Since mid-February we’ve had several rounds of snow, lots of rain, and a stretch of cool (cold) temperatures. We are more than ready for Spring to arrive. A well-timed break in the weather pattern gave us an opportunity to get back to hiking with a trip to Benton County’s Fitton Green Natural Area. While the Fitton Green Natural Area is managed by Benton County a network of trails also allows access to land managed by the Crestmont Land Trust, Greenbelt Land Trust, and the City of Corvallis (Bald Hill Natural Area).
We had visited Bald Hill in 2016 (post) so for this visit we chose to start at the Wren Trailhead (Cardwell Hill West TH) and visit the Crestmont Land Trust and Fitton Green trails.
The signboard at the trailhead had a good map which revealed two trails that were not present on the map I’d downloaded from the County’s website, the North and Bridge Trails.
Of the two the North Trail most interested us as it would allow us to avoid repeating a section of the Cardwell Hill Trail. The Bridge Trail would have been an option had we been looking for a shorter loop. After settling on our route we set off on the Cardwell Hill Trail.
From the trail we had a brief view of Marys River.
We followed the gravel roadbed turned trail for half a mile, crossing into the Crestmont Land Trust area, to the well signed junction with the North Trail.
The forecast was for patchy morning fog with a chance of light showers between Noon and 3pm and partly sunny skies. They got the patchy morning fog part right.
The first of three abandoned cars we’d pass on the day. This one was in a field on a hillside before entering the Crestmont Land Trust.
Interpretive signs greeted us as we entered the Crestmont Land Trust.
The North Trail junction.
We turned uphill on the North Trail at the junction where we encountered the first of several “Shovel Stations”.
The shovels can be used to remove cow pies from the trails during periods of cattle grazing in the land trust. Thankfully there was no grazing happening currently so there was no need to carry the shovel to the next station, but we thought it was a neat idea. The North Trail gained approximately 200′ in the first third of a mile where we came to a viewpoint with a fairly new looking gazebo and a unique set of table and chairs that had been carved from stumps.
The gazebo housed a small table with benches. A particularly nice touch was the lack of back on the bench that wasn’t facing the view which allows you to sit facing the view.
The view from the gazebo.
The stump table and chairs.
Not sure what the most recent gathering was but there was an interesting variety of items around the table.
After admiring the gazebo and odd table setting we continued on the North Trail which began a half mile descent back to the Cardwell Hill Trail.
Another bench along the trail.
Turkey tails
The Cardwell Hill Trail in the valley below the North Trail.
Dropping down to the Cardwell Hill Trail.
We turned back onto the Cardwell Hill Trail which quickly entered the Fitton Green Natural Area. We ignored two spurs of the Fitton Green North-South Trail on the right and followed this trail up and over its high point a total of 1.5 miles to the Cardwell Hill East Trailhead.
The first spur didn’t have any signage
The second spur had a marker naming it the Fitton Green North-South Trail.
Trail marker
Dimple Hill in the McDonald Forest (post).
The other two abandoned cars, these were outside of the natural area.
Arriving at the east trailhead.
We turned around at the trailhead and regained the 250+ feet that we’d dropped from the trail’s highpoint. The out and back to east trailhead wasn’t necessary but it was some good hill training for the hiking season to come. We then descended 300′ to the Fitton Green North-South Trail where we veered left.
One of the more impressive trees along this section of the Cardwell Hill Trail
The Fitton Green North-South Trail.
Tragedy nearly struck on this trail when a slow-moving slug barely avoided a foot.
Watch your step.
We followed this trail a total of 1.1 miles where we turned right onto the Allen Throop Loop Trail. Along the way we passed Amy’s Trail at the 0.4-mile mark, a private road at the 0.9-mile mark, and the western end of the Allen Throop Loop at the 1-mile mark.
Amy’s Trail
The clouds were beginning to break up as we climbed up this trail.
The western end of the Throop Loop.
The eastern end of the Allen Throop Loop. Continuing on the Fitton Green North-South Trail would have brought us to the Panorama Drive Trailhead.
We turned onto the Allen Throop Loop Trail which brought us to an oak savannah hillside.
There seems to have been a spelling error (Alan vs Allen) on the trail marker.
Plaque at a viewpoint along the Allen Throop Loop. Note that it is Allen not Alan on the plaque.
Despite the clouds breaking up we didn’t have a view of Marys Peak, the highest peak in the Oregon Coast Range (post).
The trail overlooks the cities of Corvallis (to the left/east) and Philomath (straight/south).
Bald Hill with Corvallis beyond from the Throop Loop.
East toward the Coast Range.
We were too early for any wildflowers, especially this year with the lingering cold weather but we did spot some lupine leaves along the trail before we came to a bench at a junction with the Mulkey Ridge Trail.
This is the trail that connects Bald Hill with Fitton Green.
The trail made a slight climb from the bench arriving back at the Fitton Green North-South Trail less than a quarter mile later.
The junction from the Throop Loop Trail.
We turned left and retraced our steps on the Fitton Green North-South Trail to its junction with Amy’s Trail where we turned left (West) dropping into a denser forest.
Map at the start of Amy’s Trail.
Gate at the Fitton Green-Crestmont Land Trust border.
Creek along Amy’s Trail. With all the wet weather there was a fair amount of water in all the streams/creeks in the area.
After a third of a mile on Amy’s Trail we came to a junction with Creek Road.
We turned left crossing over the little unnamed creek to a T-junction near a picnic table. To the right was the Creek Trail while the Upper Forest Trail went left.
On the hillside above the picnic table is the Creek Trail.
Our plan was to make as wide a loop as possible through this area so we went left following the Upper Forest Trail uphill.
Switchbacks along the Upper Forest Trail.
