For our final hike of our Mount Rainier vacation we landed on the Naches Peak Loop. This was originally not going to be our final hike but after several changes to our plans throughout the week it wound up here and we couldn’t be happier that it did. This was a spectacular hike with tons of wildflowers, great views, and a nice variety of wildlife.
Less than 40 minutes from Packwood we arrived at the trailhead a little before 5:45am.
Double Peak
The Naches Peak Loop Trail is 3.5-miles with 500′ of elevation gain. A portion of the loop follows the Pacific Crest Trail which provided an opportunity for a side trip down to Dewey Lakes in the William O. Douglas Wilderness.
It is recommended to hike the loop clockwise to maximize the views of Mount Rainier so that was our plan as we set off. The wildflower display was immediately profuse.
Heading down to the start of the loop near Tipsoo Lake.
Tipsoo Lake
Spirea, lupine, western pasque flower, and bistort.
We turned left at the start of the loop and climbed for a third of a mile to the Pacific Crest Trail at Chinook Pass.
Western pasque flower seedheads and aster.
Valerian and bistort
Larkspur
Arnica, fleabane, lupine, bistort, and valerian.
Partridgefoot
Highway 410 at Chinook Pass.
Trail sign for the PCT.
We turned right on the PCT and crossed the highway on an overpass.
The PCT was more level as it traversed the hillside below Naches Peak.
Looking back at Yakima Peak.
We were leaving the National Park and entering the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
The top of Mount Rainier to the left of Yakima Peak.
Saxifrage
Bird’s beak lousewort
At one point we looked back toward Yakima Peak and spotted some deer dashing across the hillside.
Doe and two fawns.
White mountain heather
Wilderness information for the William O. Dougals Wilderness.
Paintbrush
Grass-of-parnassus and an arnica.
Allumroot
Columbine with several other types of flowers.
Cusick’s speedwell
Pink monkeyflower
Wilderness sign
Bird with a snack.
Naches Peak
Just under a mile from Chinook Pass the PCT passes a small tarn below Naches Peak. We detoured around the tarn on a use trail.
Sickle-top lousewort
Penstemon
Aster
Pink monkeyflower and arnica
Pussytoes
Dewey Peak
The top of Mt. Adams between Dewey and Seymour Peaks.
Mt. Adams
Golden-mantled ground squirrel enjoying the view.
Dewey Lake below Dewey Peak.
We came to a junction 1.7-miles from Chinook Pass where the PCT forked left to head downhill to Dewey Lake.
Heather decided not to make the side trip down to Dewey Lake as it added over 600′ of elevation gain, and over 3 miles to the hike. I headed down the PCT which made one big switchback then headed more directly toward the lakes.
Double Peak with the snowy Tatoosh Range behind.
Stevens, Boundary, and Unicorn Peaks
Yarrow
Rainiera
No fires reminder.
Dewey Lake
There are several smaller ponds/lakes along the PCT in addition to Dewey Lake.
The largest of the smaller bodies of water.
Reflections in a pond.
PCT along Dewey Lake.
I turned around at the southern end of the lake and headed back to the Naches Peak Loop.
Elephants head at Dewey Lake.
Sandpiper
Junco
Great blue heron
Lousewort
Mushrooms
Grouse
The signs at the Naches Peak Loop junction ahead.
I continued counterclockwise on the Naches Peak Loop. The wildflowers were not as thick on this side of Naches Peak, but the views of Mount Rainier were excellent.
The Tatoosh Range.
Mt. Rainier and Naches Peak
Unnamed lake along the Naches Peak Loop.
There were some good flowers near the unnamed lake.
Robin
A nice buck crossed the trail just ahead of me then disappeared into the forest.
Harebells
Cedar waxwings
Mt. Adams
Hawkeye Point and Johnson Peak in the Goat Rocks Wilderness in front of Mt. Adams.
Sourdough Ridge
Yakima Peak and Highway 410.
Tipsoo Lake from the southern trailhead.
Yakima Peak from Tipsoo Lake.
Mt. Rainier from Tipsoo Lake.
Butterfly
Pine siskin
The trailhead where we had parked on the far side of a small pond.
With the detour to Dewey Lakes my hike wound up being 7.2-miles with roughly 1200′ of elevation gain.
This wound up being the perfect hike to end our trip with providing big views and extensive wildflower meadows along with a surprising variety of wildlife sightings. It was also short enough that we on our way back to Salem a little before 10am allowing us to be home mid-afternoon (no thanks to Portland traffic). It had been a great trip, even with the flat tire the first day. The temperatures had been especially welcome as it never got above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. It seems like it had been many years since our last summer vacation that didn’t include 90-to-100-degree temperatures at some point. We were also pleasantly surprised with how often we didn’t notice the crowds. While the park was busy there were times every day where we were able to enjoy a feeling of solitude, even in the Paradise Area. We weren’t in the park on a weekend so things might have felt differently on a Saturday, but our experience was very positive. I don’t know when we’ll be back, but there are still plenty of trails left for us to explore at Mount Rainier. Happy Trails!
