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Columbia Gorge North Hiking Trip report Washington

Lower Archer Falls, Wind Mt., Sams-Walker, & Doetsch Ranch – 4/13/2024

Our first April outing was a trip to the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge to check out four short hikes. These were all new hikes for us located within 23-miles of each other.

We began our day with me realizing that I hadn’t made sure that our NW Forest Pass was in the car since one was needed for two of our planned stops. This despite thinking that I needed to do that several times over the previous several days, including the day before when I was putting the Washington Discovery Pass we needed for Doetsch Ranch in the glovebox. Fortunately we were only in downtown Salem so we weren’t too far from home. Unfortunately the pass wasn’t in the other car or any of the places that I could think (at 5am) of where I might have put it. I decided it would probably quicker and much less stressful to purchase an ePass online for the day and look for the missing annual pass later.

Once we had our pass situation straightened out we drove to our first stop at the St. Cloud Day Use Area.
St. Cloud Trailhead

The day use area has picnic tables, a 1-mile loop trail, and a vault toilet (thus the need for a NW Forest Pass). Before exploring the day use area though we wanted to check out nearby Lower Archer Falls. To reach the trail to the falls we walked back to Hwy 14 and crossed to an unsigned trail that lead into overgrown woods. The need to cross the highway was the deciding factor on us starting our day here. We figured that there would be less traffic before 8am than there would be later in the day.
Trail to Lower Archer Falls across Highway 14 from the St. Cloud Day Use AreaThe brown strip in the grass near the center of the photo is the trail.

Trail to Lower Archer FallsThe trail entering the woods.

Sign for Lower Archer FallsPointer for Lower Archer Falls.

The user-maintained trail was in pretty good shape up until just before the falls where a small slide has done a bit of damage and just beyond that one of the make shift bridges seemed a little sketchy.
Trail to Lower Archer Falls crossing Gable CreekBridges over Gable Creek.

Trail to Lower Archer Falls

Trail to Lower Archer Falls

Big Doug Bridge over Archer CreekBig Doug Bridge (Jan 23) over Archer Creek.

Archer CreekArcher Creek

Archer CreekAfter crossing the creek the trail did a short climb gaining approximately 150′ of elevation.

Trillium along the trail to Lower Archer FallsTrillium along the trail.

Trail to Lower Archer FallsOne of several of these style bridges on the way to the falls.

Trail to Lower Archer FallsThe “sketchy” bridge. It felt pretty solid underfoot, but the rail seemed ornamental only.

Trail to Lower Archer FallsThe final footbridge before the falls.

Lower Archer Falls

The trail extends beyond the falls climbing to a junction with the Archer Mountain Trail, but that route is reportedly less maintained with blackberry, poison oak, and nettles crowding the trail at times. We weren’t interested in that much adventure today so after enjoying the falls we headed back stopping along the way to admire the Spring wildflowers.
Steps at Lower Archer FallsSteps leading up from Lower Archer Falls.

TrilliumTrillium

Scouler's corydalisScouler’s corydalis

Bleeding heartBleeding heart

Salmon berrySalmonberry

Fairy bellFairy bell

FringecupFringecup

After successfully recrossing the highway we hiked the mile long St. Cloud Loop.
St. Cloud TrailThe start of the loop.

Apple trees along the St. Cloud TrailThe trail loops around a former apple orchard.

Apple blossomsApple blossoms

Spur trail to the Columbia RiverA spur trail leading down to the Columbia River.

Devil's Rest and Multnomah Falls across the Columbia RiverDevil’s Rest and Multnomah Falls (post)

Multnomah FallsMultnomah Falls

Yellow-rumped warblerYellow-rumped warbler.

The St. Cloud Day Use Area was the westernmost stop of our day, and from there we headed for the easternmost stop at the Wind Mountain Trailhead. The trailhead is approximately a tenth of a mile downhill beyond a quarry. We parked at the quarry where two other vehicles were parked instead of continuing down the narrow, steep, slightly rutted road.
Quarry before the Wind Mountain TrailheadThe quarry later in the morning.

Wind Mountain TrailheadPullout at the actual trailhead.

Wind Mountain TrailThe Wind Mountain Trail at the trailhead.

The Wind Mountain Trail gains over 1100′ in just over a mile as it climbs to the summit of Wind Mountain. The mountain’s summit is sacred to the area’s Native American tribes and signs near the summit show the areas where hikers are allowed to be.

