Tag: California darlingtonia

2023 Flower Gallery

In 2018 we began a tradition of posting a collection of the variety of flowers that we encountered during the years hikes. It’s always a bit shocking to see just how many different varieties we actually saw over the course of the year. It appears that the total in 2023 was between 300 and 350. We are still learning to identify the flowers and are a long way from being able to tell some of the different species apart. That doesn’t take away from our ability to enjoy the flowers though, so with that in mind here are some (but not all) of the flowers we saw this past year. (Any IDs provided are best guesses and any corrections or additional IDs are greatly appreciated.)

The first wildflowers we spotted were snow queen during a March 11th hike at Fitton Green Natural Area near Corvallis.

Here are the others in no particular order. I’ve tried to identify non-natives as well as indicate if this was our first time (that we know of) seeing a particular flower. Locations are all in Oregon unless noted as WA.

Allumroot – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Alpine pennycress – 5/4/23, Forest Road 011, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

American saw-wort – 8/14/23, Main Eagle Creek Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Anemone – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Serpentine arnica – 5/4/23, Eight Dollar Mountain Boardwalk, BLM Grants Pass Resource Area

Arnica – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Arnica – 7/31/23, Garfield Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park

Spear-leaf arnica – 7/31/23, Garfield Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park

Arnica? – 8/16/23, Tombstone Lake Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Avalanche lilies – 7/15/23, Plaza Trail, Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness

Fawn lily – 4/13/23, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Rickreall

Henderson’s fawn lily – 5/2/2023, Sterling Mine Ditch Trail System, BLM Medford District

Checker lily – 5/4/23, Forest Road 011, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

Azalea – 5/4/23, Eight Dollar Mountain Boardwalk, BLM Grants Pass Resource Area

Rhododendron – 7/15/23, Tumala Mountain, Mt. Hood National Forest

Ball-head waterleaf – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Pacific waterleaf – 5/2/2023, Sterling Mine Ditch Trail System, BLM Medford District

Balsamroot – 5/27/23, Metolius Preserve, Camp Sherman

Hoary balsamroot – 6/15/23, Buckhorn Lookout, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Silky balsamroot – 5/4/23, Little Falls Trail Loop, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest (first time seeing)

Deltoid balsamroot – 5/2/2023, Sterling Mine Ditch Trail System, BLM Medford District

Beargrass – 7/4/23, Rockytop Trail, Santiam State Forest

Bigelow sneezweed – 10/7/2023, Sturgis Fork Trail, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

Field bindweed (non-native) – 6/14/23, Eureka Bar, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

Bindweed (non-native) – 8/26/23, Old Growth Cedar Trail, Rockaway Beach

Biscuitroot – 5/4/23, Little Falls Trail Loop, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

Biscuitroot – 5/13/23, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Sherwood

Biscuitroot – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Bistort – 7/31/23, Castle Crest Wildflower Trail, Crater Lake National Park

Blanket flower – 6/14/23, Eureka Bar, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

Bleeding heart – 4/29/23, Canemah Bluff, Oregon City

Blue dicks – 5/1/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, BLM Medford District

Ookow – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husem, WA

Large-flower tritelia – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Bluebells of Scotland – 7/15/23, Sheepshead Rock, Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness

Tall bluebells – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Scouler’s bluebell – 7/4/23, Natural Rock Arch Trail, Santiam State Forest

Blue-eyed Mary – 5/2/23, Cathedral Hills, Grants Pass

Giant blue-eyed Mary – 4/29/23, Canemah Bluff, Oregon City

Bog orchid – 7/31/23, Castle Crest Wildflower Trail, Crater Lake National Park

Phantom orchid – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husem, WA

Bolander’s yampah – 6/15/23, Nee-Mee-Poo National Historic Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

Broad-leaved pepperweed (non-native) – 6/11/23, Hat Rock State Park, Hermiston

Brown’s peony – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Buckwheat – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District

Buckwheat – 7/31/23, Garfield Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park

Buckwheat – 7/30/23, Crater Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park

Buckwheat – 6/3/23, Nestor Peak, Husem, WA

Wickerstem buckwheat – 9/3/23, Threemile Canyon, BLM Burns District

Bunchberry – 7/4/23, Santiam State Forest

Buttercups – 4/29/23, Canemah Bluff, Oregon City

California darlingtonia – 5/4/23, Eight Dollar Mountain Botanical Area, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

California gromwell – 5/4/23, Eight Dollar Mountain Botanical Area, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

Western stoneseed – 5/27/23, Metolius Preserve, Camp Sherman

California groundcones – 5/3/23, Dollar Mountain, Grants Pass

California harebells – 6/25/23, North Umpqua Trail, BLM Roseburg District

California poppies – 6/13/23, Highway 351, Joseph

Camas – 4/29/23, Canemah Bluff, Oregon City

Death camas – 5/4/23, Eight Dollar Mountain Boardwalk, BLM Grants Pass Resource Area

