A YouTube video posted last year by Hike Oregon brought our attention to a section of the Alpine Trail near Oakridge, OR. She described an out-and-back hike along this popular mountain bike trail over Sourgrass Mountain to visit the Elk Camp Shelter.
The Alpine Trail extends a total of 15.3-miles between Westfir, OR to Forest Road 1912 with a number of potential starting points. We hiked a different section of this trail in 2014 as part of our Tire Mountain hike (post). For this hike we parked at the junction of FR 1912 and FR 661 where the Alpine Trail crossed FR 1912.
We headed north on the Alpine Trail which climbed for almost 2 miles to a large meadow on Sourgrass Mountain. The climb was fairly gradual using switchbacks on the steeper parts of the ridge. Mountain bikers ride the trail south to Westfir so we were on the lookout for bikes coming downhill but we had started early enough in the morning to not run into any. (It was a different story on the way down.) The forest along the trail was very nice and there was a nice variety of wildflowers in bloom.
Little prince’s pine
Bunchberry
Rhododendron
Wild ginger
Queen’s cup
Beargrass
Stonecrop
Larkspur
There was a large patch of blue head gilia on this rock above the trail.
Vetch
Honeysuckle
Anemone
Pacific coralroot
Valerian
Starflower
Penstemon
Tiger lilies
Columbine
As we neared the meadow on Sourgrass Mountain we began to see an increasing amount of blooming beargrass.
A member of the lily family, beargrass only blooms when conditions are right, so their bloom cycle is a bit unpredictable. Due to the unpredictability it is always exciting when a visit aligns with a bloom cycle.
At the far end of the meadow we passed a newish looking bench.
Beyond the bench the trail descended along the north ridge of Sourgrass Mountain then followed a wide ridge with some small ups and downs on its way to Elk Camp Shelter.
Sub-alpine fleabane
Sub-alpine mariposa lily
Bleeding heart
That might be rainiera behind the beargrass.
Roses
Valerian along the trail.
Anemone, bunchberry, and foam flower
At 2.8-miles from the trailhead we passed a junction with Kate’s Cut In where it appears that most mountain bikers begin their rides.
We could hear a large group of bikers on FR 1912 below getting ready for their rides as we continued straight on the Alpine Trail.
Spotted coralroot
Northwestern twayblade and foam flower
Arnica
A little over 4-miles from our trailhead we came to a 4-way junction at FR 142 which is the location of Alpine Trailhead 4.
We turned right at the 4-way junction following arrows on the road to the continuation of the trail.
Approximately a half mile from the 4-way junction we arrived at the Elk Camp Shelter.
Violets
Rhododendron and beargrass
Arnica
A short spur trail from FR 142 came in from the left shortly before arriving at the shelter.
Meadow just before the shelter.
There was a decent amount of coiled lousewort but it was all past its bloom.
First view of the shelter behind the trees.
Looking up from the shelter.
Information about the shelter on the table inside.
Hike Oregon’s entry for the hike has you turn around at the shelter making this a moderate 9-mile, 1623′ elevation gain out-and-back. The trail actually continues another nearly 2-miles to the Alpine Trailhead 5.
Looking at Google Earth it appeared that the trail passed through two more small meadows between the shelter and a road crossing approximately 0.75-miles from the shelter. It also appeared that there was minimal elevation loss along that section of the trail, so we had decided to make the road crossing our turn around point. After spending a little time at the shelter we’d attracted enough mosquitos to prompt us to move on.
Small-flowered solomonseal
Coneflower
The first meadow.
Coneflower, valerian, and columbine.
Inside-out-flower
Ragwort
Western meadow-rue
This meadow was very damp making the trail slick with mud.
Meadow fritillary
Self-heal
The second meadow.
Spirea, tiger lilies, columbine, valerian, and cinquefoil.
Sticky cinquefoil
Columbine
Bog orchids
White bog orchids
Lupine
The forest road where we turned around.
We took a break on some stumps along the road where mosquitos were not an issue and then headed back the way we’d come. We kept our eyes open for flowers we’d missed on our first pass and for mountain bikers making sure to step aside when we heard/spotted them coming.
Gold threads
Rhododendron blossoms
Clodius Parnassian
Fairy lanters
Baneberry
Arnica
There weren’t any unobstructed views at any point along this trail. We could occasionally see snow covered Cascade peaks through the trees, but the only peak we were able to identify was The Twins (post) near the junction with Kate’s Cut In.
The Twins are in the center with Waldo Mountain (post) closer and to the left.
One sided wintergreen.
Candy flower
Wallflower
Nearing the bench at the edge of the meadow on Sourgrass Mountain.
We took a break on the bench and were joined by a pair of mountain bikers who were making the ride from Kate’s Cut In to Westfir. The first gentleman explained that some cyclists head north on the trail from Kate’s Cut In and ride (mostly) downhill to the Alpine Trailhead 5 then loop back to Kate’s Cut In along FR 1912 before heading south to Westfir. That loop is known as the “Chrome Toilet” (no explanation given), but he had never ridden that loop. We had passed one group heading down the Alpine Trail as we were heading back by the shelter.
The cyclists continued on, and we followed shortly after. It was just after Noon and as we made our way through the meadow the first of several groups rode past us. They were all very polite about sharing the trail with hikers and we did our part by stepping off the trail as quickly as possible whenever we spotted them coming. This meant a lot of looking back over our shoulders and led to us hiking a little faster than we normally would have otherwise.
Looking up at the highpoint of Sourgrass Mountain.
Larkspur
Royal Jacob’s ladder
The trail dropping down to FR 1912 where we’d parked.
Our version of this hike clocked in at just over 10.5 miles with roughly 1700′ of cumulative elevation gain.
This was a really enjoyable hike made better by the beargrass bloom. Even if the beargrass had not been blooming this year there were enough other flowers to make it a good wildflower hike, and the forest along the trail was lovely. We could see why it is such a popular biking trail which is the only real drawback as a hike. Weekday mornings would probably be a good time to limit the number of bikers to watch for. If you do visit just stay aware and share the trail appropriately. Happy Trails!
Flickr: Sourgrass Mountain
wanderingyuncks 