The climb was a good workout. While the trail didn’t appear to be all that steep our legs reminded us that it was.
Wind Mountain Trail

There was a nice variety of wildflowers on display and at the 0.4-mile mark we came to a spur trail leading out to a rock outcrop.
ToothwortSlender toothwort

TrilliumTrillium

Red flowering currantRed flowering currant

Red flowering currantClose up of red flowering currant

Pioneer violetPioneer violet

Fairy slipperFairy slipper

Blue-eyed MaryBlue-eyed Mary

Spur to a viewpoint along the Wind Mountain TrailThe spur trail down to the outcrop.

The spur trail was steep a little sketchy in spots so Heather opted to skip the viewpoint while I carefully made my way down.
Viewpoint spur trailLooking back up the spur trail.

Service berryServiceberry

Overlook just off the Wind Mountain TrailAugspurger Mountain (post) from the outcrop.

Dog MountainDog Mountain (post)

After taking in the view I returned to the trail and continued uphill.
Wind Mountain Trail

Largeleaf sandwortLargeleaf sandwort

Wind Mountain TrailTalus slope on Wind Mountain.

Slender toothwort along the Wind Mountain TrailSlender toothwort along the trail.

Sign along the Wind Mountain TrailOne of the signs near the summit.

Interpretive sign on Wind MountainInterpretive sign with a map of the areas open to hikers.

TrilliumsTrillium

Columbia River from Wind MountainView west down the Columbia River. Hamilton Mountain (post), Table Mountain (post), and Greenleaf Peak (post) from L to R in the center.

Mt. Defiance from Wind MountainMt. Defiance (post) from the summit.

Vision quest pits on Wind MountainVision quest pits on Wind Mountain.

Mt. Adams from Wind MountainMt. Adams beyond Augspurger Mountain.

Mt. AdamsMt. Adams

View across the Columbia River from Wind MountainLooking across the Columbia River.

There was a nice breeze at the summit, and we took a well-earned break before heading down. Up till that point we’d only seen five other hikers all morning, but now that it was later we found ourselves stepping aside regularly to let the uphill traffic pass. From the quarry we headed back West to our next stop at the Sams-Walker Day Use Area.

Similar to the St. Cloud Day Use Area the area is a former homestead with picnic tables, a 1.1-mile loop trail, and vault toilet. We were surprised to find the small parking lot here almost entirely full. As it turned out group from the Friends of the Columbia River Gorge were out doing some planting.

We were able to park along the edge of the trailhead entrance and set off on the loop.
Sams-Walker Day Use Area

There are a couple of loop options here, but no maps to assist with navigation. We had our GPS map and a map from the Oregon Hikers Field Guide, but it turns out they are both outdated so when we veered right at the first split we planned on hiking the outer loop counterclockwise.
Trails at Sams-Walker Day Use AreaThe first split where we went right.

A tenth of a mile later we came to another split which managed to confuse us based on the maps we had available.
Trail at Sams-Walker Day Use AreaTo continue on the counterclockwise loop we should have turned right at the junction ahead.

We veered left thinking that the righthand trail was a connector passing through the middle of the day use area. In another tenth of a mile though we arrived at “T” junction where we realized that the left at the first junction was the outer loop going in a clockwise rotation.
Trails at Sams-Walker Day Use AreaWe turned right at the junction now doing the loop clockwise.

Sams-Walker Day Use AreaComing up on one of the picnic tables along the loop.

Columbia River from Sams-Walker Day Use AreaThe Columbia River from the picnic table.

Horsetail FallsHorsetail Falls (post) from the picnic table.

We continued on loop which eventually passed through a cedar grove before bringing us back to the second junction we’d passed.
Sams-Walker Day Use Area

Chipping sparrowChipping sparrow

White-crowned sparrowWhite-crowned sparrow

Fringecup and bleeding heartBleeding heart and fringecup

Cedar grove at Sams-Walker Day Use AreaThe cedar grove

Sams-Walker Day Use AreaCompleting the first loop.