Mountain death camas – 8/14/23, Main Eagle Creek Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Candy flower – 5/3/23, Waters Creek Interpretive Trail, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

Candysticks – 7/8/23, Santiam Wagon Road, Willamette National Forest

Carolina bugbane – 7/15/23, Old Baldy Trail, Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness

Cascade lily – 7/4/23, Natural Rock Arch Trail, Santiam State Forest

Catchfly – 7/4/23, Rockytop Trail, Santiam State Forest

Checker-mallow – 5/13/23, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Sherwood

Checker-mallow – 5/13/23, Graham Oaks Nature Park, Wilsonville

Checker-mallow – 6/25/23, North Bank Habitat, BLM Roseburg District

Orange globe mallow – 6/14/23, Eureka Bar Hells Canyon National Scenic Area

Chicory (non-native) – 6/14/23, Imnaha Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

Chokecherry – 5/30/23, Riley Ranch Preserve, Bend

Mallow ninebark – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman

Cinquefoil – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Shrubby cinquefoil – 8/14/23, Main Eagle Creek Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Clarkia – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husem, WA

Elkhorn clarkia – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Tomcat clover – 5/13/23, Cooper Mountain Nature Park, Beaverton

Clover (possibly Beckwith’s?) – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Twin clover – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (first time seeing)

Large-head clover – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Wooly-head clover – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Owl’s clover – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Clustered broomrape – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Naked broomrape – 5/1/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, BLM Medford District

Coast flat stem onion – 5/4/23, Jeffrey Pine Loop Trail, BLM Medford District

Swamp onion – 8/14/23, Main Eagle Creek Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Tolmie’s onion – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Coltsfoot – 4/15/23, Enchanted Valley, Siuslaw National Forest

Columbian lewisia – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Threeleaf lewisia – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Columbine – 7/4/23, Rockytop Trail, Santiam State Forest

Yellow columbine – 8/17/23, West Eagle Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Coneflower – 8/16/23, West Eagle Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Pacific Coralroot – 7/15/23, Plaza Lake Trail, Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness

Spotted coralroot – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husem, WA

Crater Lake collomia – 9/9/23, Cliff Lake Trail, Sky Lakes Wilderness

Grand collomia – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District

Variable-leaf collomia – 6/24/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, Wild Rogue Wilderness

Tiny trumpet – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (first time seeing)

Creeping wirelettuce – 7/29/23, Stuart Falls Trail, Crater Lake National Park

Currant – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Red flowering currant – 4/14/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem

Cusick’s speedwell – 8/15/23 Bear Lake Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Daffodils (non-native) – 4/13/23, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Rickreall

Dalmation toadflax (non-native) – 6/16/23, Copper Creek Day Use Area, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

Deer vetch – 7/22/23, Shut-In Trail, Deschutes National Forest

Idaho milk-vetch – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District

Rogue River milk-vetch – 5/2/2023, Sterling Mine Ditch Trail System, BLM Medford District

Woolly-pod milk-vetch – 5/2/2023, Sterling Mine Ditch Trail System, BLM Medford District

Vetch – 5/13/23, Cooper Mountain Nature Park, Beaverton

Vetch – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Pea (non-native) – 6/24/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, Wild Rogue Wilderness

Del Norte iris – 5/1/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, BLM Medford District

Tough leaf iris – 5/13/23, Cooper Mountain Nature Park, Beaverton

Iris – 5/4/23, Little Falls Trail Loop, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

Diffuse-flower evening primrose surrounded by blue-eyed Mary – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Drummond’s anemone – 7/30/23, Crater Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park

Western pasque flower – 7/8/23, Sand Mountain, Willamette National Forest

Western paque flower (seedheads) – 7/31/23, Garfield Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park

Dwarf ceanothus – 5/3/23, Limpy Botanical Trail, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

Elegant brodiaea – 6/24/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, Wild Rogue Wilderness

European centaury (non-native) – 6/25/23, North Bank Habitat, BLM Roseburg District

Fairy slippers – 5/3/23, Limpy Botanical Trail, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

Mountain lady slipper – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husem, WA

Fiddleneck – 5/2/2023, Sterling Mine Ditch Trail System, BLM Medford District

Field chickweed – 5/4/23, Forest Road 011, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

Fireweed – 6/25/23, North Umpqua Trail, BLM Roseburg District

False hellebore – 7/31/23, Garfield Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park

Dipping into fleabanes, asters and/or daisies, possibly the hardest to differentiate. These are my best guesses but I could be way off.
Desert yellow fleabane – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District

Sub-alpine fleabane – 10/7/23, Forest Road 600, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

Fleabane? – 6/14/23, Eureka Bar, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