After a fairly stiff climb the Upper Forest Trail descended more gradually arriving at High Road 0.4-miles from the Picnic Table.
Arriving at High Road.
According to the maps High Road continued to the left a short distance then became the Lookout Extension before dead ending in the forest. Something to check out on another trip. Today we turned right following this roadbed 100 yards before once again turning left, this time onto the Mid Forest Trail at a 4-way junction.
The Mid Forest Trail is hidden behind the tree on the left. To the right is the Creek Trail while High Road continues straight ahead.
Another 0.4-mile descent brought us to a junction in an oak savannah with the Lower Forest Trail and Middle Road.
Lots of green moss along this trail.
A little snow on the ridge in the distance.
Rabbit that Heather spotted.
The junction was at the far end of this open space.
Stayed left at the junction on what was now the Lower Forest Trail which descended another quarter mile to Lower Meadow Road.
This was by far the most confusing junction we’d encountered all day. It was one of only a couple that was unsigned and none of the maps that we’d seen or had brought with us showed the road continuing to the left. Since we’d planned on staying left at all junctions except for at High Road we initially turned left here thinking it was the River Trail, but it just didn’t feel right so we turned to the Garmin which did show the road continuation. It didn’t look anything like the River Trail route so we promptly turned around and returned to the 4-way junction and took a left downhill through the meadow.
Lower Meadow
The River Trail brought us to Marys River then turned north along the river for a 0.2-miles.
Gate along the River Trail just before Marys River.
Marys River
Male common merganser floating Marys River. I only had a brief second to try and get a picture as he floated by thus the poor focus.
A short spur trail led down to the river bank.
We had spent all morning watching for wildflowers knowing that everything was running late this year but holding out hope that we’d spot an early bloomer. One of the first to bloom each year in the forests around the valley is snow queen and finally along the river here we spotted a few of the small purple flowers.
The River Trail veered away from Marys River and back into the meadow before ending at Lower Meadow Road. We turned right on the road which crossed an unnamed creek before meeting the Cardwell Hill Trail.
Not flowers but mushrooms are always fun to spot.
Lower Meadow Road crossing the creek and ending at the Cardwell Hill Trail.
We turned left onto the Cardwell Hill Trail. We had missed this 0.4-mile section which followed Marys River earlier when we’d turned up the North Trail.
The short Trestle Extension led to a view of a railroad trestle over Marys River.
The signboards at the North Trail junction from the Cardwell Hill Trail.
Robin near the North Trail junction.
We retraced our steps from the North Trail junction under the partly sunny skies that had been promised.
No more fog.
Today’s hike came in as 9.3 miles on the Garmin with approximately 1200′ of cumulative elevation gain.
While it hadn’t felt at all like Spring when we’d set off that morning by the end of the hike, and after seeing the snow queen blossoms, we could convince ourselves that it might not be too far off. The forecast had been spot on with the patchy fog giving way to partly sunny skies, and we did have two very light showers pass over while we were looping through the Crestmont Land Trust.
This was a nice hike and an area that we will definitely be back to. There are trails that we didn’t take this time to come back and explore and the possibility of longer or shorter loops make it an attractive option when we were looking for something open year-round and not too far home. Happy Trails!
Coming up to the SW Greenway Ave crossing at the 0.3-mile mark.
Mossy bench
Small trailhead at SW Fairmount Blvd at the 0.5 mile mark.
At the 1-mile mark the trail crosses NW Sherwood Dr.
Maybe the steepest section of the hike was the tenth of a mile between NW Sherwood and the Sunnyside Trail.
The Sunnyside Trail junction.
Every (official) trail junction was well marked by pointers which helped us stay on course.
The Shadyside Trail on the far hillside.
One of two hairy woodpeckers that were busy foraging for breakfast.
Coming up on the Marquam Shelter.
We saw little fungi, but these turkey tails added some color to the forest.
The Marquam Shelter.
A tenth of a mile from the shelter we passed the Connor Trail on the left. This trail would have taken us to OHSU and the 
The Marquam Trail to the left and right with the Basalt Trail in the center from the first switchback.
Trail marker near SW Gibbs.
The Flicker Trail from the Marquam Trail.
Note it is still not “mostly sunny” even though it was now almost 10am.
While not a warbler this spotted towhee graced us with a song.
Checking out a budding leaf.
The end of the Warbler Trail.
Pointer for the Marquam Shelter at the trailhead.
Bench along the switchbacks down to the Marquam Trail.
The Towhee Trail junction with Marquam Trail was nearly all the way back down to the Basalt Trail (the lower trail in the photo).
Not sure what the story is behind this post but it was the only one we spotted with this type of number.
We passed the Shdayside Trail after half a mile.
There was a short section with some railing before dropping down to the Sunnyside Trail.
Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainier, and Mt. Adams are out there beyond the clouds.
Freemont Bridge spanning the Willamette River with the Columbia River in the distance.
Hummingbird
Hermit thrush looking for snacks at Council Crest Park.
Unnamed waterfall along Riley Creek in the Mt. Adams Wilderness
Unnamed waterfall below East Boulder Lake in the Trinity Alps Wilderness.
Cascade on Wahkeena Creek.
Small cascade along the North Fork Silver Creek.