When we got back to the second junction we decided to go right and then take a left at the third junction to hike the portion of the outer loop that we’d missed. It was along this quarter mile section that we passed the group from Friends of the Columbia Gorge.
Sams-Walker Day Use Area

Spider on perriwinkleSpider on perriwinkle

After hiking all the trails here we returned to Highway 14 and drove 2 miles back to the east to turn into the Doetsch Ranch Day Use area of Beacon Rock State Park.
Doetsch Ranch Day Use Area, Beacon Rock State ParkKiosk at Doetsch Ranch.

A 1.1-mile paved loop circles the picnic area. We set off counterclockwise from the kiosk following the paved path for a little over 3/4 of a mile to another parking area along Beacon Rock Moorage Road.
Doestch Ranch Day Use Area

Doestch Ranch Day Use AreaBeacon Rock (post) from the trail.

Beacon Rock and Hamilton MountainBeacon Rock and Hamilton Mountain.

Doestch Ranch Day Use AreaComing up on the other parking area.

We left the loop at the road and followed the road down to the river. Next we walked up the road passing under railroad tracks to find the start of the 0.75-mile River to Rock Trail.
Columbia River

Beacon Rock and Hamilton Mountain

River to Rock Trail

Woodward CreekWoodward Creek

This trail climbs over 250′ before dropping to the River to Rock Trailhead. Along the way the trail passes around Riddle Lake and an old stone structure along with many wildflowers.
Fairy bells, vine maple, and fringecupFairy bells, vine maple, and fringecup

Columbian larkspurColumbian larkspur

Wildflowers along the River to Rock TrailTrillium and voilets

Checker (chocolate) liliesChecker (chocolate) lilies

Stone shed along the River to Rock Trail

Beacon Rock from the River to Rock Trail

Bleeding heartsBleeding heart

Checker (chocolate) liliesThis was just one part of the best display of chocolate lilies we’d ever seen.

Checker (chocolate) liliesThere were a couple of lilies with this coloration which was new to us.

Beacon Rock beyond Riddle LakeRiddle Lake

River to Rock TrailDropping down to the River to Rock Trailhead.

River to Rock TrailLooking back up the River to Rock Trail.

We hadn’t planned on re-hiking Beacon Rock and the steady stream of people we could see from the trail going up and down the stairs reenforced that choice. We returned the way we’d come and then completed the paved loop at Doetsch Ranch to finish off our day.
Checker (chocolate) lilies along the River to Rock TrailPassing back by the large patch of chocolate lilies.

Echo azureOur first butterfly of 2024, an echo azure.

Doetsch Ranch Trail

Doetsch Ranch TrailCompleting the loop.

Our mileage for the day came to 9.2 with 1.6 coming at each Sams-Walker and St. Cloud, 2.7 at Wind Mountain, and 3.3 at Doestch Ranch. The elevation total was a nearly 1700′ with nearly 1200′ coming at Wind Mountain, 185′ at St. Cloud, and 270′ on the River to Rock Trail.
Screenshot 2024-04-14 122143St. Cloud and Lower Archer Falls

Screenshot 2024-04-14 122029Wind Mountain

Screenshot 2024-04-14 122458Sams-Walker

Screenshot 2024-04-14 121925 Doetsch Ranch

While none of the hikes were long enough to justify the 1:30 to 2hr drive from Salem combining them made for a more than worthy outing. When we got home it took me all of 5 minutes to remember where our annual forest pass was. I’d put in a shoebox on the work bench in our garage. Apparently 5am brain isn’t up to par with 3pm brain. Happy Trails!

Flickr: St. Cloud, Wind Mt. Sams-Walker, & Doetsch Ranch

Categories
Hiking Year-end wrap up

2023 Wildlife Gallery Part 2 – Featherless Friends

As we did last year we’ve split our wildlife recap into two posts, feathered (post) and featherless. As with all our wildflower and wildlife posts any corrections or additions to our attempts at identifying what we’ve photographed is greatly appreciated. One other note, while we really enjoy taking pictures as a way to record what we see on our hikes, we are by no means photographers. We use our phones and a point and shoot camera on the auto setting, so the pictures are far from professional, but we hope you enjoy them. Finally, we do practice Leave No Trace Principles including Principle 6: Respect Wildlife which means observing from a distance, never feeding, and respecting any area wildlife closures. We urge others to do the same and recreate responsibly.