Fleabane? – 6/11/23, Hat Rock State Park, Hermiston

Not even going to guess, could be a non-native. – 5/13/23, Graham Oaks Nature Park, Wilsonville

Diasy? – 7/4/23, Niagra Heights Road, Santiam State Forest

Hairy golden aster – 6/14/23, Eureka Bar, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

Oregon sunshine – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District

Oregon sunshine – 6/3/23, Nestor Peak, Husem, WA

Sunflower – 9/3/23, Threemile Canyon, BLM Burns District

Foam flower – 8/5/23, McGee Creek Trail, Mt. Hood Wilderness

Foxglove (non-native) – 7/4/23, Natural Rock Arch Trail, Santiam State Forest

Fringecup – 5/13/23, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Sherwood

Gentians – 8/16/23, Tombstone Lake Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Gold stars? – 5/2/23, Cathedral Hills, Grants Pass

Goldenrod – 7/22/23, Metolius River Trail, Deschutes National Forest

Grass-of-parnassus – 9/9/23, Pacific Crest Trail, Sky Lakes Wilderness

Gray sagewort (among others) – 8/14/23, Main Eagle Creek Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Groundsel – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husem, WA

Groundsel – 7/30/23, Plaikni Falls Trail, Crater Lake National Park

Heatleaf spring beauty – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Hedgenettle – 7/22/23, Shut-In Trail, Deschutes National Forest

Honeysuckle – 5/13/23, Cooper Mountain Nature Park, Beaverton

Honeysuckle – 6/25/23, North Bank Habitat, BLM Roseburg District

Twinberry honeysuckle – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Utah honeysuckle – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Twinflower honeysuckle – 7/22/23, Metolius River Trail, Deschutes National Forest

Horkelia – 7/22/23, Metolius River Trail, Deschutes National Forest

Houndstongue – 6/13/23, Iwetemlaykin State Heritage Site, Joseph

Pacific houndstongue – 5/2/2023, Sterling Mine Ditch Trail System, BLM Medford District

Jessica’s stickseed – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Hooker’s Indian pink – 5/3/23, Dollar Mountain, Grants Pass

Hooker’s fairy bells – 4/29/23, Canemah Bluff, Oregon City

Huckleberry – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Indian plum – 4/13/23, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Rickreall

Mountain snowberry – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman

Salmonberry – 4/8/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem

Salal – 6/25/23, North Umpqua Trail, BLM Roseburg District

Oregon grape – 4/8/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem

Serviceberry – 5/13/23, Cooper Mountain Nature Park, Beaverton

Strawberry – 4/29/23, Canemah Bluff, Oregon City

Thimbleberry – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husem, WA

Large-flower hawksbeard – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District

Golden Paintbrush (Castilleja levisecta) – 5/13/23, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Sherwood

Hairy Indian paintbrush (Castilleja tenuis) – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman

Paintbrush – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman

– 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husem, WA

Cobwebby paintbrush (Castilleja arachnoidea) – 7/31/23, Rim Trail, Crater Lake National Park

Yellow Wallowa Indian paintbrush (Castilleja chrysantha) – 8/15/23, Lookingglass Lake Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Rosy paintbrush – 8/16/23, Tombstone Lake Trail, Eagle Cap WildernessFph

Indian warrior (Pedicularis densiflora) – 5/2/23, Cathedral Hills, Grants Pass (first time seeing)

Inside-out flower – 7/4/23, Natural Rock Arch Trail, Santiam State Forest

Jaccob’s ladder – 8/16/23, West Eagle Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Larkspur – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Larkspur – 5/1/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, BLM Medford District

Red larkspur – 5/1/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, BLM Medford District (first time seeing)

Tall mountain larkspur – 8/14/23, Main Eagle Creek Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Dwarf lupine – 7/8/23, Santiam Wagon Road, Willamette National Forest

Miniature lupine – 5/2/2023, Sterling Mine Ditch Trail System, BLM Medford District

Lupine – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District

Lupine (non-native colors) – 5/13/23, Graham Oaks Nature Park, Wilsonville

Flax – 5/30/23, Riley Ranch Preserve, Bend

Coiled lousewort – 8/16/23, Tombstone Lake Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Sickletop lousewort – 8/16/23, West Eagle Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Sea blush (plectritis) – 4/29/23, Canemah Bluff, Oregon City

Longhorn plectritis – 5/30/23, Riley Ranch Preserve, Bend

White mariposa lily – 8/14/23, Main Eagle Creek Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Sagebrush mariposa lily – 6/14/23, Eureka Bar, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

Mariposa lily (possibly a white sagebrush) – 6/14/23, Eureka Bar, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

Sub-alpine mariposa lilies – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husem, WA

Tolmie’s mariposa lily – 5/3/23, Dollar Mountain, Grants Pass

Manyflower tonella – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman

Small-flowered tonella – 4/29/23, Canemah Bluff, Oregon City (first time seeing)

