Tag: Indian warrior

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 Medford/Ashland Area Oregon Trip report

Cathedral Hills and Sterling Mine Ditch Tunnel – 05/02/2023

Post author By derwoodynck
Post date May 9, 2023
3 Comments on Cathedral Hills and Sterling Mine Ditch Tunnel – 05/02/2023

The second day of our Grants Pass vacation had the highest chance of rain showers with a forecast of 40% chance. We had a pair of hikes planned for the day. The first was a tour of the Cathedral Hills trails system just South of Grants Pass.

We made the roughly 10-minute drive from our cabin in Grants Pass to the Espey Trailhead arriving just before 7am.

We had seen one of the two wildflower species that were on our bucket list for this trip the day before. Red larkspur and been blooming in good numbers along the Rogue River Trail (post) and today we were hoping to check of the other, Indian Warrior.
The area is home to a good number of wildflowers that bloom throughout Spring and Summer.

Sullivan’s featured hike here is one of four short hikes that make up hike #83 – Grants Pass Nature Trails (“100 Hikes/Travel Guide Southern Oregon & Norther California” edition 4.2). He describes the 3.4-mile Outback Loop. We were hoping to add more of the trails to our hike and decided on modifying the featured hike by adding on the Skycrest Loop and Ponderosa Pine Trail.

As was the case on our hike the day before we spotted our bucket list flower at the trailhead.
There are a couple of the red Indian warrior behind and to the right of the trail marker.

Indian warrior lousewort

We started the Outback Loop in a counter-clockwise direction climbing 1.1-miles to a junction at a saddle. The Indian warrior was blooming in mass along with many other wildflowers.
Scarlet fritillary along with poison oak. There was a lot of poison oak in the area but the trails were wide enough to keep users away from it.

A blue-eyed Mary

Shooting star

Indian warrior

Larkspur

Cryptantha, shooting stars, and plectritis

Plectritis

Pacific houndstongue

A picnic table at the junction with the Hogback Trail.

Most of the junctions had markers.

Giant white wakerobin

Blue dicks behind more poison oak.

Paintbrush

Tolmie’s mariposa lily

At the saddle we turned right onto the Timber Riders Trail then veered right after approximately a tenth of a mile following pointers for the Skycrest Loop.

Henderson’s fawn lily

Pointer for the Skycrest Loop.

We hiked the Skycrest Loop counterclockwise. There were a few different flowers along the loop.
The start of the loop.

Skullcap (possibly Danny’s)

Hooker’s Indian pink

A cloudy view from the Skycrest Loop.

Ragwort

Indian warrior beneath white-leaf manzanita.

Last of the gold stars.

A few yellow Indian warriors.

California groundcone

When we got back to the saddle and junction with the Outback Loop we got confused and wound up sticking to the Timber Riders Trail which was the furthest to the right.
Even though it didn’t look familiar we both thought we’d come from the trail to the left earlier when in fact that was the continuation of the Outback Loop.

We followed the Timber Riders Trail for 0.9-miles thinking we were on the Outback Loop then we came to a junction with said loop and realized our mistake (after looking at the map). It had started raining at some point along this stretch and as a bonus a thunderstorm was heading our way.

Rain clouds in the sky.

Trail marker along the Outback Loop.

We turned right back onto the Outback Loop and picked up our pace a bit. We did decide to stick with the plan of detouring onto the Ponderosa Pine Trail in hopes of seeing a 117′ tall knobcone pine that is registered as the largest in the U.S. We turned right onto the Ponderosa Pine Trail but a combination of heavy rain, increasingly close lightning, and no signage for the tree caused us to miss it entirely.
Turning onto the Ponderosa Pine Trail

Iris

Ponderosa Pine Trail

Back onto the Outback Loop.

Once we’d turned right onto the Outback Loop it was just over three quarters of a mile back to the Espey Trailhead. We were pretty well drenched by this point (we hadn’t put our rain gear on, just our pack covers) and hustled our way back to the car.
Quite a bit more water on the trail as we finished up.