Flickr: Naches Peak Loop
You can actually see some of the route I explored on the left side between Parvipes Marsh and the butte and at the bottom of the picture wrapping around the butte.
Manroot
Camas
Plectritis
Checkerbloom
Tolmie’s mariposa lilies
Morgan Lake with a bit of Moffitti Marsh to the left.
Columbine
Iris
Robin
Sparrows
Gold crowned sparrow
The grass was low enough that the lake was fairly visible. Later in Spring you’re lucky to see any water from the trail.
Not a great picture due to the distance and light, but there are a couple of ruddy ducks to the left hanging out with some ring-necked ducks.
Mallards
American coot
Gadwalls
Buffleheads
Common yellowthroat
Looking for a bittern.
American bittern. I could only see the bittern from a very short section of trail and as soon as I lost a little elevation it disappeared from sight. It never flew off, but I couldn’t see it even knowing where it was.
Following the trail next to Smithfield Road.
Lots of red-winged blackbirds near the trailhead.
Finch
Heading back toward Baskett Butte and Moffitti Marsh.
Northern flicker
Moffitti Marsh
American wigeons
Female common yellowthroat
Spotted towhee
I watched a crow chase off a hawk that had apparently gotten too close.
The official trail heads up the hill to the left. I veered right just beyond the trail sign pointing toward Moffitti Marsh.
Lilac
Parvipes Marsh ahead to the right.
The tractor turned right and drove over a dike at the end of Parvipes Marsh to a field on the other side.
Deer farther up the hillside.
This appears to be balsamroot. There were just a couple of patches on the SW side of the butte.
Cottonwood Pond
Buttercups and miniature lupine
Meadow checker-mallow
Lomatium and plectritis
South Slough Pond
I was a bit surprised to find a bench along this route given it isn’t shown as an official trail.
Grass pea
More checkerbloom
Golden paintbrush
If I hadn’t been looking for the tread I don’t think I would have noticed it.
Lupine
Another Tolmie’s mariposa lily
Western meadowlark
The overlook ahead.
The obligatory photo from the overlook.
Lots of patches of plectritis on the butte.
Ground squirrel
Swallow
Baskett Butte from the Cottonwood Pond parking area.
Mallards
Northern pintails
Northern shovelers
Lesser scaup. They look a lot like ring-necked ducks only without the ring.
Ring-necked ducks
Nap Time.
Harvester ants – 5/29/23, Riley Ranch Preserve, Bend
Ant on penstemon – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Crab spider on a California harebell – 6/25/23, North Umpqua Trail, BLM Roseburg District
Bee – 9/3/23, Threemile Canyon, BLM Burns District
Bees – 7/8/23, Sand Mountain, Willamette National Forest
Sweat bee? and a beetle on a prickly pear cactus – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Beetle – 7/31/23, Garfield Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Beetle – 7/29/23, Stuart Falls Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Beetle on a white mariposa lily – 8/14/23, Main Eagle Creek Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Beetle and another bug on spirea – 7/4/23, Rocky Top Trail, Santiam State Forest
Beetles on thistle – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Ladybug on a daisy – 7/4/23, Natural Arch Trail, Santiam State Forest
Common pill-bug – 6/25/23, North Bank Habitat, BLM Roseburg District
Beetle – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Beetle and a butterfly on buckwheat – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Grasshopper – 9/3/23, P Ranch, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
Cricket – 6/14/23, Imnaha Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Caterpillar – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Caterpillar – 7/1/23, Hummocks Trail, Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, WA
Caterpillar – 8/16/23, West Eagle Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Millipede – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Millipedes – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Eight-spotted Forester-Alypia octomaculata – 7/4/23, Niagra Heights Road, Santiam State Forest
Fireweed Clearwing Moth (Albuna pyramidalis) – 7/4/23, Niagra Heights Road, Santiam State Forest
Moth – 7/4/23, Niagra Heights Road, Santiam State Forest
Moths – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husum, WA
Moth – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husum, WA
Moth – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husum, WA
Moth – 6/16/23, Trail 1890, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Moth – 7/4/23, Rocky Top Trail, North Santiam State Park
Moth – 6/25/23, North Umpqua Trail, BLM Roseburg District
Moth – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Moth – 6/24/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, Wild Rogue Wilderness
Moth – 7/8/23, Santiam Wagon Road, Willamette National Forest
Sphinx moth – 8/17/23, West Eagle Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Fly and butterfly – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Boisduval’s blues? – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husum, WA
Acmon blue? – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Eastern tailed blue? – 5/13/23, Graham Oaks Nature Park, Wilsonville
Butterfly in the Lycaenidae family – 5/2/23, Sterling Mind Ditch Trail System, BLM Medford District
Butterfly in the Lycaenidae family – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Butterfly in the Lycaenidae family – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Butterfly in the Lycaenidae family – 6/13/23, Iwetemlaykin State Heritage Site, Joseph
Echo azures? – 5/4/23, Forest Road 011, Rogue-River Siskiyou National Forest
Butterfly in the Lycaenidae family – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husum, WA
Butterflies in the Lycaenidae family – 7/4/23, Niagra Heights Road, Santiam State Forest
Gray hairstreak – 6/11/23, Lewis & Clark Trail, Hermiston
Thicket hairstreak? – 7/8/23, Sand Mountain, Willamette National Forest
A hairstreak – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husum, WA
Various butterflies – 6/16/23, Deep Creek Stairway Trail, Payette National Forest, ID
Lorquin’s admiral – 6/14/23, Imnaha Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Red admiral – 7/23/23, Metolius River Trail, Deschutes National Forest
