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
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
Invasive Queen Anne’s Lace lower right corner.
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
In July we took the Wallowa Lake Tramway up Mount Howard (
In August we traveled by boat to Wizard Island in Crater Lake National Park (
The Town Gulch Fire near Carson, OR was dangerously close to blocking our access to one of the featured hikes we needed to do to finish our goal (
January – Corvallis to Sea Trail
February – Sunrise from Maple Creek Road
March – Mary’s Peak from Fitton Green
April – Bridal Veil Falls
May – Fishhawk Falls
May – Willow Creek Trail
May – Juniper Hills Preserve (The trails here were/are closed so we simply parked along the road and took pictures.)
May – Madison Butte
June – Cook Hill
June – Deception Butte Trail
June – Mt. Adams from Big Huckleberry Mountain
June – Grasshopper Meadow (Unfortunately this area burned by the Young Grasshopper Fire in September.)
July – Horsepasture Mountain
July – Nasty Rock Trail
July – Lower Bonny Lake
July – Minam Lake
July – Mount Howard
August – The Pinnacles
August – Downing Creek Falls
August – Schneider Cabin
August – Pine Lakes Trail
August – Laverty Lake
August – Aneroid Lake
September – Hidden Lake
September – Mt. Jefferson from Sprague Lake
September – Black Wolf Meadows
October – White River Canyon
October – Kinzel Lake
October – Sawtooth Trail
October – William L. Finely National Wildlife Refuge
October – Gold Lake Shelter
November – Silver Falls State Park
December – McKenzie River Trail
The trailhead.
The caution sign was related to some pile burning that the Forest Service had been doing.
McKenzie River
Mushrooms
National Recreation Trail symbol on a tree to the left.
Private Road sign on Duffy Rd.
There was quite a bit of witches’ butter fungus along the trail.
There were a lot of other mushrooms too.
Unnamed creek crossing.
Ruby-crowned kinglet. We didn’t see much wildlife on this hike but there were several kinglets flitting among the trees here. This was the only photo of one I managed to get though.
We had not expected any blue sky so this was a treat. It had rained for most of the drive and sprinkled for a minute shortly after we started hiking, but it had been dry otherwise.
The trail switching back up a small hill.
The most significant elevation change was this decent to a footbridge over Lost Creek.
Coral fungus
Lost Creek
The footbridge over Lost Creek was a little over 4.5-miles from the Lower McKenzie Trailhead.
Lost Creek
Willamette National Forest Boundary
Approximately 5.25-miles from the trailhead we crossed Belknap Hot Springs Road.
Sign for the 
Unnamed seasonal stream.
Footbridge over Scott Creek.
Scott Creek
Mushrooms
Footbridge over Boulder Creek.
Highway 126 bridge over Boulder Creek from the footbridge.
Boulder Creek flowing into the McKenzie River.
Forest Road 2650.
Boat ramp at Forest Road 2650.
The river from Forest Road 2650.
This short section along the road is just east of Belknap Springs Road.
Madrones
A little sunlight on the forest floor.
Rain shower falling over Lost Creek. It wasn’t raining hard enough to convince me to pull my rain gear back out.
I spotted Heather with a little over three and a quarter mile left back to the trailhead. (Look for a little orange in the trees ahead and to the right of the trail.)
Ours was the only car at the trailhead when we got back.
Red – Clear Lake, June 2014 (
The North Rim Trail heads left at a fork with the Twin Falls Trail a short distance from the parking lot.
I stuck to the North Rim Trail here leaving another (short) trail to do next time.
The Nature Play Area along the loop trail I didn’t take.
One of two bridges along the North Rim Trail.
Railing near the North Falls Viewpoint.
North Falls from the viewpoint.
North Falls
Map located at the North Falls Trailhead.
Upper North Falls from the Upper North Falls Trail.
Upper North Falls.
The split in the Trail of Ten Falls where the Canyon Trail heads down to North Falls.
North Falls
Trail behind North Falls.
Behind North Falls.
I will always take pictures of these large boulders in the creek.
Trail marker at the Twin Falls Trail junction.
Twin Falls
Twin Falls is a tough one to get a good clear view of the full waterfall. Recent rainfall had provided good flow for this fall which helps with the visibility.
This is Twin Falls on July 7, 2006.
All the rain had the side creeks and falls flowing as well.
Nearing the Winter Falls Trail and its bridge over the creek.
The view from the bridge.
Winter Falls from the Winter Falls Trail.
Winter Falls
The forecast had called for sunny skies, but we were also dealing with an air stagnation warning. For a brief moment I thought the fog might burn off, but that never materialized and by the time I arrived at South Falls more fog had rolled in.
There are some nice big trees scattered throughout the park.
Trail of Ten Falls/Canyon Trail above South Falls.