Mosier Creek Falls (
Black Hole Falls (
Susan Creek Falls
Toketee Falls
Surprise Falls
Columnar Falls
Watson Falls
Warm Springs Falls
Lemolo Falls
Alsea Falls
Green Peak Falls
Yasko Falls
Hemlock Falls
Tributary Falls
Middle Hemlock Falls
Clover Falls
Grotto Falls
Fall Creek Falls
Upper tier of Wolf Creek Falls
Lower tier of Wolf Creek Falls
South Umpqua Falls (
Union Creek Falls (
Chitwood Creek Falls
Multnomah Falls
Lower Dutchman Falls
Upper Dutchman Falls
Wiesendanger Falls
Ecola Falls
Fairy Falls
Wahkeena Falls
Upper North Falls
North Falls
Twin Falls
Winter Falls
Middle North Falls
Drake Falls
Double Falls
Lower North Falls
Lower South Falls
South Falls
Sorenson Falls
Metlako Falls
Lower Punchbowl Falls
Punchbowl Falls
Loowit Falls
Skoonichuck Falls
Four Mile Falls
Tenas Falls
Wy’East Falls
Grand Union Falls
Tunnel Falls
Twister Falls
Seven Mile Falls
Ants dropping sawdust from a log along the Catherine Creek Trail. We sat and watched these busy ants for quite a while. They had created a good-sized pile on the ground below.
We see a lot of beetles but usually not all at once like these lady bugs on Observation Peak.
Lady bug – Upper Table Rock
Yellow & black beetle – Mule Mountain
Redish brown beetle – Siskiyou Wilderness
Green beetle – Siskiyou Wilderness
Hitchhiker – Mt. Ireland
Blueish green beetle – Catherine Creek Meadows
Small beetle – Catherine Creek Meadows
Green beetle on a geranium – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Green beetle on a wallflower – Silver Star Mountain
Stripped beetle – Spring Valley Greenway
Water skippers – Big Twin Lake
Spider on thimbleberry – Siskiyou Wilderness
Crab spider – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Another crab spider – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Cricket – Pacific Crest Trail
We are often literally struck by grasshoppers as we hike. Sometimes they stick when they hit us such as this one along the PCT.
Bee on phacelia – Mule Mountain
Wet bee on lupine – Julia Butler Hanson Wildlife Refuge
Bumble bee – Hemlock Creek Trail
Lots of pollen – Mt. Adams Wilderness
Bee landing on a marsh marigold along the PCT
Bee approaching penstemon – Siskiyou Wilderness
Bee and a tiny ant in a bindweed – Siskiyou Wilderness
Insects on thistle – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Wasp? – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Some sort of wasp – Silver Star Mountain
Insect along Bear Creek – Eagle Cap Wilderness
My brother and I used to call these “weird things”; I have no idea what it actually is – Trinity Alps Wilderness
Damsel fly – Denman Wildlife Area
Damsel fly – Hemlock Lake
Dragon fly – Goat Marsh Lake
Dragon fly – Siskiyou Wilderness
Dragon fly – Siskiyou Wilderness
Dragon fly – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Dragon fly along the Wallowa River – Wallowa Homeland
Dragon fly – E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area
Dragon fly – Hemlock Lake
Dragon fly – Sky Lakes Wilderness
Snail – Rock Creek Trail
Snail – Applegate Lake
Snail – North Siouxon Trail
Snail – Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge
Snail – Siskiyou Wilderness
Snail – Cascade Head
Slug – Larch Mountain Trail
Slug (and a fly) – Susan Creek Trail
Slug – Fish Lake
Slug on lupine – Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge
Slug and an unfortunate earth worm – Rock Creek Trail
Worms – Chehalem Ridge Nature Park
Millipede – North Siouxon Trail
Millipede – Rock Creek Trail
Millipede – Illahee Rock
Millipede – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Wet caterpillar – Yakona Nature Preserve
Dry version – Larch Mountain Trail
Caterpillar – Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge
Caterpillar – Siskiyou Wilderness
Caterpillar – Siskiyou Wilderness
Caterpillar – Larch Mountain Trail
Caterpillar – Larch Mountain Trail
Caterpillar – Larch Mountain Trail
Moth – Klickitat Trail
Moth -Eagle Cap Wilderness
Moth – Twin Lakes
Moth – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Moth – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Moth – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Moth – Wolf Creek Falls Trail
Moth – Cascade Head
Propertius duskywing (Erynnis propertius) – Klickitat Trail
Duskywing – Siskiyou Wilderness
Northern Cloudywing? – Siskiyou Wilderness
Silver-spotted skipper – Siskiyou Wilderness
Skipper – Grizzly Peak
Skipper – Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness
Skipper – E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area
Hairstreak (bramble?) – Siskiyou Mountains
Cedar hairstreak – Siskiyou Wilderness
Hairstreak (possibly thicket) – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Ochre ringlet – Jack Ash Trail
Butterfly – Siskiyou Wilderness
Butterfly – Trinity Alps Wilderness
Butterfly – Trinity Alps Wilderness
Butterfly – Upper Table Rock
Butterfly – Mule Mountain
Butterfly – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Butterfly – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Butterfly – Mt. Adams Wilderness
Butterfly – Mt. Adams Wilderness
Butterfly – Mt. Ireland
Butterfly – Trinity Alps Wilderness
Butterfly – Silver Star Mountain
Butterfly – Russian Wilderness
Butterfly – Trinity Alps Wilderness
Sara’s orangetip – Klickitat Trail
Common woodnymph – E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area
Another woodnymph – Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness
Orange sulphur – Siskiyou Wilderness
Mountain parnassian – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Clodius parnassian – Hemlock Lake
Western white? – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Western white – Trinty Alps Wilderness
Pine white – Russian Wilderness
Butterfly – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Butterfly – Russian Wilderness
Butterfly – Mt. Adams Wilderness
Butterfly – Mule Mountain
Butterfly – Silver Star Mountain
Butterfly – Silver Star Mountain
Butterfly – Silver Star Mountain
Western meadow fritillary? – Silver Star Mountain
A fritillary – Silver Star Mountain
A fritillary – Trinity Alps Wilderness
A fritillary -Russian Wilderness
A fritillary – Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness
Mourning cloak – Klickitat Trail
California tortoiseshell – Siskiyou Wilderness
Milbert’s tortoiseshell – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Lorquin’s admiral – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Common buckeye – Mt. Shasta Wilderness