The highlight of the year was getting to watch a badger make its way down Central Patrol Road in the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge on 9/4/23.Badger

AntsHarvester ants – 5/29/23, Riley Ranch Preserve, Bend

PenstemonAnt on penstemon – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Crab spider on California harebellsCrab spider on a California harebell – 6/25/23, North Umpqua Trail, BLM Roseburg District

Bee on a sunflowerBee – 9/3/23, Threemile Canyon, BLM Burns District

Bees on Sand MountainBees – 7/8/23, Sand Mountain, Willamette National Forest

Prickly pear cactusSweat bee? and a beetle on a prickly pear cactus – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

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

Beetle and clodius parnassiansBeetle – 7/29/23, Stuart Falls Trail, Crater Lake National Park

Beetle on a white mariposa lilyBeetle on a white mariposa lily – 8/14/23, Main Eagle Creek Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Beetle on spireaBeetle and another bug on spirea – 7/4/23, Rocky Top Trail, Santiam State Forest

Bettles on thistleBeetles on thistle – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Ladybug on a daisyLadybug on a daisy – 7/4/23, Natural Arch Trail, Santiam State Forest

Potato bugCommon pill-bug – 6/25/23, North Bank Habitat, BLM Roseburg District

Stink bugBeetle – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District

Beetle and a butterfly on buckwheatBeetle and a butterfly on buckwheat – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District

GrasshopperGrasshopper – 9/3/23, P Ranch, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

CricketCricket – 6/14/23, Imnaha Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

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

CaterpillarCaterpillar – 7/1/23, Hummocks Trail, Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, WA

Moth larva on larkspurCaterpillar – 8/16/23, West Eagle Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

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

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

Eight-spotted Forester-Alypia octomaculataEight-spotted Forester-Alypia octomaculata – 7/4/23, Niagra Heights Road, Santiam State Forest

Fireweed Clearwing Moth (Albuna pyramidalis)Fireweed Clearwing Moth (Albuna pyramidalis) – 7/4/23, Niagra Heights Road, Santiam State Forest

Moth on Oregon sunshineMoth – 7/4/23, Niagra Heights Road, Santiam State Forest

MothsMoths – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husum, WA

Pretty moth along the Buck Creek TrailMoth – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husum, WA

MothMoth – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husum, WA

MothMoth – 6/16/23, Trail 1890, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

MothMoth – 7/4/23, Rocky Top Trail, North Santiam State Park

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

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

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

Moth on a logMoth – 7/8/23, Santiam Wagon Road, Willamette National Forest

Sphinx mothSphinx moth – 8/17/23, West Eagle Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Fly and butterfly on buckwheatFly and butterfly – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District

Boisduval's blueBoisduval’s blues? – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husum, WA

Acmon blue?Acmon blue? – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District

Eastern tailed blue - best guessEastern tailed blue? – 5/13/23, Graham Oaks Nature Park, Wilsonville

ButterflyButterfly in the Lycaenidae family – 5/2/23, Sterling Mind Ditch Trail System, BLM Medford District

ButterflyButterfly in the Lycaenidae family – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District

ButterflyButterfly in the Lycaenidae family – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

ButterflyButterfly in the Lycaenidae family – 6/13/23, Iwetemlaykin State Heritage Site, Joseph

Echo Azure butterfliesEcho azures? – 5/4/23, Forest Road 011, Rogue-River Siskiyou National Forest

Butterfly on a cat's ear lilyButterfly in the Lycaenidae family – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husum, WA

Butterflies on Oregon sunshineButterflies in the Lycaenidae family – 7/4/23, Niagra Heights Road, Santiam State Forest

Gray hairstreakGray hairstreak – 6/11/23, Lewis & Clark Trail, Hermiston

HairstreakThicket hairstreak? – 7/8/23, Sand Mountain, Willamette National Forest

Hairstreak on Oregon sunshineA hairstreak – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husum, WA

Butterflies along Deep CreekVarious butterflies – 6/16/23, Deep Creek Stairway Trail, Payette National Forest, ID

Lorquin's admiralLorquin’s admiral – 6/14/23, Imnaha Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

Red AdmiralRed admiral – 7/23/23, Metolius River Trail, Deschutes National Forest

California sisterCalifornia sister – 10/8/23, Forest Road 041, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

Painted ladyPainted lady – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Tortoiseshell butterfly California tortoiseshell – 9/16/23, Fish Lake Trail, Mt. Hood National Forest

Milbert's tortoiseshellMilbert’s tortoiseshell – 8/14/23, Main Eagle Creek Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Hoary commaHoary comma – 7/8/23, Sand Mountain, Willamette National Forest