In the end our hike here came to 5.4 miles with about 450′ of cumulative elevation gain.

We decided to retreat back to our cabin and wait out the weather. We put our wet clothes in the dryer and relaxed for a bit until things began to clear up. A little after 11:30 that happened, and we headed back out with dry clothing and shoes. For our second hike of the day we were tying up a bit of a loose end on a featured hike that we’d already checked off as done, the Sterling Ditch Tunnel. In June 2017 we had done an 11.8-mile loop starting from the Deming Gulch Trailhead. (post) We had counted that toward the featured hike, but it was actually part of the “Other Options” for the entry. In most cases the other options include part of the main hike and so we count those but, in this case, none of that previous loop was part of the 4.8-mile loop that is featured.

The featured loop Sullivan describes begins at the Tunnel Ridge Trailhead, passes by the Sterling Mine Ditch Tunnel, and ends with a 0.6-mile road walk between the Bear Gulch and Tunnel Ridge Trailheads. When road walks are involved, Sullivan tends to end the hike with them, but we prefer to start with the less exciting road walk so we opted to start at the Bear Gulch Trailhead instead. (There is less parking available at Bear Gulch so on busier days parking here might not be an option.)

The road walk was pleasant as road walks go and we soon found ourselves at the Tunnel Ridge Trailhead.
View from the Bear Gulch Trailhead of Little Applegate Road.

The Little Applegate River

The trail climbed gradually for a mile gaining a little over 500′ to a junction on a saddle.

Scarlet fritillary

Houdnstongue and a pacific waterleaf (white flower under a big leaf to the left of the houndstongue).

A snowy Wagner Butte (post).

Based on the trees it looked like the thunderstorm provided some fresh snow at higher elevations.

Couldn’t really get a good picture but this might be a bushtit.

There were a couple of nice benches along the trails here.

Some of the view from the bench.

Manzanita

Lupine

There is a hummingbird in the center on a branch.

At the saddle a faint trail continued straight ahead toward the Little Applegate Trailhead. It didn’t appear to get much use.

Trail sign at the junction.

We followed the pointer for Bear Gulch and quickly found ourselves at the tunnel. Built in 1877 the tunnel is part of a 26-mile long ditch used to divert water from the Little Applegate River to the Sterling Gold Mine.

I had to get a closer look.

I didn’t go all the way through so as not to disturb this napping bat.

From the tunnel the trail follows the ditch and sometimes uses it as it traverses the hillside toward Bear Gulch.

Fiddleneck along the trail.

Another bench

Emerging from the ditch.

Scarlet fritillaries lining the trail.

Paintbrush

Balsamroot

Tolmie’s mariposa lily

An impressively large madrone.

Henderson’s fawn lilies

More fresh snow on a ridge.

An upside-down warbler (upper right of the tree).

Shooting stars

We turned left at a sign for the Bear Gulch Trailhead and followed this path a mile downhill back to our car. This trail seemed a bit steeper than the one leading up from the Tunnel Ridge Trailhead so whichever you start at it seems best to do the loop counterclockwise.

Woolly-pod milkvetch

A fritillary, just not sure which one.

It was nice to start seeing some butterflies out and about.

Another butterfly. It blends pretty well with the leaves.

White-breasted nuthatch

There was a decent amount of water running through parts of Bear Gulch as we neared the trailhead.

This loop came in just under five miles with 550′ of cumulative elevation gain giving us a total of 10.3 miles and 1000′ for the day.

After the morning drenching and surprise thunderstorm the day turned out really nice with partly sunny skies and some of the warmest temperatures that we’d have all week. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Cathedral Hills and Sterling Ditch Tunnel

Tags Bear Gulch Trailhead, Cathedral Hills, Espey Trailhead, Grants Pass, hiking, Indian warrior, Oregon, Outback Loop, Ponderosa Pine Trail, Skycrest Loop, Sterling Mine Ditch, Sterling Mine Ditch Trail, Sterling MIne Ditch Tunnel, Timber Riders Trail, Tunnel Ridge Trailhead