California sister – 10/8/23, Forest Road 041, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Painted lady – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
California tortoiseshell – 9/16/23, Fish Lake Trail, Mt. Hood National Forest
Milbert’s tortoiseshell – 8/14/23, Main Eagle Creek Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Hoary comma – 7/8/23, Sand Mountain, Willamette National Forest
Mourning cloak – 6/14/23, Imnaha Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Common wood nymph – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Ochre ringlet – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Checkerspot – 7/29/23, Stuart Falls Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Checkerspot – 7/1/23, Boundary Trail, Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, WA
Snowberry checkerspot – 7/1/23, Boundary Trail, Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, WA
Edith’s checkerspot – 7/8/23, Sand Mountain, Willamette National Forest
Mylitta crescent – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
A crescent? – 5/13/23, Graham Oaks Nature Park, Wilsonville
Fritillary butterflies – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
A fritillary – 7/4/23, Rocky Top Trail, Santiam State Forest
A fritillary – 7/15/23, Forest Road 4610, Mt. Hood National Forest
Indra swallowtail – 5/4/23, Kerby Flat Trail, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Oregon swallowtail? with ladybug – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Swallowtail – 6/3/23, Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Trout Lake, WA
Western swallowtails – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Swallowtail – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
A sulphur – 9/9/23, Alta Lake Trail, Sky Lakes Wilderness
Large marble – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Becker’s white – 6/14/23, Imnaha Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Male margined white? – 8/29/23, Newell Creek Canyon Nature Park, Oregon City
Mountain parnassian – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Clodius parnassian – 7/29/23, Pumice Flat Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Silver-spotted Skipper – 6/14/23, Eureka Bar, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
A skipper – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
A skipper – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
A skipper – 6/24/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, Wild Rogue Wilderness
A skipper – 9/3/23, Threemile Canyon, BLM Burns District
Skipper on a sagebrush mariposa lily – 7/23/23, Metolius River Trail, Deschutes National Forest
A skipper – 9/3/23, P Ranch, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
Duskywing? – 6/24/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, Wild Rogue Wilderness
Duskywing – 5/3/23, Waters Creek Interpretive Trail, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Dreamy duskywing – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Dragonfly – 6/24/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, Wild Rogue Wilderness
Dragonfly – 7/1/23, Hummocks Trail, Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, WA
Dragonfly – 7/15/23, Plaza Lake, Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness
Dragonfly – 7/31/23, Godfrey Glen Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Dragonfly – 9/2/23, Idlewild Loop Trail, Malheur National Forest
Slug – 4/29/23, Canemah Bluff Nature Park, Oregon City
Snail – 4/15/23, Enchanted Valley Trail, Siuslaw National Forest
Rough skinned newt – 4/15/23, Cape Mountain, Siuslaw National Forest
Tadpoles – 9/9/23, Pacific Crest Trail, Sky Lakes Wilderness
Western toads – 9/9/23, Pacific Crest Trail, Sky Lakes Wilderness
Full grown western toad – 9/9/23, Pacific Crest Trail, Sky Lakes Wilderness
Cascade frog – 9/9/23, Pacific Crest Trail, Sky Lakes Wilderness
Pacific treefrog – 9/3/23, Threemile Canyon, BLM Burns District
Northern red-legged frog – 8/26/23, Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Cloverdale
Bullfrog (invasive) – 4/22/23, Talking Water Gardens, Albany
Western pond turtles – 4/22/23, Talking Water Gardens, Albany
Southern alligator lizard – 6/24/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, Wild Rogue Wilderness
Western fence lizard – 5/3/23, Waters Creek Interpretive Trail, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Sagebrush lizard – 7/22/23, Shut-In Trail, Deschutes National Forest
Pygmy short-horned lizard – 7/8/23, Santiam Wagon Road, Willamette National Forest
Gopher snake – 6/25/23, North Bank Habitat, BLM Roseburg District
Garter snake – 4/22/23, Dave Clark Riverfront Path, Albany
Rubber boa? – 6/14/23, Imnaha Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Nutria (invasive) – 5/13/23, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Sherwood
Beaver – 5/29/23, Riley Ranch Preserve, Bend
Yellow-bellied marmot – 7/31/23, Garfield Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Gray squirrel – 4/22/23, Dave Clark Riverfront Path, Albany
Douglas’ squirrel – 4/22/23, Dave Clark Riverfront Path, Albany
Eastern fox squirrel? – 4/29/23, Newell Creek Canyon Nature Park, Oregon City
Columbian ground squirrel – 8/16/23, Tombstone Lake Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Golden-mantled ground squirrel – 7/31/23, Garfield Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Chipmunk – 8/5/23, McNeil Point scramble trail, Mt. Hood Wilderness
Pika – 8/5/23, McNeil Point Trail, Mt. Hood Wilderness
Rabbit – 5/13/23, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Sherwood
Mountain cottontail – 5/29/23, Riley Ranch Preserve, Bend
Fawns – 7/31/23, Garfield Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Doe – 5/20/23, Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Washougal, WA
Buck – 7/31/23, Rim Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Elk – 6/15/23, Buckhorn Road (FR 46), Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Horses – 9/3/23, Threemile Canyon, BLM Burns District
Bat -5/2/23, Sterling Mine Ditch Tunnel, BLM Medford District
Seals – 11/18/23, Siletz Bay, Lincoln City
Shell with inhabitant – 11/18/23, Nelscott Beach, Lincoln City
Starfish – 10/28/23, Short Beach, Oceanside
Trout – 8/16/23, Tombstone Lake, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Fish – 6/16/23, Hells Canyon Reservoir, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Beatys Butte to the SW.