Lewis monkefylower – 7/30/23, Plaikni Falls Trail, Crater Lake National Park

Monkeyflower – 5/1/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, BLM Medford District

Monkeyflower – 6/3/23, Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Trout Lake, WA

Milk kelloggia (Kelloggia galioides) – 7/31/23, Garfield Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park

Monkshood – 7/30/23, Plaikni Falls Trail, Crater Lake National Park

Moth mullein (non-native) – 6/14/23, Imnaha Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

Mountain heather – 8/5/23, Timberline Trail, Mt. Hood Wilderness

Mock orange – 7/4/23, North Santiam Park, Mill City

Mountain ash – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Showy milkweed – 6/14/23, Eureka Bar, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

Western clematis – 6/16/23, Trail 1890, Hells Canyon Wilderness

Western blue clematis – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Nightshade (non-native) – 6/14/23, Imnaha Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

A knotweed? – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman

Shasta knotweed – 7/31/23, Rim Trail, Crater Lake National Park

Nettle-leaf giant hyssop – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman

Nuttal’s linanthus – 8/15/23 Bear Lake Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

One-sided wintergreen – 7/29/23, Stuart Falls Trail, Sky Lakes Wilderness

Wintergreen – 7/30/23, Plaikni Falls Trail, Crater Lake National Park

Orange agoseris – 7/15/23, Sheepshead Rock, Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness

Partridgefoot – 7/31/23, Garfield Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park

Pearly everlasting – 7/29/23, Stuart Falls Trail, Sky Lakes Wilderness

Granite prickley-phlox – 7/31/23, Garfield Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park

Phlox – 5/4/23, Little Falls Trail Loop, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

Showy phlox – 5/4/23, Eight Dollar Mountain Boardwalk, BLM Grants Pass Resource Area

Slender phlox – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Phlox – 7/31/23, Rim Trail, Crater Lake National Park

Phlox? – 6/14/23, Eureka Bar, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

Penstemons is another genus that I have a really hard time telling apart.
Woodland beardtongue – 7/4/23, Rockytop Trail, Santiam State Forest

Globe penstemon – 8/15/23 Bear Lake Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Royal? penstemon – 5/30/23, Riley Ranch Preserve, Bend

Finetooth? penstemon – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husem, WA

Shrubby penstemon – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Wilcox’s? penstemon – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Scabland penstemon – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Unknown penstemon – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman

Glaucous? beardtongue – 7/4/23, Niagra Heights Road, Santiam State Forest

Silverleaf phacelia – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District

Threadleaf phacelia – 5/30/23, Riley Ranch Preserve, Bend

A phacelia? – 8/16/23, Tombstone Lake Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Pinedrop – 7/22/23, Metolius River Trail, Deschutes National Forest

Prairie smoke – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman

Prickly pear cactus – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman (first time seeing)

Prince’s pine – 7/8/23, Santiam Wagon Road, Willamette National Forest

Pussypaws – 7/8/23, Santiam Wagon Road, Willamette National Forest

Pussytoes – 7/30/23, Crater Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park

Rosy pussytoes – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Queen’s cup – 7/15/23, Old Baldy Trail, Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness

Ragwort (non-native) – 8/26/23, Fort Yamhill State Heritage Area, Grand Ronde

Wild rose – 6/3/23, Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Trout Lake, WA

Rose campion (non-native) – 6/16/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallow-Whitman National Forest

Rough eyelashweed – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District

Sagebrush false dandelion – 7/30/23, Crater Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park

Sandwort – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

A saxifrage – 7/4/23, Niagra Heights Road, Santiam State Forest

A saxifrage – 7/15/23, Sheepshead Rock, Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness

A saxifrage – 7/31/23, Rim Trail, Crater Lake National Park

Silvery raillardella – 7/31/23, Rim Trail, Crater Lake National Park

Scarlet gilia – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman

Scarlet fritillary – 5/2/2023, Sterling Mine Ditch Trail System, BLM Medford District

Siskiyou fritillary – 5/3/23, Limpy Botanical Trail, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

Self-heal – 6/25/23, North Umpqua Trail, BLM Roseburg District

Shooting star – 5/2/23, Cathedral Hills, Grants Pass

Scouler’s woollyweed – 7/29/23, Stuart Falls Trail, Crater Lake National Park

Silvercrown – 5/3/23, Dollar Mountain, Grants Pass

Skullcap – 5/2/23, Cathedral Hills, Grants Pass

Skunk cabbage – 4/15/23, Enchanted Valley, Siuslaw National Forest

Douglas spirea – 10/7/2023, Sturgis Fork Trail, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

Mountain spirea – 7/4/23, Niagra Heights Road, Santiam State Forest

White spirea – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Spreading dogbane – 7/22/23, Metolius River Trail, Deschutes National Forest

St. John’s wort (non-native) – 6/14/23, Imnaha Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