Hoary comma – Sky Lakes Wilderness
Green comma? – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Klickitat Trail
Julia Butler Hanson Wildlife Refuge
Eagle Cap Wilderness
Tadpoles – Russian Wilderness
Tadpole transforming – Mt. Adams Wilderness
Frog – Russian Wilderness
Frog – Goat Marsh Lake
Tree frog – Siskiyou Wilderness
Frog – Trinity Alps Wilderness
Toad – Trinity Alps Wilderness
Toad – Mt. Jefferson Wilderness
Fish – Siphon Lake
Rough skinned newt – Yakona Nature Preserve
Western painted turtle – Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge
Baby snake – Miller Woods
Garter snake – Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge
Lizard – Mule Mountain
Lizard – Upper Table Rock
Lizard – Russian Wilderness
Lizard – Siskiyou Wilderness
Lizard – Klickitat Trail
Lizard – Upper Table Rock
Alligator lizard – Mule Mountain
Chipmunk – Observation Peak
Ground squirrel – Russian Wilderness
Ground squirrel – Klickitat Trail
Ground squirrel – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Ground squirrel – Upper Table Rock
Squirrel – Rock Creek Trail
Squirrel – Twin Lakes
Squirrel – Larch Mountain Trail
Marmot – Wallowa Homeland
Jack rabbit – Denman Wildlife Area
Rabbit – E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area
Pika – Silver Star Mountain
Muskrat – Julia Butler Hansen – Wildlife Refuge
Otter – Killin Wetlands
Sea lion – Hart’s Cove
Deer – Memaloose Hills
Doe – Miller Woods
Mamma – Roxy Ann Peak
Fawn – Roxy Ann Peak
Columbian white-tailed buck – Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge
Doe & fawn – Donomore Meadows
Three bucks – Siskiyou Wilderness
Buck – Siskiyou Wilderness
Buck – Trinity Alps Wilderness
Doe & fawn – Russian Wilderness
Buck and does – Russian Wilderness
Two bucks – Crater Lake National Park
Elk – Yakona Nature Preserve
Bull elk – Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge
Mountain goat below the Mt. Ireland Lookout – Mt. Ireland
Domestic goat – Near the Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge
Black bear – Siskiyou Wilderness
The same black bear making eye contact the day before.
Hummingbird at Memaloose Hills in May.
Hummingbird at Upper Table Rock in May.
Black capped chickadee at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.
Yellow-rumped warbler (Audubon’s) at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.
Wren (marsh?) at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.
White-crowned sparrow at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.
Sparrow? at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.
Common yellow throat at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.
Yellow-rumped warbler (Myrtle) at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.
Tree swallows at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.
White-crowned sparrow and a wren at Miller Woods in May.
American goldfinch pair at Miller Woods in May.
Another sparrow at Miller Woods in May.
Hermit warbler? near Kings Mountain in May.
House finch? at Upper Table Rock in May.
Rock wren? at Upper Table Rock in May.
Ash-throated flycatcher at Denman Wildlife Area in May.
Unknown at Denman Wildlife Area in May.
Swallow at Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge in June.
Some sort of warbler? at Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge in June.
Purple martins at Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge in June.
Another wren at Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge in June.
Unknown at Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge in June.
Sparrow? at Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge in June.
Warbler? at Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge in June.
Black phoebe? at Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge in June.
Mountain bluebird near Union Peak in September.
Red-breasted nuthatch (best I could get) at Crater Lake in September.
Red crossbilss at Crater Lake in September.
Wren on the Eagle Creek Trail in November.
Dark eyed junco at Waverly Lake in December.
Canada jay (grey jay) along the Crown Zellerbach Trail in March.
California scrub jay along the Balfour-Klickitat Trail in April.
Stellar’s jay along the Hood River Pipeline Trail in May.
Female red-winged blackbird at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.
Red-winged blackbird at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.
Spotted towhee at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.
Starlings along the Hood River Pipeline Trail in May.
Brownheaded cowbird at Upper Table Rock in May.
American robin at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.
Tropical kingbird? at Denman Wildlife Area in May.
Black-headed grosbeak (also all I could get) at Applegate Lake in May.
Lazuli bunting at Roxy Ann Peak in May.
Cedar waxwing at Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge in June.
Western tanagers, Siskiyou Wilderness in July.
American dipper (Ouzel) near South Umpqua Falls in September.
Townsends solitaire at Crater Lake National Park in September.
Clark’s nutcracker at Crater Lake National Park in September.
Varied thrush along the Eagle Creek Trail in November.
Unknown at Cascade Head in October.
Forest Park in January.
Northern flicker at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April. We seem to see flickers on nearly every hike, but they don’t often sit still long enough for us to get a decent picture.
Pileated woodpecker at Chehalem Ridge Nature Park in May. We rarely see these but like the flickers, when we do they are very difficult to get a photo of.
Acorn woodpecker at Denman Wildlife Area in May.
Hairy? woodpecker near Twin Lakes in the Umpqua National Forst in June.
Red breasted sapsucker at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area in July.
Either a hairy or downy woodpecker along the Eagle Creek Trail in November.
Unknown, Sky Lakes Wilderness in late September.
Crow along the Crown Zellerbach Trail in March.
Raven at Upper Table Rock in May.
Turkey Vulture at Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge in June.
American kestral along the Crown Zellerbach Trail in March.
Osprey along the Hood River Pipeline Trail in May.
Another osprey at Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge in June.
Bald eagle at Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge in June.
Eagle in the Sky Lakes Wilderness in September. Not sure if it is a bald or golden.