Mourning cloakMourning cloak – 6/14/23, Imnaha Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

Common wood nymphCommon wood nymph – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Ochre ringlet on rough eyelashweedOchre ringlet – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District

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

Checkerspot on dwarf lupineCheckerspot – 7/1/23, Boundary Trail, Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, WA

Snowberry checkerspotSnowberry checkerspot – 7/1/23, Boundary Trail, Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, WA

Edith's checkerspotEdith’s checkerspot – 7/8/23, Sand Mountain, Willamette National Forest

Mylitta crescentMylitta crescent – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Mylitta crescentA crescent? – 5/13/23, Graham Oaks Nature Park, Wilsonville

Fritillaries on scatFritillary butterflies – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District

Fritillary butterflyA fritillary – 7/4/23, Rocky Top Trail, Santiam State Forest

A fritillary butterflyA fritillary – 7/15/23, Forest Road 4610, Mt. Hood National Forest

Indra swallowtailIndra swallowtail – 5/4/23, Kerby Flat Trail, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

Ladybug and an Oregon swallowtailOregon swallowtail? with ladybug – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District

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

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

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

Sulphur butterfly on asterA sulphur – 9/9/23, Alta Lake Trail, Sky Lakes Wilderness

Large marbleLarge marble – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District

Becker's whiteBecker’s white – 6/14/23, Imnaha Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

Male margined white?Male margined white? – 8/29/23, Newell Creek Canyon Nature Park, Oregon City

Mountain parnassianMountain parnassian – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Clodius parnassianClodius parnassian – 7/29/23, Pumice Flat Trail, Crater Lake National Park

Silver-spotted Skipper on common buglossSilver-spotted Skipper – 6/14/23, Eureka Bar, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

SkipperA skipper – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District

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

SkipperA skipper – 6/24/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, Wild Rogue Wilderness

SkipperA skipper – 9/3/23, Threemile Canyon, BLM Burns District

Skipper on a sagebrush mariposa lilySkipper on a sagebrush mariposa lily – 7/23/23, Metolius River Trail, Deschutes National Forest

Skipper on asterA skipper – 9/3/23, P Ranch, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

Duskywing on a peaDuskywing? – 6/24/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, Wild Rogue Wilderness

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

Dreamy duskywingDreamy duskywing – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

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

DragonflyDragonfly – 7/1/23, Hummocks Trail, Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, WA

DragonflyDragonfly – 7/15/23, Plaza Lake, Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness

DragonflyDragonfly – 7/31/23, Godfrey Glen Trail, Crater Lake National Park

DragonflyDragonfly – 9/2/23, Idlewild Loop Trail, Malheur National Forest

Slug on the Licorice Fern TrailSlug – 4/29/23, Canemah Bluff Nature Park, Oregon City

SnailSnail – 4/15/23, Enchanted Valley Trail, Siuslaw National Forest

Rough skinned newtRough skinned newt – 4/15/23, Cape Mountain, Siuslaw National Forest

TadpolesTadpoles – 9/9/23, Pacific Crest Trail, Sky Lakes Wilderness

Cascade toadsWestern toads – 9/9/23, Pacific Crest Trail, Sky Lakes Wilderness

Cascade toadFull grown western toad – 9/9/23, Pacific Crest Trail, Sky Lakes Wilderness

FrogCascade frog – 9/9/23, Pacific Crest Trail, Sky Lakes Wilderness

FrogPacific treefrog – 9/3/23, Threemile Canyon, BLM Burns District

Northern red-legged frogNorthern red-legged frog – 8/26/23, Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Cloverdale

BullfrogBullfrog (invasive) – 4/22/23, Talking Water Gardens, Albany

Western pond turtlesWestern pond turtles – 4/22/23, Talking Water Gardens, Albany

Alligator lizardSouthern alligator lizard – 6/24/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, Wild Rogue Wilderness

Lizard along the Waters Creek Interpretive TrailWestern fence lizard – 5/3/23, Waters Creek Interpretive Trail, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

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

Pygmy short-horned lizardPygmy short-horned lizard – 7/8/23, Santiam Wagon Road, Willamette National Forest

Gopher snakeGopher snake – 6/25/23, North Bank Habitat, BLM Roseburg District

Snake along the Dave Clark Riverfront PathGarter snake – 4/22/23, Dave Clark Riverfront Path, Albany