Solomonseal – 5/27/23, Blowout Arm, Detroit Lake

Star-flower solomonseal – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Star flower – 5/13/23, Cooper Mountain Nature Park, Beaverton

Sticky purple geranium – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Tasselflower brickellbush – 8/14/23, Main Eagle Creek Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Tiger lily – 7/4/23, Rockytop Trail, Santiam State Forest

Leopard lilies – 7/29/23, Stuart Falls Trail, Sky Lakes Wilderness

Toothwort – 4/15/23, Enchanted Valley, Siuslaw National Forest

Trillium – 4/15/23, Enchanted Valley, Siuslaw National Forest

Giant white wakerobin – 5/2/23, Cathedral Hills, Grants Pass

Twinflower – 7/8/23, Santiam Wagon Road, Willamette National Forest

Thistle (wavy-leaf?) – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Thistle (Palouse?) – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Snowy thistle – 6/24/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, Wild Rogue Wilderness

Thistle (Canadian? if so non-native) – 6/25/23, North Umpqua Trail, BLM Roseburg District

Stonecrop – 7/30/23, Crater Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park

Stonecrop – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Stonecrop – 8/16/23, Tombstone Lake Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Valerian – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Goosefoot violet – 5/27/23, Metolius Preserve, Camp Sherman

Hookedspur violet – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Marsh violet – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Violet – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Violet – 4/15/23, Enchanted Valley, Siuslaw National Forest

Violet – 6/3/23, Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Trout Lake, WA

Violets – 5/4/23, Little Falls Trail Loop, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

Wedgeleaf violet – 5/4/23, Eight Dollar Mountain Boardwalk, BLM Grants Pass Resource Area

Wallflower – 5/30/23, Riley Ranch Preserve, Bend

Western meadowrue – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Western snakeroot – 8/16/23, West Eagle Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

White-stemmed frasera – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Woodland-stars – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Yarrow – 6/14/23, Eureka Bar, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

Youth-on-age – 4/29/23, Canemah Bluff, Oregon City

Common bugloss (non-native) – 6/14/23, Eureka Bar, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

White campion (non-native) – 6/14/23, Eureka Bar, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

Unknown – 7/4/23, Rockytop Trail, Santiam State Forest

Unknown – 8/5/23, McNeil Point scramble trail, Mt. Hood Wilderness

Best guess is a popcorn flower but? – 6/3/23, Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Trout Lake, WA

Unknown, possibly non-native – 6/15/23, Nee-Mee-Poo National Historic Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

Unknown, possibly non-native – 6/13/23, Iwetemlaykin State Heritage Site, Joseph

Unknown, probably non-native – 6/14/23, Imnaha Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

Unknown, probably non-native – 8/26/23, Old Growth Cedar Trail, Rockaway Beach

The last flower we saw was a non-native in December.
Unkown. probably non-native – 12/16/23, Mt. Tabor Nature Park, Portland

Tags California darlingtonia, hiking, Indian warrior, larkspur, lily, lupine, Oregon wildflowers, paintbrush, Washington, wildflowers

Grants Pass Area Hiking Oregon Trip report

Eight Dollar Mountain and Illinois River Beaches – 05/04/2023

Post author By derwoodynck
Post date May 11, 2023
1 Comment on Eight Dollar Mountain and Illinois River Beaches – 05/04/2023

For our fourth day of hikes in the Grants Pass area we had chosen a series of short hikes along the Illinois River which would allow us to check off two more featured hikes (post). Going in we knew that our hikes wouldn’t exactly match Sullivan’s description in the featured hikes because of a closure of the Swinging Bridge which is part of the Fall Creek Trail. Repairs need to be made to fix a hole in the bridge so it is currently under a closure order until 10/31/23 (may be lifted sooner). Several of the hikes we had planned were also in the path of the 2018 Klondike Fire so we weren’t sure what condition the trails might be in.

Our first stop at the Eight Dollar Mountain Botanical Area was not in the fire scar.

From the parking area we crossed 8 Dollar Road and hiked 0.1-miles to a small, two parking spot, ADA Trailhead where a 0.2-mile boardwalk led to a Fen with California darlingtonia.

Wedgeleaf violets

Showy phlox

Oregon rockcress

Many of the flowers were just getting started but there were a few darlingtonia blooming in the fen. This was our second stop this year that involved the Cobra lilies, having visited the Darlingtonia Wayside near Florence in April (post).
Camas and buttercups

Shooting star

Western azalea

The fen at the end of the boardwalk.

A darlingtonia blossom.

The trailhead where we parked also acts as the trailhead for the Jeffrey Pine Loop Trail, so after returning from the boardwalk we started down this trail.