A bald eagle and hawk at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.
Pair of hawks at Denman Wildlife Area in May.
Hawk at Denman Wildlife Area in May.
Hawk at Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge in June.
Hawk along the Pacific Crest Trail near Carter Meadows Summit in August.
Hawk at Crater Lake National Park in September.
Barred owl at Noble Woods in May.
Great horned owl at Denman Wildlife Area in May.
Young great horned owl at Roxy Ann Peak in May.
Ring-necked pheasant
Silver pheasant
Near the breeding facility at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area.
Mourning dove at Roxy Ann Peak a in May.
Grouse? in the Siskiyou Wilderness in July.
Grouse in the Mt. Adams Wilderness in August.
Grouse in the Sky Lakes Wilderness in September.
Long billed dowitchers? at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.
Killdeer at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.
Sandpiper? at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.
Great blue heron at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.
Kingfisher at Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge in June.
American bittern at Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge in June.
White pelicans at Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge in June.
Hooded mergansers at Yakona Nature Preserve in February.
Common mergansers along the Klickitat Trail in April.
American coot at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.
Cinnamon teal at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.
Ring-necked ducks (and an American coot) at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.
Northern shoveler at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.
White-fronted geese at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.
Mallard along the Hood River Pipeline Trail in May.
Wood duck at Denman Wildlife Area in May.
Not sure if this is a ruddy duck at Waverly Lake in December.
Mostly American widgeons with a green winged teal and a female bufflehead or two mixed in at Talking Water Gardens in December.
Bufflehead at Talking Water Gardens in December.
Canada geese at Applegate Lake in May.
Domestic geese near the Klickitat Trail in April.
Domestic or hybrid? ducks at Waverly Lake in December.
May 14th – Chehalem Ridge Nature Park
June 15th – Donomore Meadows
June 16th – Pacific Crest Trail near Siskiyou Gap
Marsh violet, June 25th – Goat Marsh Lake
July 1st – Siskiyou Wilderness
Wedgeleaf? violet – July 1st – Youngs Valley, Siskiyou Wilderness
Goosefoot? violet, July 9th – Mt. Ireland
July 9th – Mt. Ireland
August 13th – Mt. Adams Wilderness.
Here is a more photogenic bleeding heart from May 21st on the Kings Mountain Trail.
Snow plant, June 18th – Red Buttes Wilderness
California lady slippers, July 2nd – Siskiyou Wilderness
Bolander’s lily, July 2nd – Siskiyou Wilderness
Scarlet fritillary, May 27th – Jack-Ash Trail
Henderson’s fawn lily, May 27th – Jack-Ash Trail
Pungent desert parsley, April 2nd -Balfour Trail
Columbia desert parsley, April 2nd – Klickitat Trail
Woodland stars, April 2nd – Balfour Trail
Pacific hound’s tongue, April 2nd – Balfour Trail
Lupine, April 2nd – Klickitat Trail
Big leaf maple, April 2nd – Klickitat Trail
Slender phlox, April 2nd – Klickitat Trail
Fringecup, April 23rd – Ankeny Wildlife Refuge
Buttercups, April 23rd – Ankeny Wildlife Refuge
Checkermallow, April 23rd – Ankeny Wildlife Refuge
Another checkermallow, April 23rd – Ankeny Wildlife Refuge
Iris, April 23rd – Ankeny Wildlife Refuge
A paintbrush, May 1st – Memaloose Hills
Balsamroot, May 1st – Memaloose Hills
Large-flower triteleia, May 1st – Memaloose Hills
Naked broomrape, May 1st – Memaloose Hills
Vetch, May 1st – Moiser Plateau
Large-head clover, May 1st – Moiser Plateau
Fiddleneck, May 1st – Moiser Plateau
Bachelor button (non-native), May 1st – Moiser Plateau
Service berry, May 7th – Orenco Woods
Aven, May 7th – Noble Woods
Camas, May 7th – Miller Woods
Wild ginger, May 7th – Miller Woods
Striped coralroot, May 7th – Miller Woods
Fairy slippers, May 7th – Miller Woods
Plectritis, May 14th – Chehalem Ridge Nature Park
Fairy bells, May 21st – Elk/Kings Mountain Traverse
Snow queen, May 21st – Elk/Kings Mountain Traverse
Red flowering currant, May 21st – Elk/Kings Mountain Traverse
Trillium, May 21st – Elk/Kings Mountain Traverse
A monkeyflower, May 21st – Elk/Kings Mountain Traverse
Chocolate lily, May 21st – Elk/Kings Mountain Traverse
Kittentails, May 21st – Elk/Kings Mountain Traverse
Glacier lily, May 21st – Elk/Kings Mountain Traverse
Henderson’s stars, May 25th – Mule Mountain
Larkspur, May 25th – Mule Mountain
Not sure if this is a cryptantha or a popcorn flower, May 25th – Mule Mountain
Douglas’ stichwort, May 25th – Mule Mountain
A blue-eyed Mary, May 25th – Mule Mountain
California poppy, May 25th – Mule Mountain
A clarkia, May 25 – Mule Mountain
Hooker’s Indian pink, May 25th – Mule Mountain
Star flower, May 25th – Mule Mountain