Rain to the SW as well.
Threemile Creek could be heard but not seen through the thick brush.
Lupine
There was a post but no sign at the junction.
Wickerstem buckwheat
The Pueblo Mountains (
Clouds and rain showers to the SW.
Threemile Canyon
The faint Huffman Trail.
Alvord Peak in the center distance with Pueblo Mountain to the far right.
Closer look at Alvord Peak in the center.
Still a little blue sky to the NW.
Not sure where the fog below came from but it was on a mission to beat us up to the plateau.
Here comes the fog and some rain.
Just moments later.
And here is the fog.
The final pitch to the plateau.
Cairn at the end of the trail.
Exploring is possible as long as you remember where you came up.
Looking West.
Looking toward Threemile Canyon.
Beatys Butte at center with the long fault block of Hart Mountain (
Cliffs across Threemile Canyon
Arriving back at the junction with the Threemile Creek Trail.
Curlycup gumweed
The trail crossed and at times used dry creek beds and also crossed Threemile Creek several times.
The easiest crossing of Threemile Creek. Several of the others were not obvious until I pushed through the brush and then the footing was often tricky due to large, slick rocks needing to be navigated (at least in order to stay out of the creek).
On the trail, I think.
Elderberry
Hard to tell by the photo but this puffball was a little bigger than a softball.
I wouldn’t really describe the area as a meadow but I was 0.9 miles from the junction.
Looking down at the meadow and post/snag (lower right) from the rocks.
Sometimes the trail was really only identifiable by which junipers had had limbs cut.
The drop to the creek here was approximately 2′ and the pool in Threemile Creek was fairly deep making this crossing a bit of a challenge not to slip and fall in.
Aster
Sullivan’s map showed a “Bart Simpson Rock” which we believe was this one.
Nearing the sunflower hillside and trail junction.
Dragonfly
Sign for the River Trail.
The long barn where we’d be heading next.
We turned around here where the tread became rougher.
Interpretive signs were scattered along the trails at the P Ranch.
Lorquin’s admiral and a grasshopper.
History of the P Ranch which at one time covered 140,000 acres.
The owl inside the barn.
Other structures from the ranch.
The gravel road is in good shape but you don’t want to drive any faster than about 10mph so you don’t miss any wildlife.
Fawns
Common nighthawk
So many red-winged blackbirds.
Hawk (northern harrier?) in a field.
More fawns and birds.
Finch?
It disappeared in the grass moments later.
Another hawk
Sandhill cranes in the field.
Sandhill cranes
Crossing the dam.
Kiger Gorge (
Kiger Gorge
Blurry due to distance but there were several deer at the far end of the reservoir.
Another long shot, a western grebe.
Not certain what this bird was but it dove into the water a couple of times.
The deer, some ducks, the western grebe and a cormorant were all that direction.
It also appeared that some rain was on the way.
Recrossing the dam.
Pheasant family
There were at least 5 deer out there.
Two
Three more
White faced ibis
California quail
Pheasant
A few of at least 10 turkey vultures in the trees above the Refuge Headquarters.
Malheur Lake from the end of the auto tour.
Bog Orchid
Bistort and monkeyflower
Some sort of orchid?
Yellow monkeyflower
Monkshood
Bistort
Not sure if this is a robin or ?
Crater Lake Lodge
Garfield Peak from behind the lodge.
The Watchman and Hillman Peak
Mt. McLoughlin (
Mt. McLoughlin
Union Peak
Paintbrush
Reservoir structure (built 1931).
Mt. Bailey (
Mt. Bailey
Deer below the trail.
Western pasque flowers
Arnica
One of several patches of snow at the higher elevations.
Crater Lake Lodge below to the left.