Our plan for this trail was to follow it NW for 1.2-miles to the Little Falls Trail Loop. The Jeffery Pine Trail drops to the Illinois River then follows the route of a former flume to the Little Falls Loop Trail. We were a little apprehensive knowing that we’d be hiking along the Illinois River once again. Our only previous hike along the river was a bit of a nightmare (post). We had stumbled into some sort of tick convention and spent nearly the entire hike brushing the little blood suckers off our clothing. Add in a good amount of poison oak crowding the trail and let’s just say this wasn’t one of our best experiences. That being said the Illinois River itself is beautiful, so we were willing to give it another chance. The scenery was nice and there were a number of wildflowers along the trail as we headed down toward the river.
We stayed right at this junction just below the trailhead. There is a 0.5-mile loop option which we planned on skipping.

Death camas

Mariposa lily

Yellow leaf iris

Coast flat stem onion

Heather picked up a tick passing through the grass on the hillside.

We turned right at a sign for the Little Falls Trail Loop.

Silky balsamroot

The trail crossed an old roadbed at the half mile mark which gave us a chance to get down to the river without having to dodge poison oak.

The trail jogged away from the river at the road, presumably to reach the old flume. We started up the hill but the trail condition got a little rougher here and poison oak began crowding the trail to the point where we became uncomfortable. We had already had it brushing against our pant legs, but it was now tall enough that our hands were at risk and in order to avoid it we would need to move off trail into the brush on the opposite side. Having already seen a tick we didn’t really want to go through any vegetation.
The trail as we started up the hillside.

We quickly devised a Plan B which was to follow the old roadbed up to 8 Dollar Road (Forest Road 4201) and walk that road to the Little Falls Trailhead where we could attempt the 0.9-mile Little Falls Loop.
Checker lily

Silky balsamroot and buttercups

Paintbrush and silky balsamroot with the Illinois River below.

Eight Dollar Mountain from the roadbed.

We saw a lot of these getting ready to bloom but none actually blooming. Really curious as to what they are.

The roadbed bent back toward the trailhead where we’d parked and we wound up just a tenth of a mile away from our car but instead of just walking back to it and driving to the Little Falls Trailhead we turned left and road walked the mile.

As road walks go this one was fine, and we passed another bunch of darlingtonia along the way.
Western azalea

A closer look at a darlingtonia blossom.

At the trailhead we walked through the small campground to the signed Little Falls Trail Loop.

At a 4-way junction we turned right briefly following the flume before turning downhill toward the river.

Serpentine arnica

California gromwell

Wedgeleaf violet

Spotted towhee

Paintbrush and violets

Narrowleaf blue-eyed Mary

Deltoid balsamroot

Illinois River

Field chickweed

Spreading phlox

We took use paths down to the rocks near Little Falls to explore along the river a bit.

Mallard drakes

After exploring the rocks we continued on the loop trail.
Pool above the falls.

Wildflowers above the trail.

Interesting colors on this iris.

Pine violets

The trail eventually veered uphill away from the river to complete the loop.

After completing the loop we returned to FR 4201 and walked back to our car at the Eight Dollar Mountain Trailhead and headed for our next stop, the Kerby Flat Trailhead.

The view from the trailhead was great and wound up being the best part of our attempted hike here.
Pearsoll Peak and Gold Basin Butte in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness.

The trail begins at the railed viewpoint and heads downhill.

The Illinois River below.

Lupine

Plectritis

At first the trail followed what may have been a fire road and was nice and wide but as it began to follow a ridge downhill it quickly became crowded by poison oak.

We managed to find a way around the first bad section but then we were stymied. With no desire to come in contact with poison oak we turned back after just a third of a mile and headed back to the car.
This section was great.

Swallowtail

This stop was supposed to have been a 4.3-mile lollipop loop visiting both Kerby and Star Flats, but it wound up being a 0.6-mile out-and-back. The good news was we had three other stops that were part of Sullivan’s featured Illinois River Beaches hike. The second stop was for Snailback Beach, just a 1.1-mile drive from the Kerby Flat Trailhead. We parked in a small pullout on the left side of the road at a small signboard.

Here a half mile trail follows an old roadbed down to Snailback Beach. This hike started encouragingly as the wide roadbed helped keep the poison oak to the sides.

Female black-headed grosbeak

Balsamroot

Paintbrush next to some yet-to-bloom lupine.

The Illinois River below.

Our optimism about reaching the beach here took a hit when we arrived at Snailback Creek. The creek was flowing pretty good and would have required fording in calf deep water to continue. Normally that wouldn’t stop us, but it also looked like the trail on the far side was in need of maintenance which made us question if we would be able to reach the beach even if we did ford the creek. At the time the chance of reaching the beach wasn’t worth the assuredly wet feet that would result from the ford, so we once again turned back after just a third of a mile.

Snailback Creek

We hiked back up to the car and drove another 1.6-miles west on Illinois River Road to the signed Horn Bend Trailhead.
The “trail” is immediately to the left of the sign here. You can make out some of it further back through the bushes.