California ground cone, May 25th – Mule Mountain
Ookow, May 26th – Upper Table Rock
Blow wives, May 26th – Upper Table Rock
Best guess is Parry’s hawkweed, May 26th – Upper Table Rock
Clustered broomrape, May 26th – Upper Table Rock
Narrowleaf onion, May 26th – Upper Table Rock
California goldfield, May 26th – Upper Table Rock
Possibly Fitch’s tarweed, May 26th – Upper Table Rock
Marigold pincushion plant, May 26th – Upper Table Rock
Arrowleaf buckwheat, May 26th – Upper Table Rock
A clarkia, May 26th – Upper Table Rock
Iris, May 27th – Jack-Ash Trail
Milkvetch, May 27th – Jack-Ash Trail
Unknown on Anderson Butte, May 27th – Jack-Ash Trail
Giant white wakerobbin, May 27th – Jack-Ash Trail
A larkspur, May 27th – Jack-Ash Trail
Rough eyelashweed, May 27th – Jack-Ash Trail
Wallflower, May 27th – Jack-Ash Trail
A wild onion, May 27th – Jack-Ash Trail
Jacob’s ladder, May 27th – Jack-Ash Trail
Death camas, May 28th – Denman Wildlife Area
Common madia, May 28th – Denman Wildlife Area
Common viburnum, May 28th – Denman Wildlife Area
Hairy Indian paintbrush, May 28th – Denman Wildlife Area
White campion, May 28th – Denman Wildlife Area
Pale flax, May 28th – Denman Wildlife Area
Purple oyster (non-native), May 28th – Denman Wildlife Area
Rose, May 28th – Denman Wildlife Area
Pea, May 28th – Denman Wildlife Area
Kellog’s monkeyflower, May 29th – Applegate Lake
Heart-leaf milkweed, May 29th – Applegate Lake
Northern phlox, May 29th – Applegate Lake
White lupine, May 29th – Applegate Lake
Carrotleaf horkelia, May 30th – Roxy Ann Peak
Blue-eyed grass, May 30th – Roxy Ann Peak
Baneberry, June 4th – North Siouxon Trail
Star-flower solomonseal, June 4th – North Siouxon Trail
False lily-of-the valley, June 4th – North Siouxon Trail
Candyflower, June 4th – North Siouxon Trail
Scouler’s corydalis, June 4th – North Siouxon Trail
Yellow glandweed (non-native), June 11th – Julia Butler Hanson Wildlife Refuge
Daisy (non-native), June 11th – Julia Butler Hanson Wildlife Refuge
Unknown shrub (non-native), June 11th – Julia Butler Hanson Wildlife Refuge
A vetch or pea, June 13th – Susan Creek Falls Trail
Columbine, June 13th – Susan Creek Falls Trail
Solomonseal, June 13th – North Umpqua Trail
Valerian, June 13th – Lemolo Falls Trail
Gooseberry, June 14th – Illahee Rock
Blue-eyed Mary, June 14th – Illahee Rock
Fawn lilies, June 14th – Illahee Rock
Pussytoes, June 15th – Pacific Crest Trail near the Stateline Trailhead
Bistort, June 15th – Donomore Meadows
Cutleaf daisy, June 15th – Observation Peak
Lance-leaf spring beauty, June 15th – Observation Peak
A rockcress, June 15th – Observation Peak
Alpine pennycress, June 15th – Observation Peak
Quill-leaf lewisia, June 15th – Observation Peak
Marsh marigold, June 15th – Pacific Crest Trail
Anemone, June 16th – Pacific Crest Trail near Siskiyou Gap
Jacob’s ladder, June 16th – Pacific Crest Trail
Buds of an unknown flower, June 16th – Pacific Crest Trail near Big Red Mountain
A paintbrush, June 16th – Pacific Crest Trail near Big Red Mountain
Drummond’s anemone, June 16th – Pacific Crest Trail near Big Red Mountain
Ballhead waterleaf, June 16th – Pacific Crest Trail near Big Red Mountain
A mariposa lily, June 16th – Pacific Crest Trail near Siskiyou Gap
Diamond? clarkia, June 17th – Bandersnatch Trail
A honeysuckle, June 17th – Bandersnatch Trail
A catchfly, June 17th – Bandersnatch Trail
Blue-head gilia, June 17th – Red Queen Trail
Deerbrush, June 17th – Mike Uthoff Trail
Grand collomia, June 17th – Mike Uthoff Trail
A phaceli, June 17th – Mike Uthoff Trail
Rhododendron, June 18th – Frog Pond Trail
Pretty Face, June 18th – Frog Pond Trail
Believe this is some sort of saxifrage, June 25th – Toutle Trail
Avalanche lily, June 25th – Toutle Trail
A penstemon, July 1st – Siskiyou Wilderness
A phlox, July 1st – Siskiyou Wilderness
Lewis flax, July 1st – Siskiyou Wilderness
A paintbrush, July 1st – Siskiyou Wilderness
Nuttall’s sandwort?, July 1st -Siskiyou Wilderness
Queen’s cup, July 1st – Siskiyou Wilderness
Beargrass, July 1st – Siskiyou Wilderness
Shooting star, July 1st – Siskiyou Wilderness
Wolley-head clover, July 1st – Siskiyou ikyWilderness
A nightshade, July 1st – Siskiyou Wilderness
Siskiyou lewisia, July 1st – Siskiyou Wilderness
Spotted coralroot, July 1st – Siskiyou Wilderness
This tiny flower was at the edge of the meadow in Young’s Valley, July 1st – Siskiyou Wilderness
Azalea, July 2nd – Siskiyou Wilderness
Honeysuckle, July 2nd – Siskiyou Wilderness
Pacific ninebark, July 2nd – Siskiyou Wilderness
Streambank bird’s-foot trefoil, July 2nd – Siskiyou Wilderness
White-vein wintergreen, July 2nd – Siskiyou Wilderness
California pitcher-plant, July 2nd – Siskiyou Wilderness
Also California pitcher-plant, July 2nd – Siskiyou Wilderness
White-stemmed frasera, July 2nd – Siskiyou Wilderness
Washington lily, July 2nd – Siskiyou Wilderness
Phantom orchid, July 2nd – Siskiyou Wilderness
Oregon sunshine, July 2nd – Siskiyou Wilderness