Mt. Scott (
Clark’s nutcracker
Buckwheat
Yellow-bellied marmot
Bench below the summit of Garfield Peak.
Partridge foot
Applegate Peak to the left and Crater Peak (
Arriving at the summit.
Mt. Scott above the Phantom Ship.
It was a bit hard to make out but Mt. Shasta was visible to the south.
Cowhorn Mountain (
Crater Lake from the summit of Garfield Peak.
Blurry photo due to the sheer distance away it was but it looked big.
Penstemon
Painted lady
There were a lot of marmots out.
Paintbrush, phlox and buckwheat.
Stonecrop, paintbrush and pearly everlasting.
The clear blue water of the deepest lake in the United States.
Yellow-rumped warbler
False hellebore
Viewpoint and The Watchman from the trailhead.
Western pasque flowers above Crater Lake.
Hillman Peak ahead.
Lounging on a rock.
Shasta knotweed
Rim Drive below the Rim Trail.
Mt. Bailey and Diamond Peak with Diamond Lake (
Red Cone with Sawtooth Mountain (
Silvery Raillardella
Snow patch on Hillman Peak.
Penstemon
Llao Rock
It took us a moment to notice the two deer ahead along the tree line.
We spotted the doe but she also had a pair of fawns nearby that bounded off.
Phlox
Dwarf lupine
Devil’s Backbone with Mt. Scott behind.
Wizard Island
Devil’s Backbone
Hillman Peak from Devil’s Backbone.
Garfield Peak across Crater Lake.
Saxifrage
The Watchman
If I stand perfectly still, they won’t see me.
Hillman Peak and Llao Rock from the viewpoint at The Watchman Trailhead.
Rock formations below Hillman Peak.
Godfrey Glen Trailhead
The ADA accessible trail made for a nice easy walk.
Super-heated volcanic gas fused ash creating these pinnacles.
First viewpoint of Godfrey Glen above Munson Creek.
Godfrey Glen
Another viewpoint.
We could hear Munson Creek but it wasn’t visible in the canyon below.
One waterfall.
Another waterfall in the canyon.
The end of the loop.
Sinnott Memorial Overlook on the rim to the left.
View from the overlook.
Mt. Scott and Garfield Peak from the overlook.
These numbers blew our minds.
Swallowtail and a painted lady on penstemon.
Mt. Bachelor (
The start of the Juniper Loop.
Similar to the Metro Parks we’ve recently visited there were small maps on the trail pointers here.
Middle and North Sister
Blurry shot of the deer.
Mt. Bachelor, Broken Top, and the Three Sisters.
Rabbit
Mt. Bachelor and Tumalo Mountain (
Ball Butte
Broken Top (
South Sister (
Middle and North Sister
We passed by the shared Juniper/Sage Flat Trail and continued on the Sage Flat Loop.
Sageflat Loop
Threadleaf phacelia
Balsamroot along the Deschutes.
Robin
Longhorn plectritis
Blackheaded grosbeak
Heather waited below while I climbed the outcrop.
The bench on top.
The top of the outcrop.
Western stoneseed
Larkspur
I spotted something head into the river from the grass on the near bank here.
I spotted the grass moving before the animal below which turned out to be a beaver.
We followed the pointer for Tumalo State Park.
Cabin ruins
Western wallflower
Lupine
Another river access point.
Rockcress, possibly sicklepod.
The northern boundary of the Riley Ranch Nature Reserve.
Threadleaf phacelia
Tumalo Creek (
Crossing into Tumalo State Park.
Magpie
Paintbrush
Mallards
Penstemon
A quarter of a mile from the day use area we crossed a road leading to a private bridge crossing the river.
Remains of another bridge in the river.
Tumalo State Park Day Use Area
Deschutes River at the day use area.
Kingfisher on the bridge remains. (A bit blurry due to being a long way off.)
A swallow and a pygmy nuthatch.
Pygmy nuthatch
Bench along the Canyon Loop.
Northern flicker
We were distracted enough by the runners that we failed to notice the deer bedded down to the right of the trail. You can see its ears sticking up here.
There were at least four deer hanging out here.
The Sage Flat Loop Trail.
Spur to the Canyon Overlook.
Death camas
Mt. Bachelor and Tumalo Mountain
Mt. Jefferson
Lewis flax
Marker for the Sage Flat Overlook.
Looking back at where the Sage Flat Overlook was.
Lizard near the River Viewpoint.
The Cascade Mountains
Black Crater (
Finishing up the Juniper Loop.
Our first rhododendron blossom of the year.
We turned right when the trail met an old logging road.
Blowout Arm
Blowout Creek flowing into Blowout Arm.
We found our first beargrass on the other side of the bridge.
Swimmers at Blowout Arm.
Sign for the Lake Creek Trail.
Lake Creek Trail
Pointer for the Larch Trails.
Violets
Star-flowered solomonseal
Serviceberry
North Fork Lake Creek
Middle Fork Lake Creek
Between the pointers at junctions and a few well-placed maps it was relatively easy to stay on course, as long as we were paying attention.