This trail supposedly follows the road for 0.4-miles before turning downhill on a cat road that leads to the beach. The 2018 fire (this area also burned in 2002) damage was most evident on what was left of this trail. Heather decided not to even bother opting to wait at the car while I attempted to make the 0.7-mile hike down to the river.
After crashing through the initial brush the trail cleared for a moment.

The clear trail didn’t last long.

Fawn lilies

The road sign in the distance was easier to see than the trail here.

Poison oak and downed trees forced me off the tread and after just 0.2-miles I’d lost any sign of it.

I’d also picked up one tick as I wandered through the brush so enough was enough and I found a break in the poison oak where I could hop onto the road and followed the shoulder back to Heather and the car.

We had one stop left from the featured hike description, the Swinging Bridge which we knew was closed. While the bridge was closed Forest Road 087 was not and it led down to the river past the bridge so we had decided to road walk down and at least see the bridge. From the Horn Bend Trailhead we drove another 4.2-miles and parked at a pullout at Road 087.

We hiked down the gravel road a half mile, passing the Fall Creek Trailhead along the way, to the bridge.

Dogwood blossoms

The Fall Creek Trailhead to the left.

The car bridge across the Illinois River to McCaleb Ranch. Technically we could have continued down to that bridge and crossed on it then turned left onto the Fall Creek Trail for a half mile to Illinois River Falls, but the closure order posted at the Fall Creek Trailhead was unclear. It stated that it was illegal to be “on a trail” not just on the suspension bridge itself. The Forest Service webpage seems to indicate that it is only the bridge that is closed until repaired. Either way we were just happy to see the bridge as that was the turnaround in Sullivan’s description.

Assuming these are some of the needed repairs.

We climbed back up to our car and started back toward Highway 199. At some point earlier between trailheads I had come up with an idea to try an alternate way to reach Star and Kerby Flats. Sullivan’s map showed a roadbed off of Illinois River Road 0.7-miles east of the Kerby Flat Trailhead that led past Star Flat to a ford of Deer Creek. I remembered seeing the road on the way to the Kerby Flat Trailhead so we decided to try parking on the shoulder and seeing if the road was a better option. When we arrived there was another vehicle parked there which gave us some hope.
The start of the road which the map lists as Forest Road 011.

As we started down this dirt road we passed the group from the other vehicle on their way back. They were locals who apparently hike this road regularly. They had been to the ford and said that the flowers were good and they also mentioned that there was a car in Deer Creek at the ford. They said it hadn’t been there the week before but that there had been a different car there in the past that had finally washed away. Now a new one had taken its place. We thanked them for the information and continued downhill.

Monkeyflower

Oregon rockcress and buttercups

Balsamroot and Oregon rockcress

Alpine? pennycress. There was a lot of this along the road, the first we’d seen of it this trip.

Star Flat. It was obvious from the tire marks which extended into the vegetation in places that yahoos like to come here and tear things up (sigh).

Duskywing

There was a fence around the bog at Star Flat which hosts more California darlingtonia.

Plectritis

Iris

Darlingtonia

Deer Creek

Showy phlox and paintbrush

Just over a mile on the road we passed the rocky trail that we would have taken back up to the Kerby Flat Trailhead had we made it down from there.

Checker lily

Just before the ford we passed an old car with kids toys on it. Not pictured is the tower of Coors Light cans that was just off to the left.

Just as advertised there was indeed a car abandoned in the ford.

We assume it was a stolen vehicle (or someone was really drunk/high). From the amount of garbage and fire pits in the area it was clear that people drive down here to party and do stupid stuff. Truly unfortunate because the beach at the confluence of Deer Creek and the Illinois River could have been really nice but the general feeling all the trash gave off made it uncomfortable.

We continued past the beach following the trail toward Kerby Flat.

Hairy pink

Plectritis along the trail.

Illinois River

After 0.2-miles the trail ahead appeared to begin to get overgrown and we’d had enough of that for the day so we declared victory and turned around.

We returned the way we’d come half expecting to encounter some ne’er-do-wells heading down to party. Thankfully that didn’t happen although we did come across a suspicious group of butterflies.

Star flower

Shooting stars along the creek leading to the bog in Star Flat.

Fawn lily

It started to sprinkle as we neared the car which was the opposite of how the weather had been all week. Monday through Wednesday it had been cloudy in the morning and cleared up in the afternoon but today the clouds moved in later.

We were back to the car a little before 2pm but it had felt like a much longer day. We’d managed to get 10.2-miles of hiking and road walking in over the course of our six stops. The cumulative elevation gain was just over 1300′ so it was a pretty solid day of hiking even though none of the stops went as originally planned. Sometimes you just have to get creative, and we seem to be getting more and more practice at that.