South Falls
Behind South Falls
For a short loop just to South Falls you can cross the bridge and return to the rim.
The trail below heading for Lower South Falls.
From behind Lower South Falls. I scared a poor woman so badly as I neared the falls. She was setting her phone up on a tripod for a selfie and didn’t see me coming nor could she hear me with the roar of the falls until I was just a couple of feet away. When I said that I was just going to sneak behind her she let out the loudest scream I’ve heard in a while.
Ankle deep pools behind the falls.
Lower South Falls
The mile long Maple Trail (right) allows for a shorter loop to both the falls on South Fork Silver Creek.
This is now the North Fork Silver Creek.
Unnamed falls on a side creek.
The footbridge over the North Fork Silver Creek.
Pool below the bridge.
Lower North Falls
Footbridge over Hult Creek and the spur trail to Double Falls.
Double Falls
Back on the Canyon Trail.
More fog.
Drake Falls
Middle North Falls
Spur trail (right) to Middle North Falls.
Behind Middle North Falls.
Splash pool
The Winter Falls Trail footbridge spanning the creek ahead on the right.
Chipmunk.
Twin Falls again which meant I was nearly to the Twin Falls Trail.
Twin Falls Trail junction.
The Twin Falls Trail leveled out near its end.
Arriving back at the junction with the North Rim Trail.
I spotted several ruffed grouse as I was driving out of the trailhead.
The Star Wars Trading post was a must stop for us.
I had to get a picture of this butterfly to help it feel more like a hike. 
A couple of the areas in the park were closing early in preparation for the reopening of the former Splash Mountain ride as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure on Friday. 
Some of the Christmas decorations were already up.
Rise of the Resistance entrance.
First Order troops. 
The Millennium Falcon
Big Thunder Mountain
Rivers of America
Jungle Cruise
Construction of what looked like it will be an amazing Fast and the Furious roller coaster was ongoing (expected to open in 2026). 
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
We were the first ones on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.
View from Universal Studios.
WaterWorld
The Incredicoaster
Overcast sky over Cars Land. The clouds broke up and gave way to blue sky. 
There were some really cool cacti and other plants around the Radiator Springs Racers ride (the ride was really fun too).
Grizzly Peak
I am Groot
Another highlight was a holiday story from Deadpool.
We hadn’t expected to see a unicorn on this trip.
Our first Wolverine sighting.
The Guardians tower and Avengers Headquarters all lit up.
The Redwood Creek Challenge Trail was a good proxy for a hike.
Waterfall along the challenge trail.
It’s a Small World was really lit up.
The back side of Cinderella’s Castle.
Walking through the queue for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
View of the final drop from the ride. 
One of the rides was It’s a Small World which was impressively decorated inside for the holidays. 
Santa!
The Matterhorn from the Alice in Wonderland ride.
The first snow fall over Main Street after the lighting of Cinderella’s Castle.
Part of the fireworks show.
The pointer is for Gold Lake & Highway 58.
The pullout along FR 5897.
We were pleased to find that there was more snow left than we’d expected.
Coming up on the Gold Lake Trail.
Trail signs at this well marked junction.
Campsites on the right at the Gold Lake Campground.
Looking back up the Gold Lake Trail.
Downstream several miles Salt Creek flows over Salt Creek Falls (
Signs ahead for the Marilyn Lakes Trail.
The left-hand fork led up to FR 500. We took this fork on our way back.
Heading toward the lakes.
The right-hand fork is the start of the Lower Marilyn Lakes Trail.
Lower Marilyn Lake
A lot of downed trees had been logged out.
We lost the trail briefly in this area and simply headed for the diamond in the distance.
Upper Marilyn Lake
Canada jay
The cold air and moisture started fogging up my camera lens.
The trail got very overgrown just before reaching the road. We were pretty damp after passing through this mass of huckleberries.
Not sure what is going on with this mushroom.
A bald eagle was circling over the lake hoping to catch a fish for breakfast.
Common mergansers
Diamond Peak (
Diamond Peak and Mt. Yoran with a few of the mergansers flying overhead.
The eagle was now watching us.
We went straight here this time and followed this trail 0.4-miles to FR 500.
Gold Lake
More fogging on the lens.
The dry creek bed ahead.
Bear tracks. We weren’t the only visitors to the shoreline.
Mount Ray
Howkum Lake on our left was the first lake we passed by.
Reflection in Howkum Lake.
Nearing the second lake on the left, Horsefly Lake.
Horsefly Lake
Tiny Lake
The junction with the Jim Weaver Loop was next to a small unnamed lake.
A different bear had been wandering around this area.
We could tell it was a different bear because the prints were noticeably larger. (11 1/2 shoe size for reference.)
Signs at the junction.
View from the junction.
I dropped down to the shore on the other side of this footbridge.
