025.

Everlasting pea (non-native) – Champoeg State Park, 06/19/2025.

A phacelia, possibly shade phacelia (Phacelia nemoralis) – Champoeg State Park, 06/19/2025.

That takes us through the end of Spring. We saw many of the flowers in this post in the summer and autumn months as well, but we won’t include them again. Along those lines there were flowers that will be in part 2 that we saw earlier in the year but didn’t have decent pictures of those specimens leaving them out of part 1. Happy flower lined trails!

Central Oregon Columbia River Gorge South Hiking Oregon Trip report

Lower Deschutes River – 01/31/2026

Post author By derwoodynck
Post date February 2, 2026
2 Comments on Lower Deschutes River – 01/31/2026

Our unusually warm and alarming dry winter continued through the end of January which has resulted an extremely low snowpack. While that doesn’t bode well for summer it provided plenty of dry hiking opportunities during the month, another of which I took advantage of before flipping the calendar to February. It was another solo outing so picked an area Heather had been to previously, the Lower Deschutes River, and planned a slightly different route than we’d done on our visit in 2018 (post).

I made the two-and-a-half-hour drive from Salem to the Deschutes River State Recreation Area and parked in the overnight parking lot currently shown on Google Maps as the Old RailBed Trail Parking. There is a slightly closer trailhead which we parked at on our previous visit, but that section of the park was not yet open for the season. I had arrived just before sunrise and had expected mostly cloudy conditions. The forecast showed the sky cover gradually decreasing to 60% around 10:30am then starting to increase again. I had not anticipated how low that cloud cover would be. It wasn’t quite fog but it was about as close as you can come.

The overnight parking lot.

Old stagecoach at the parking lot.

My plan was to follow the Deschutes River for close to three hours then turn around and possibly hike the Ferry Springs Loop on my way back as we’d done in 2018. That detour would depend on the clouds though. I wasn’t willing to climb 500′ just to wind up in fog with no views. Plan B would be to return along the river unless I was seeing any ticks in which case I’d stick to the railroad grade as much as possible.

I set off on the Deschutes River Trail which is an old railroad grade.

The first mile from where I’d parked was new trail for me. Due to the low clouds the views were limited but the river was visible at least.

After a mile I came to a signed trail junction with pointers for the Blackberry and Riverview Trails.

These were new signs since my last visit, and they had also renamed the trails. The Blackberry Trail was named the River Trail in 2018 and the Riverview Trail was the Middle Trail. That’s neither here nor there though since I was sticking to the Deschutes River Trail (which was simply the “Bicycle Trail” in 2018). A tenth of a mile from this junction I passed a junction with the Ferry Springs Trail on the left.

The dirt Riverview Trail on the hillside below.

The northern end of the Ferry Springs Trail.

I continued on the Deschutes River Trail for another for another 1.1-miles to the junction with the southern end of the Riverview Trail. This was another new section for me.

A junco peeking out through some branches.

Caterpillars

Is that a break in the clouds?

Western meadowlark

Still a little early for flowers but I did spot these phlox about to bloom.

The Riverview Trail is just beyond the large signboard announcing the Lower Deschutes River Wildlife Area.

Just beyond the Riverview Trail junction I came to the southern Ferry Springs Trail junction.

The next 1.4-miles on the Deschutes River Trail to Gordon Canyon was a repeat of 2018.

This probably qualifies as fog.

American kestral

Some blue in the sky above the canyon.

Starting to descend into Gordon Canyon.

Gordon Creek

In 2018 we’d turned off the Deschutes River Trail here and visited Colorado Camp 0.2-miles downriver before heading back on the River Trail (aka the Blackberry Trail). This time I continued on going heading deeper in the canyon.

Colorado Camp is down the road on the right.

Looking back toward Gordon Canyon and some blue sky.

Shortly after climbing out of the canyon the trail passes the Gordon Cliffs below Gordon Butte.

Coming up on the Gordon Cliffs.

The cliffs have some interesting basalt formations.