We stayed right again here at the start of the Fir Trails.
A seasonal tributary of Middle Fork Lake Creek.
Balsamroot
Fir Trail reaching a bridge over the South Fork Lake Creek.
Interpretive sign at the South Fork Lake Creek.
A second footbridge over another branch of the Lake Creek.
Shelter at the South Trailhead
The first overlook didn’t have much of a view of the creek but the second one did, along with a nice bench.
The second overlook.
Interpretive sign at the second overlook.
South Fork Lake Creek
Hound’s tongue with a caterpillar.
The Fir Trails end at Road 500 (the entrance to the South Trailhead) and the Pine Trails start on the far side.
Western stoneseed
Squirrel
Goosefoot violet
One of the non-trail roadbeds to the right along the Pine Trails.
Balsamroot along the Pine Trails.
There had been some fairly recent thinning happening along the Pine Trails.
Chirpping sparrows
Chipmunks
Deer along the Fir Trails.
The Fir Trails crossed the seasonal branch on a small footbridge.
Slender phlox and narrowleaf miner’s-lettuce.
I took this photo of a swallowtail and then later realized there was a second butterfly on the Oregon grape.
Lunch
Bridge over the North Fork Lake Creek.
Bench along Lake Creek near the North Trailhead.
Arriving back at the trailhead.
The Mountain View Trail is named so because of the view of Mt. Hood, which on this morning was hiding behind the clouds on the left side of the photo.
Map and information at the trailhead.
View to the East.
Looking West toward Washougal.
Mallards
A duck and a goose sharing a log.
A mallard and an egret in a channel to the West.
Ducks flying over the wetlands casting clear reflections.
Water dripping from a mallards bill.
One of several rabbits we spotted to the West.
Deer across the wetlands. (The young buck may have been sticking his tongue out at us.)
Families of geese.
Wood duck mallard
Trail sign at the junction with the Refuge River Trail.
Sparrow
Coming in for a landing.
Red Tail Lake to the right of the Wildlife Art Trail.
Pretty sure these are the same three we saw from the Mountain View Trail.
This deer laying along the shore of Red Tail Lake was new though.
Common yellow throat
One of many great blue herons that we watched fly overhead throughout the day.
The Wildlife Art Trail passing around Redtail Lake.
Gibbons Creek is in that grass somewhere with at least one deer.
Killdeer along Redtail Lake.
Turns out the deer laying on the lake shore wasn’t alone.
Roses
Purple martins
Just beyond the Cottonwood Bridge the trail forks. To the right is the seasonal section of the loop open May 1st through September 30th. The left-hand fork dead-ends in a tenth of a mile overlooking the wetlands.
We headed left to the overlook before continuing on the loop.
Egret at Scaup Pond.
Egret with a frog meal.
Mushrooms
We got a kick out of the “Birds Only Beyond This Sign”.
Kingfisher
We’ve only seen two bitterns on our hikes and both times we only spotted them as they flew off from the grassy cover that they’d been hiding in so I was pretty disappointed when I realized I’d been duped, but kudos to the artist because it looked real at first glance to me.
You have something in your teeth.
Spotted towhee
At least two deer in the grass.
Another American goldfinch.
Spotted sandpiper
Oregon sunshine and yarrow
The Columbia River ahead.
Viewpoint along the Columbia River.
Approaching the Lampray Brdige.
Looking back from across the bridge there was a bald eagle in the dead snag along the river.
There were lots of geese along this section of trail.
Red clover in some Oregon sunshine
Another spotted sandpiper
Steigerwald Lake in the distance with a family of geese and crow on a log in the near channel.
End of the trail.
It was about 8:15am when we turned around and it was already feeling fairly warm, but there was relief on the way in the form of some clouds coming in from the Pacific.
Savannah sparrow
Here come the clouds.
Double the eagles.
For the second week in a row we got to watch an American Kestral on the hunt.
Arriving back at the Dragon Fly Bridge and the junction with the Wildlife Art Trail.
Red tailed hawk
Geese nesting atop a snag.
More deer in the grass along Gibbons Creek.
Egret at Redtail Lake.
Great blue heron at Redtail Lake.
Purple martins
When the light catches the feathers right it’s obvious where the purple martin’s name comes from.
Common yellowthroat
House finch
A mile from the Mountain View Trail we arrived at the refuge boundary with Captain William Clark Park.
The trail follows a dike to Steamboat Landing.
The Provision Camp Trail
Northern flicker
Flooded trail ahead.
Black headed grosbeak
Osprey
Back on the dike.
The flooded section of trail from above.
Turtles!
Another turtle
Common merganser
Great blue heron
Steamboat Landing
A family of geese out for a float.
The large “hump” ahead is Larch Mountain (
Grainy proof of Mt. Hood’s existence.
Silver Star Mountain (
The American bittern in the grass.
We’d been the first car in the lot that morning.
Ants dropping sawdust from a log along the Catherine Creek Trail. We sat and watched these busy ants for quite a while. They had created a good-sized pile on the ground below.