Back in Grants Pass we picked up dinner from the Tacos Don Goyo food truck on K Street (excellent food) and started packing up for our drive home the next day. We decided not to try and replace the Rogue River hike that we didn’t do on Wednesday (post) opting instead to get home to Merry and Pippin. This was the first time we’d been away from them since adopting the kittens in October and we missed the little guys. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Eight Dollar Mountain and Illinois River Beaches

Tags California darlingtonia, Deer Creek, Eight Dollar Mountain, Eight Dollar Mountain Botanical Area, Fall Creek Trailhead, Grants Pass. Tacos Don Goyo, hiking, Horn Bend Trailhead, illinois river, Jeffery Pine Loop Trail, Kerby Flat Trailhead, Little Falls Trail Loop, Little Illinois River Falls, Oregon, Snailback Creek, Star Flat, Swinging Bridge

California Hiking Klamath Mountains Scott Mountains Trip report

Kangaroo Lake

We recently spent a week in Mount Shasta City to do some day hiking in Northern California. We drove down on 7/23/17 and on the way stopped at Kangaroo Lake.

We walked down to the picnic area to eat lunch and look at the lake before walking a short distance back up the entrance road to pick up the Fen Trail.

The Fen Trail climbed a hillside along a fen which was home to many wildflowers including Darlingtonia California, California pitcher plants.

In a half mile the trail came to a viewpoint overlooking Kangaroo Lake.

The trail continued for another .9 miles passing more wildflowers before ending at the Pacific Crest Trail.

2017-07-23 11.05.02

We turned left (south) on the PCT and headed for Bull Lake. The trail here passed through ponderosa pines with wide open views.

The ground along this stretch was covered with balloon pods.

We passed several thru-hikers including a couple resting at a damp hillside which housed more pitcher plants.

Beyond the pitcher plants the trail entered a drier meadow where we noticed a collapsed structure amid the wildflowers.

As we passed through this area I spotted the final few inches of a rattlesnake slowly leaving the trail and disappearing into a manzanita bush. It was the first we’d seen while hiking and just from the small portion we saw it was a lot bigger than the garter snakes and rubber boas we usually see. We made a wide arc around the bush and continued on, now on high alert.

Just under a mile after turning onto the PCT we stayed left at a fork in the trail which would have taken us down to Robbers Meadow. We did the same in another 1.7 miles when that trail returned to the PCT at a four-way junction at a pass.

From the pass we could see Bull Lake below and Mt. Shasta on the horizon.

We stayed on the PCT until we had nearly passed Bull Lake where we struck off downhill on a faint user trail to the lake shore.

After a relaxing break at the lake it was time to head back. For our return trip we chose to follow a route suggested by Bubba Suess from Hike Mt. Shasta. Our plan was to follow his directions from Bull Lake up and over Cory Peak and back down to the PCT. We returned to the PCT from the lake and when we spotted what appeared to be a fairly open route so we left the PCT and headed uphill.

The brush soon gave way to a rocky slope which made the cross country route fairly easy, just a bit steep.

Using the track provided on the website we were able to compare our route shown on our GPS to make sure we were staying on the right track. It’s always interesting to see what is hiding back off the trails. We came to a small green bowl were a doe was grazing.

She headed uphill on nearly the same route we were on so we saw here a couple more times before our route veered to the right at a saddle to climb up an even higher ridge.

We arrived at the ridge top just to the SE of a snow melt lake below Cory Peak.

To the SW the snowy Trinity Alps lined the horizon.

Mt. Shasta and Mt. Eddy rose to the east.

They were all locations we had plans to visit during the week. After catching our breath we followed the ridge along the lake and scrambled up to the top of some rocks which looked from the lake like the summit of Cory Peak. Once on top we could see that the summit of Cory Peak was actually further along a broad ridge.

We made our way along the ridge to another set of rocks with an old sign protruding from the top.

Here we found a geologic survey marker and a summit register.

After another short break we continued west dropping down to a saddle along the ridge where we had a nice view of Rock Fence Lake below to the north.

We followed the ridge down picking up a mylar balloon along the way. Our route passed a nice bunch of wildflowers and below some melting snow before we bailed off the ridge and hooked back up with the PCT about a quarter mile from the junction with the Fen Trail.

Looking back up at Cory Peak.

Mylar balloon.

Looking back along the ridge to Cory Peak.

More of the ridge we descended.

Final stretch down to the PCT.

Once we were back on the PCT we returned to Kangaroo Lake on the Fen Trail and headed for Mount Shasta City. It had been a good start to the vacation and getting to see many of the areas we were going to be visiting was a great motivator. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Kangaroo Lake

Tags Bull Lake, California, California darlingtonia, Cory Lake, Cory Peak, Fen Trail, hiking, Kangaroo Lake, Mount Shasta, mt. eddy, Pacific Crest Trail, PCT, Robbers Meadow, Rock Fence Lake