Musk monkeyflower, July 3rd – Siskiyou Wilderness
Klamath arnica, July 3rd – Siskiyou Wilderness
White rushlily, July 3rd – Siskiyou Wilderness
Spirea, July 4th – Siskiyou Wilderness
Wild onion, July 4th – Siskiyou Wilderness
A penstemon, July 4th – Siskiyou Wilderness
Phlox, July 9th – Mt. Ireland
Brown’s peony, July 9th – Mt. Ireland
Yet another paintbrush, July 9th – Mt. Ireland
Silverleaf phacelia with visitor, July 9th – Mt. Ireland
Venus penstemon, July 10th – Catherine Creek Trail
Douglas dustymaidens, July 10th – Catherine Creek Trail
Bog orchid, July 10th – Catherine Creek Trail
Mountain lady slippers, July 10th – Catherine Creek Trail
Rosy pussytoes, July 10th – Catherine Creek Trail
Yellow columbine, July 10th – Catherine Creek Trail
Heart-leaved bittercress?, July 10th – Catherine Creek Trail
Elephants head, July 10th – Catherine Creek Trail
Cone flower, July 10th – Catherine Creek Trail
Tall mountain bluebells, July 10th – Catherine Creek Trail
Another wild onion, July 11th – Horse Ranch Trail
Scarlet gilia, July 11th – Horse Ranch Trail
Arrowleaf groundsel, July 11th – Horse Ranch Trail
Purple sticky geranium, July 11th – Horse Ranch Trail
Ragged robin, July 11th – Horse Ranch Trail
False? sunflower, July 11th – Horse Ranch Trail
White mariposa lily, July 11th – Horse Ranch Trail
Rosy paintbrush, July 12th – Buck Creek Trail
Lyall’s rockcress, July 12th – Buck Creek Trail
Pacific coralroot, July 13th – Rock Springs
Hyssop, July 13th – Rock Springs
Another penstemon, July 13th – Rock Springs
Thistle, July 13th – Rock Springs
Oregon checker-mallow, July 13th – Rock Springs
This was a new one for us one-flowered moneses, July 14th – Bear Creek Trail
Pinedrop, July 14th – Bear Creek Trail
Sagebrush mariposa lily, July 14th – Wallowa Homeland
Blanket flower, July 14th – Wallowa Homeland
Yarrow, July 14th – Wallowa Homeland
Scouler’s bluebells, July 23rd – Silverstar Mountain
Inside-out flower, July 23rd – Silverstar Mountain
Tiger lily, July 23rd – Silverstar Mountain
Bluebells of Scotland, July 23rd – Silverstar Mountain
Subalpine mariposa lily, July 23rd – Silverstar Mountain
Western sweetvetch, July 23rd – Silverstar Mountain
Coiled lousewort, July 23rd – Silverstar Mountain
Best guess is subapline fleabane, July 23rd – Silverstar Mountain
Orange agoseris, July 23rd – Silverstar Mountain
A larkspur, July 23rd – Silverstar Mountain
Mock orange, July 23rd – Silverstar Mountain
Chicory (non-native), July 30th – E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area
Indian pipe, August 6th – Yasko Falls Trail
Leopard lily, August 6th – Hemlock Creek Trail
Mountain owl’s clover, August 6th – Yellowjacket Loop Trail
Rainiera, August 6th – Yellowjacket Loop Trail
Hedgenettle, August 6th – Yellowjacket Loop Trail
Large boykina, August 6th – Yellowjacket Loop Trail
Candy sticks, August 6th – Yellowjacket Loop Trail
Monkshood, August 6th – Yellowjacket Loop Trail
Scarlet monkeyflower, August 7th – Fall Creek Falls Trail
White mountain heather, August 13th – Mt. Adams Wilderness
Mountain heather, August 13th – Mt. Adams Wilderness
Gentian, August 13th – Mt. Adams Wilderness
False hellebore, August 13th – Mt. Adams Wilderness
A saxifrage, August 13th – Mt. Adams Wilderness
Beardstongue, August 20th – Grizzley Peak
Shasta knotweed, August 22nd – Mt. Shasta Wilderness
Marsh grass-of-Parnassus, August 22nd – Mt. Shasta Wilderness
Western pasque flower, August 22nd – Mt. Shasta Wilderness
Bigelow’s sneezeweed, August 23rd – Trinity Alps Wilderness
Western snakeroot, August 23rd – Trinity Alps Wilderness
A buckwheat, August 23rd – Trinity Alps Wilderness
Autumn dwarf gentian, August 23rd – Trinity Alps Wilderness
Saffron-flowered lupine, August 23rd – Trinity Alps Wilderness
An aster or fleabane, August 23rd – Trinity Alps Wilderness
Hooded ladies tresses, August 24th – Russian Wilderness
Can’t seem to identify this flower on the shore of Russian Lake, August 24th – Russian Wilderness
This one has me a bit stumped too, it looks like a wirelettuce or some sort of lewisa, August 24th – Russian Wilderness
Buckwheat, August 24th – Russian Wilderness
A monkeyflower (dwarf purple?), August 26th -Pacific Crest Trail near Carter Meadows Summit
Mountain coyote mint, August 26th – Pacific Crest Trail near Carter Meadows Summit
Sierra larkspur, August 26th – Pacific Crest Trail
Tasselflower brickellbush, August 26th – South Fork Lakes Trail
Monkeyflower, August 26th – South Fork Lakes Trail
Thistle, August 26th – South Fork Lakes Trail
California hairbells, August 26th – South Fork Lakes Trail
Common toadflax (non-native), September 10th – Spring Valley Greenway
Fireweed, September 17th – Union Peak Trail
Douglas spirea, September 18th – Sky Lakes Wilderness
Best guess is Crater Lake collomia, September 19th – Dutton Creek Trail
Another mystery seen near the Cold Springs Trailhead, September 25th – Sky Lakes Wilderness
Junction with the spur Wetlands Trail. The larger sign on the left is a 
End of the trail at East Tide Ave.