The longer hump to the right in the distance is Waldo Mountain (
Fuji Mountain (
Tree reflecting in snowmelt.
Betty Lake had some nice coloration.
Mount Ray from Betty Lake again.
A look at the two hikes proximity to each other.
Featured hike starting locations. Blue = OR Coast, Red = NW, Black = Central Cascades, Purple = Southern OR, Yellow = Eastern OR
Hunting information kiosk across from the Turtle Flats parking area.
The Turtle Flats restrooms. (Photo from the afternoon.)
The entire Turtle Flats Trail in one photo.
Viewpoint at the end of the trail.
I turned right here following said map through a small section of trees.
Poison oak is hard to miss when it is sporting its Fall colors.
Emerging from the trees and staying right.
McCulloch Peak (
Mary’s Peak (
One of several raptors hunting over the fields.
Pigeon Butte to the left and Green Peak in the distance.
Fog and McFadden Marsh to the left.
Mallards
Geese flying overhead.
Egret and ducks
Egrets
More egrets
Heron with the egrets.
McFadden Marsh
Egrets and a murder of crows.
Great blue heron
Red-winged blackbird
Prairie Trail along McFadden Marsh.
I could just make out the railings along Bruce Road from here.
Nutria family near Bruce Road.
The nutria family.
The Prairie Trail at Bruce Road.
Northern flicker
Starling
Muddy Creek
Interpretive signs at the larger parking area.
California scrub-jay
Peregrine falcon?
Pigeon Butte across Cheadle Marsh.
While I was photographing this egret I glanced to my left and noticed a buck staring back at me.
Meanwhile a great blue heron decided it wanted the egret’s perch.
The heron and egret
American coot
The roof of the Cheadle Barn poking up from the hill.
California quail escaping into the blackberry bushes.
The small hill up to the junction below the barn. My legs let me know that even this small hill was more than they were interested in today.
Robin
Spur trail to the Cheadle Barn.
Spotted towhee
The pond and Cheadle Barn.
Ducks in the pond.
Pied-billed grebe. I also had a yellow-rumped warbler nearly land on me, but then it disappeared into the trees across the pond.
The gravel road that serves as the Pigeon Butte Trail ahead.
A successful egret and unfortunate rodent.
The junction is located at the crest of the trail/road.
Spur trail to the summit of Pigeon Butte.
The dry ponds hosted a good number of songbirds.
It appeared that there had been a number of controlled burns performed throughout the refuge.
The 0.9-mile section ended at a junction with the Cattail Pond Trail.
Viewpoint bench looking toward Cabell Marsh.
Woolly bear caterpillar sharing the trail.
Gray Creek
Mallards
More mallards
Maple Knoll on the far side of Cattail Pond.
I’m assuming nutria but am not 100% convinced on this one.
This section was a mixture of the edge of fields and wooded trail.
Follow the pointer.
A cedar waxing joined by a pair of finches.
Just under 100 yards from the Cattail Pond Trail is this unsigned junction. The left is a half mile out-and-back spur on along the side of Maple Knoll. I stayed right this time having done the spur in 2020 with Heather.
The trail passes the Beaver Pond just before arriving at the roadbed.
The Beaver Pond was pretty well deserted given its lack of water.
I turned left onto the Mid-Refuge Connecting Trail.
Authorized personnel only on the right-hand fork here.
Arriving at the junction.
The right fork is the trail I came up. The center fork is the Mill Hill Trail, and the left fork is the Mill Hill Loop Trail which loops around Mill Hill in 1.7-miles and arrives back at the junction where I took this photo from.
There are several junctions along this stretch, most of which are well signed.
This junction marks the start of the Intertie Trail.
Crossing Finley Refuge Road.
Signage at the Woodpecker Hill Loop.
The Woodpecker Hill Loop is a well-developed interpretive trail.
Stellar’s jay
Each of these kiosks has an informational placard inside.
Near the crest of the trail.
The shelter on Woodpecker Hill.
Dragon fly
Signboard at the Woodpecker Hill Trailhead.
Yay, more uphill.
The back of a killdeer.
Bald Hill on the left.
Winkle Butte is the near rise on the left. On a clearer day Mt. Jefferson would be visible in the distance to the right of Winkle Butte.
Cabell Barn ahead.
Historic granary
The lodge in April, 2021.
Geese
Pigeon Butte from the marsh.
Great blue heron towering over the ducks.
An egret along the shore to the right.
The egret facing off with the heron. The mallard appeared to be ready to act as the referee.
After a brief face off the egret moved on.
Observation blind accessed via the Homer Campbell Boardwalk.
Signboard at the boardwalk trailhead.
Back on the refuge road.
Muddy Creek
The path to Turtle Flats on the left and the start of the Prairie Trail ahead on the right.
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