We see a lot of beetles but usually not all at once like these lady bugs on Observation Peak.
Lady bug – Upper Table Rock
Yellow & black beetle – Mule Mountain
Redish brown beetle – Siskiyou Wilderness
Green beetle – Siskiyou Wilderness
Hitchhiker – Mt. Ireland
Blueish green beetle – Catherine Creek Meadows
Small beetle – Catherine Creek Meadows
Green beetle on a geranium – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Green beetle on a wallflower – Silver Star Mountain
Stripped beetle – Spring Valley Greenway
Water skippers – Big Twin Lake
Spider on thimbleberry – Siskiyou Wilderness
Crab spider – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Another crab spider – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Cricket – Pacific Crest Trail
We are often literally struck by grasshoppers as we hike. Sometimes they stick when they hit us such as this one along the PCT.
Bee on phacelia – Mule Mountain
Wet bee on lupine – Julia Butler Hanson Wildlife Refuge
Bumble bee – Hemlock Creek Trail
Lots of pollen – Mt. Adams Wilderness
Bee landing on a marsh marigold along the PCT
Bee approaching penstemon – Siskiyou Wilderness
Bee and a tiny ant in a bindweed – Siskiyou Wilderness
Insects on thistle – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Wasp? – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Some sort of wasp – Silver Star Mountain
Insect along Bear Creek – Eagle Cap Wilderness
My brother and I used to call these “weird things”; I have no idea what it actually is – Trinity Alps Wilderness
Damsel fly – Denman Wildlife Area
Damsel fly – Hemlock Lake
Dragon fly – Goat Marsh Lake
Dragon fly – Siskiyou Wilderness
Dragon fly – Siskiyou Wilderness
Dragon fly – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Dragon fly along the Wallowa River – Wallowa Homeland
Dragon fly – E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area
Dragon fly – Hemlock Lake
Dragon fly – Sky Lakes Wilderness
Snail – Rock Creek Trail
Snail – Applegate Lake
Snail – North Siouxon Trail
Snail – Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge
Snail – Siskiyou Wilderness
Snail – Cascade Head
Slug – Larch Mountain Trail
Slug (and a fly) – Susan Creek Trail
Slug – Fish Lake
Slug on lupine – Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge
Slug and an unfortunate earth worm – Rock Creek Trail
Worms – Chehalem Ridge Nature Park
Millipede – North Siouxon Trail
Millipede – Rock Creek Trail
Millipede – Illahee Rock
Millipede – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Wet caterpillar – Yakona Nature Preserve
Dry version – Larch Mountain Trail
Caterpillar – Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge
Caterpillar – Siskiyou Wilderness
Caterpillar – Siskiyou Wilderness
Caterpillar – Larch Mountain Trail
Caterpillar – Larch Mountain Trail
Caterpillar – Larch Mountain Trail
Moth – Klickitat Trail
Moth -Eagle Cap Wilderness
Moth – Twin Lakes
Moth – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Moth – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Moth – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Moth – Wolf Creek Falls Trail
Moth – Cascade Head
Propertius duskywing (Erynnis propertius) – Klickitat Trail
Duskywing – Siskiyou Wilderness
Northern Cloudywing? – Siskiyou Wilderness
Silver-spotted skipper – Siskiyou Wilderness
Skipper – Grizzly Peak
Skipper – Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness
Skipper – E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area
Hairstreak (bramble?) – Siskiyou Mountains
Cedar hairstreak – Siskiyou Wilderness
Hairstreak (possibly thicket) – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Ochre ringlet – Jack Ash Trail
Butterfly – Siskiyou Wilderness
Butterfly – Trinity Alps Wilderness
Butterfly – Trinity Alps Wilderness
Butterfly – Upper Table Rock
Butterfly – Mule Mountain
Butterfly – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Butterfly – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Butterfly – Mt. Adams Wilderness
Butterfly – Mt. Adams Wilderness
Butterfly – Mt. Ireland
Butterfly – Trinity Alps Wilderness
Butterfly – Silver Star Mountain
Butterfly – Russian Wilderness
Butterfly – Trinity Alps Wilderness
Sara’s orangetip – Klickitat Trail
Common woodnymph – E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area
Another woodnymph – Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness
Orange sulphur – Siskiyou Wilderness
Mountain parnassian – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Clodius parnassian – Hemlock Lake
Western white? – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Western white – Trinty Alps Wilderness
Pine white – Russian Wilderness
Butterfly – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Butterfly – Russian Wilderness
Butterfly – Mt. Adams Wilderness
Butterfly – Mule Mountain
Butterfly – Silver Star Mountain
Butterfly – Silver Star Mountain
Butterfly – Silver Star Mountain
Western meadow fritillary? – Silver Star Mountain
A fritillary – Silver Star Mountain
A fritillary – Trinity Alps Wilderness
A fritillary -Russian Wilderness