The wetlands.
Devil’s Lake from Regatta Park.
Pointer for a heritage tree.
Another Trail Challenge sign.
Heading out of Regatta Park
Neat dragon sculpture.
West Devil’s Lake Road. The trail is ahead on the right just beyond the driveway on that side.
There was no sign along the road but there was a trail marker just uphill.
The trail briefly leveled out atop the ridge before diving down the other side.
This junction is where our loop began and ended.
Another fork just beyond the one in the previous photo.
Footbridge over the northern arm of the lake.
Spring Lake from the footbridge.
Found another one.
Small trailhead at 14th Street.
Spring Lake from the 14th Street Trailhead.
We had to walk a few feet along 14th Street to find the trail on the east side of the lake.
Approaching the junction at the end of our loop.
This forested loop was full of bright green mossed covered ground.
The connector trail at the south trailhead.
Two short out-and-back trails begin at the north trailhead. We started with the left hand trail.
The left hand spur abruptly ends on a ridge above what we assume was Agness Creek although we couldn’t really make out an actual creek.
Agness Creek?
Approaching SW 19th Street.
This should have been the end of our loop, not the beginning. Had we realized we weren’t on the perimeter trail we would have taken the first left hand trail which would have allowed us to do our planned loop in reverse (clockwise). Instead we headed straight up the ridge.
The Trail Challenge sign here was located at a second junction, near the ridge top. A short distance beyond was another junction with an unsigned trail veering off to the right. We still hadn’t figured out our mistake and thought that the right hand trail was a spur trail shown on the map leading to a neighborhood so we went left.
A lot of clearcuts is what I could see.
We were really surprised that this was the only real obstacle we encountered all day given the recent storm.
An example of the fainter tread along this section.
The spur to the left led to a neighborhood so we turned right.
The trail arriving at the trailhead entrance road. The chain link fence at Taft High is on the left.
Siletz Bay from the brewpub.
A gull and an egret.
Long Gulch Lake. The furthest south we hiked was on the trail a short distance after leaving this lake.
Technically the western most spot we hiked at was the trailhead for this hike, but the Yaquina River was a nicer picture.
We hit our northernmost point during the stretch of our hike that followed Brooks Slough.
View of the Wallowa Mountains from our easternmost point.
That’s the Sun above the trees.
Iced over snow in Portland’s Forest Park.
The Crown-Zellerbach Trail, a converted logging road.
The Klickitat Trail, a converted railroad.
The Hood River Pipeline Trail.
Sidewalk, Rock Creek Trail.
Rope section of the Kings Mountain Trail.
Gravel Road at Denman Wildlife Area.
Paved Brooks Slough Road, Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge (it is open to cars).
Dirt road at Siskiyou Gap.
Cross-country to Observation Peak.
Crossing over granite to reach the Devil’s Punchbowl in the Siskiyou Wilderness.
Water covered trail at Catherine Creek Meadows.
Sandy dirt Mt. Shasta.
Rock field, Union Peak.
The remains of the Union Creek Trail.
Frozen tunnel on the Eagle Creek Trail.
Witch’s Castle – Forest Park, Portland, OR
Wind Telephone, Yakona Nature Preserve – Newport, OR
Erratic Rock (
One of several military bunkers at Ken Denman Wildlife Area – Medford, OR
Umpqua Hot Springs – Umpqua National Forest, OR
Illahee Rock Lookout – Umpqua National Forest, OR
Twin Lakes Shelter – Umpqua National Forest, OR
Donomore Cabin – Donomore Meadows, CA
Mt. Ireland Lookout – Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, OR
Cabin at Catherine Creek Meadows – Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, OR
Reds Horse Ranch – Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, OR
Lodge ruins – Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, OR
Bear Creek Guard Station – Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, OR
Gazebo on Tick Hill – Wallowa, OR
Spring above Southgate Meadows – Mount Shasta Wilderness, CA
Panther Spring – Mount Shasta Wilderness, CA
Remnants of the OSU Dean’s house – McDonald Forest, Corvallis, OR
Talking Water Gardens – Water treatment wetlands, Albany, OR
Waverly Lake at sunrise.
Mallards
Buffleheads
I think this is a ruddy duck.
American coots
Guessing these are some sort of domestic/mallard? crossbreeds. Very interesting looking.
More mallards near Cox Creek
Cox Creek flowing toward Waverly Lake.
Nearing the outlet of Cox Creek.
We almost got off-track here. This path on the right (just after passing under some railroad tracks) does lead into the wetlands but it wasn’t part of the Oregon Hikers described hike.
One of several interpretive signs along the trails.
Frosty leaves, it had been a chilly 28 degrees when we started out.
Simpson Park
The Simpson Park Trail is a 1 mile out and back along the Willamette River. It also offers access to the Riverfront Trail which one could follow SW almost 3.5 miles to Monteith Riverpark at the mouth of the Calapooia River. With Heather being limited to shorter hikes for now that wasn’t an option today but will be something we look forward to trying in the future.
Map on a welcome sign.
Frozen leaves
American wigeons
Bald eagle fly over
Flock of geese flying over
One of many unsigned intersections.
Robin
One of two memorials in the gardens.
Bufflehead
Green winged teal
Northern shoveler
Frost
Simpson Park across a pond.
Fishermen heading into the fog at Waverly Lake.
Mallards hanging out in the fog.
Dark eyed junco
wanderingyuncks 