Folds

Rock pigeon

Townsend’s solitaire

The “Eye”.

Mile four.

Magpie showing off its tail.

Cormorant

Common goldeneyes and a common merganser.

By mile five there was quite a bit more blue sky.

A sandy beach along the Deschutes River.

Mallards

Looking up toward Gordon Butte.

At mile six a train passed by on the far side of the river, one of several on the day.

It was a quarter to ten when I passed Mile 6 and given that I was likely moving at a little over 2.5mph I decided to make Mile 7 my turn around point. I did not account for there not being a post at Mile 7 so after another 30 minutes of hiking I turned around.

Mallards and common goldeneyes

I was spending a lot of time scanning the hillsides for bighorn sheep.

Seagull with a fish.

More common goldeneyes.

Passing the former site of Free Bridge. An 1887 bridge built by Wasco County allowing for a free crossing of the river. The bridge was upgraded in 1905 and apparently blown up in 1914 by someone opposed to it, possibly someone(s) who operated a competing toll bridge.

The remains of Free Bridge.

Four cormorants standing on rocks and two common mergansers.

My turn around spot. This was about 10.5-miles from where Heather and I had turned around on our Macks Canyon hike along the river in 2018 (post).

I had gone four tenths of a mile beyond the 7-mile mark. I was happy to be heading away from the sun as I headed back which made the views better.

Passing the Free Bridge site again.

I had started to think it wasn’t going to be my day for spotting bighorn sheep but then I spotted something a little off top of a cliff up the hillside.

Can you spot it?

She had spotted me.

We watched each other for quite a while before she decided I was no threat and went back to grazing.

That was the only sheep I saw but given how seldom we are even hiking in bighorn sheep habitat, it was more than enough. After she went back to eating, I continued my hike.

Another access road down to an outhouse and camps.

Great blue heron

When I got back to the Gordon Cliffs, I found the clouds/fog again.

Gordon Canyon

At Gordon Canyon I turned off the Deschutes River Trail and onto the unsigned Blackberry Trail.

As I made my way along the grassy track I occasionally checked to make sure, I wasn’t picking up any ticks which can be an issue here in both winter and spring. I saw a lot of birds but no ticks.

Yellow-rumped warbler

Geese and common goldeneyes.

I took a spur trail back up to the Deschutes River Trail before reaching the southern end of the Ferry Springs Trail to give myself that option if the cloud cover wasn’t too much.

Rock wren

Ferry Springs Trail on the right with the Riverview Trail ahead on the left.

Looking up the Ferry Springs Trail gave me no confidence that I would get any views along that trail, so I went with Plan B and turned onto the Riverview Trail.

Nope

The Riverview starts at a rock arch and heads uphill to the right of it nearly parallel to the Deschutes River Trail.

Looking down at the junction from the Riverview Trail.

After 0.4-miles on the Riverview Trail I came to a junction with a pointer for the Blackberry Trail. I had the choice of sticking to the Riverview Trail or dropping down to the Blackberry Trail. Both would lead me to the Lower Deschutes Trailhead. I decided I’d rather be closer to the river, so I dropped down.

I turned right on the Blackberry Trail and followed it 1.4-miles to Lower Deschutes Trailhead.

Song sparrow

Blackberry bushes along the Blackberry Trail.

The empty Lower Deschutes Trailhead at the end of the dog area.

From the Lower Deschutes Trailhead I walked up the park entrance road 0.4-miles to the Old Railbed Trailhead.

Geese

Oregon Trail information.

My hike came in at 14.8-miles with approximately 400′ of cumulative elevation gain.

Despite the cloudy conditions this was a nice hike. The trails were not busy and there was a good amount of wildlife. The highlight was seeing a bighorn sheep on a hike for the first time since 2019. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Lower Deschutes River

Tags Bighorn sheep, Blackberry Trail, Colorado Camp, Deschutes River, Deschutes River State Recreation Area, Ferry Springs Trail, Free Bridge, Gordon Butte, hiking, Lower Deschutes River, Oregon, Riverview Trail