A fritillary – Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness
Mourning cloak – Klickitat Trail
California tortoiseshell – Siskiyou Wilderness
Milbert’s tortoiseshell – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Lorquin’s admiral – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Common buckeye – Mt. Shasta Wilderness
Hoary comma – Sky Lakes Wilderness
Green comma? – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Klickitat Trail
Julia Butler Hanson Wildlife Refuge
Eagle Cap Wilderness
Tadpoles – Russian Wilderness
Tadpole transforming – Mt. Adams Wilderness
Frog – Russian Wilderness
Frog – Goat Marsh Lake
Tree frog – Siskiyou Wilderness
Frog – Trinity Alps Wilderness
Toad – Trinity Alps Wilderness
Toad – Mt. Jefferson Wilderness
Fish – Siphon Lake
Rough skinned newt – Yakona Nature Preserve
Western painted turtle – Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge
Baby snake – Miller Woods
Garter snake – Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge
Lizard – Mule Mountain
Lizard – Upper Table Rock
Lizard – Russian Wilderness
Lizard – Siskiyou Wilderness
Lizard – Klickitat Trail
Lizard – Upper Table Rock
Alligator lizard – Mule Mountain
Chipmunk – Observation Peak
Ground squirrel – Russian Wilderness
Ground squirrel – Klickitat Trail
Ground squirrel – Eagle Cap Wilderness
Ground squirrel – Upper Table Rock
Squirrel – Rock Creek Trail
Squirrel – Twin Lakes
Squirrel – Larch Mountain Trail
Marmot – Wallowa Homeland
Jack rabbit – Denman Wildlife Area
Rabbit – E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area
Pika – Silver Star Mountain
Muskrat – Julia Butler Hansen – Wildlife Refuge
Otter – Killin Wetlands
Sea lion – Hart’s Cove
Deer – Memaloose Hills
Doe – Miller Woods
Mamma – Roxy Ann Peak
Fawn – Roxy Ann Peak
Columbian white-tailed buck – Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge
Doe & fawn – Donomore Meadows
Three bucks – Siskiyou Wilderness
Buck – Siskiyou Wilderness
Buck – Trinity Alps Wilderness
Doe & fawn – Russian Wilderness
Buck and does – Russian Wilderness
Two bucks – Crater Lake National Park
Elk – Yakona Nature Preserve
Bull elk – Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge
Mountain goat below the Mt. Ireland Lookout – Mt. Ireland
Domestic goat – Near the Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge
Black bear – Siskiyou Wilderness
The same black bear making eye contact the day before.
Mt. Scott (
Raven making a landing atop a mountain hemlock.
The Watchman (
It was by far the most scenic mistake we’ve made while hiking.
Wizard Island and Llao Rock
Mount Scott
We joked that views had been so good maybe we should just end the hike now.
Dutton Creek was dry.
Blue sky ahead.
Not much left for flowers, this could be a Crater Lake collomia although it’s a little late in the season.
Castle Creek still had some water flowing.
We spotted several piles of hail, possibly from the severe thunderstorms that had been forecast for Saturday night?
Arriving at the PCT.
The campsite at the junction was closed due to hazard trees.
Recrossing Castle Creek.
The PCT appeared to be following an old road bed through the park.
Dropping down to Trapper Creek.
PCT crossing of Trapper Creek.
A red-breasted nuthatch that was toying with me as I tried to get a photo.
Canada jay (grey jay)
Blue sky to the north ahead.
Some blue sky south too with a glimpse of Union Peak (
Union Peak
Entering the 2006 Bybee Complex fire scar.
The Watchman. The lookout tower on top was in a cloud after having been clearly visible from rim earlier. We wondered what that might mean for our views when we finally made it back to the rim.
Chipmunk checking us out.
Coneflower remains
Another creek crossing.
Red crossbills at the creek crossing.
There were some pretty ominous looking clouds behind us but no showers yet.
Several white crowned sparrows and at least one junco. We could also hear chickadee calls but I couldn’t find one in this capture.
Despite the ugly clouds behind us there was almost always blue sky ahead.
North Fork Castle Creek
Approaching the junction with the Lightning Springs Trail.
Townsend’s solitaire
Union Peak had been swallowed by clouds.
The Watchman with a cloud still hanging on.
Hawk
The base of Union Peak with lots of blue sky around.
A brief stint in full sunlight.
Robin
Union Peak nearly free of clouds.
The Watchman still not free.
Mountain bluebird
Full view of Union Peak.
And finally a full view of The Watchman.
Conditions were changing quickly and now there was blue sky above The Watchman.
West Rim Drive ahead with the lower portion of Mt. McLoughlin (
Mt. McLoughlin
This squirrel put its cone down in case I had something better for it, but we don’t feed the wild animals per Park rules (and 
Wizard Island’s cone
Llao Rock
Dock along Wizard Island
The Watchman and Hillman Peak
Garfield Peak to the left with Union Peak to the far right.
Phantom Ship
Mount Scott
Clark’s nutcracker
That blue though!
Golden-mantled ground squirrel
Back to where we’d been that morning.
wanderingyuncks 