Snake on the Imnaha TrailRubber boa? – 6/14/23, Imnaha Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

NutriaNutria (invasive) – 5/13/23, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Sherwood

BeaverBeaver – 5/29/23, Riley Ranch Preserve, Bend

Yellow-bellied marmotYellow-bellied marmot – 7/31/23, Garfield Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park

Gray squirrelGray squirrel – 4/22/23, Dave Clark Riverfront Path, Albany

SquirrelDouglas’ squirrel – 4/22/23, Dave Clark Riverfront Path, Albany

SquirrelEastern fox squirrel? – 4/29/23, Newell Creek Canyon Nature Park, Oregon City

Columbian ground squirrelColumbian ground squirrel – 8/16/23, Tombstone Lake Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Golden-mantled ground squirrelGolden-mantled ground squirrel – 7/31/23, Garfield Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park

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

PikaPika – 8/5/23, McNeil Point Trail, Mt. Hood Wilderness

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

RabbitMountain cottontail – 5/29/23, Riley Ranch Preserve, Bend

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

DoeDoe – 5/20/23, Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Washougal, WA

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

Elk along the road to Buckhorn LookoutElk – 6/15/23, Buckhorn Road (FR 46), Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Horses seen from the Threemile TrailHorses – 9/3/23, Threemile Canyon, BLM Burns District

Bat in the Sterling Mine Ditch TunnelBat -5/2/23, Sterling Mine Ditch Tunnel, BLM Medford District

SealsSeals – 11/18/23, Siletz Bay, Lincoln City

ShellShell with inhabitant – 11/18/23, Nelscott Beach, Lincoln City

Starfish at Short BeachStarfish – 10/28/23, Short Beach, Oceanside

Trout in Tombstone LakeTrout – 8/16/23, Tombstone Lake, Eagle Cap Wilderness

Fish in Hells Canyon ReservoirFish – 6/16/23, Hells Canyon Reservoir, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

Categories
Hiking

2023 Wildlife Gallery Part 1 – Feathered Friends

Last year we did something different and split our 2022 wildlife gallery into two posts, one feathered and one featherless. As with all our wildflower and wildlife posts any corrections or additions to our attempts at identifying what we’ve photographed is greatly appreciated. One last note, while we really enjoy taking pictures as a way to record what we see on our hikes, we are by no means photographers. We use our phones and a point and shoot camera on the auto setting, so the pictures are far from professional, but we hope you enjoy them. We also practice Leave No Trace Principles including Principle 6: Respect Wildlife which means observing from a distance, never feeding, and respecting any area wildlife closures.

For this year’s gallery the photos will be in date order, because why not?
Hermit thrushHermit thrush – 2/11/23, Council Crest Park, Portland

Pied billed grebePied billed grebe – 3/19/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem

Ring-necked duckRing-necked duck – 3/25/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem

Bufflehead drakeBufflehead – 3/25/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem

SparrowSparrow – 3/25/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem

Lesser goldfinchLesser goldfinch – 4/8/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem

Ruby-crowned kingletRuby-crowned kinglet? – 4/8/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem

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

Marsh wrenMarsh wren – 4/13/23, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Rickreall

A cackling goose in with Canada geeseGeese, I believe both cackling and Canada – 4/13/23, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Rickreall

California quailCalifornia quail – 4/13/23, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Rickreall

Northern shovelerNorthern shoveler – 4/13/23, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Rickreall

Western meadowlarkWestern meadowlark (Oregon’s state bird) – 4/13/23, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Rickreall

Red-winged blackbirdRed-winged blackbird – 4/13/23, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Rickreall

Ruddy duckRuddy duck – 4/13/23, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Rickreall

Savannah sparrowSavannah sparrow – 4/13/23, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Rickreall

Gold-crowned sparrowGold-crowned sparrow – 4/14/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem

Red-breasted sapsuckersRed-breasted sapsuckers – 4/14/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem

HummingbirdHummingbird (Rufous?) – 4/14/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem

Orange-crowned warblerOrange-crowned warbler – 4/14/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem

Dark eyed juncoDark-eyed junco – 4/14/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem

Northern flickerNorthern flicker – 4/14/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem

Turkey vultureTurkey vulture – 4/14/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem

Bird along the Dave Clark Riverfront PathWarbler? – 4/22/23, Dave Clark Riverfront Path, Albany

OspreyOsprey – 4/22/23, Dave Clark Riverfront Path, Albany

CormorantCormorant – 4/22/23, Dave Clark Riverfront Path, Albany

Female red-winged blackbirdRed-winged blackbird (female) – 4/22/23, Talking Water Gardens, Albany

Green-winged tealGreen-winged teal – 4/22/23, Talking Water Gardens, Albany

Yellow-rumped warbler (Audubon's)Yellow-rumped warbler (Audubon’s) – 4/22/23, Talking Water Gardens, Albany

Black phoebeBlack phoebe – 4/22/23, Talking Water Gardens, Albany

Acorn woodpeckerAcorn woodpecker – 4/22/23, Talking Water Gardens, Albany

HawkHawk – 4/22/23, Talking Water Gardens, Albany

MallardsMallards – 4/22/23, Talking Water Gardens, Albany

ChickadeeChickadee (chestnut-backed?) – 4/22/23, Talking Water Gardens, Albany

Nashville warblerNashville warbler – 4/29/23, Canemah Bluff Nature Park, Oregon City

Bewick's wrenBewick’s wren – 4/29/23, Canemah Bluff Nature Park, Oregon City

House finchesHouse finches – 4/29/23, Canemah Bluff Nature Park, Oregon City

Spotted towheesSpotted towhee – 4/29/23 Newell Creek Canyon Nature Park, Oregon City

Common mergansersCommon mergansers – 5/1/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, BLM Medford District

Bullock's orioleBullock’s oriole – 5/1/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, BLM Medford District

American robinAmerican robin – 5/1/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, BLM Medford District

Greater yellowlegsGreater yellowlegs – 5/13/23, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Sherwood

Mourning doveMourning dove – 5/13/23, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Sherwood

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

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

Cinnamon tealCinnamon teal – 5/13/23, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Sherwood

Anna's hummingbirdAnna’s hummingbird – 5/13/23, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Sherwood

American kestralAmerican kestral – 5/13/23, Graham Oaks Nature Park, Wilsonville

StarlingEuropean starling – 5/13/23, Graham Oaks Nature Park, Wilsonville

Wood duckWood duck – 5/23/23, Stigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Washougal, WA

KingfisherBelted kingfisher – 5/23/23, Stigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Washougal, WA

American goldfinchAmerican goldfinch – 5/23/23, Stigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Washougal, WA

Spotted sandpiperSpotted sandpiper – 5/23/23, Stigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Washougal, WA

Purple martinPurple martin – 5/23/23, Stigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Washougal, WA

Common yellowthroatCommon yellowthroat – 5/23/23, Stigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Washougal, WA

American bitternAmerican bittern – 5/23/23, Stigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Washougal, WA

Lark sparrowLark sparrow – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District

Horned larkHorned lark – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District

Mountain bluebirdMountain bluebird – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District

Black headed grosbeakBlack-headed grosbeak – 5/29/23, Riley Ranch Preserve, Bend

Lewis woodpeckerLewis’s woodpecker – 5/29/23, Tumalo State Park, Bend

MagpieMagpie – 5/29/23, Tumalo State Park, Bend

Black headed cowbirdBlack-headed cowbird – 5/29/23, Tumalo State Park, Bend

SwallowTree swallow – 5/29/23, Tumalo State Park, Bend

Pygmy nuthatch?Pygmy nuthatch? – 5/29/23, Tumalo State Park, Bend

Lazuli buntingLazuli bunting – 6/3/23, Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Trout Lake, WA

Yellow warblerYellow warbler – 6/3/23, Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Trout Lake, WA

Western bluebirdsWestern bluebird – 6/3/23, Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Trout Lake, WA

Sandhill cranesSandhill cranes – 6/3/23, Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Trout Lake, WA

Warbling vireoWarbling vireo – 6/3/23, Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Trout Lake, WA

RavenRaven – 6/11/23, Lewis & Clark Trail, Hermiston

Eastern kingbirdEastern kingbird – 6/11/23, Lewis & Clark Trail, Hermiston

Caspian ternCaspian tern – 6/11/23, Lewis & Clark Trail, Hermiston

Geese (one is not like the others)Geese – 6/11/23, Hat Rock State Park, Hermiston

Cliff swallowsCliff swallows – 6/14/23, Imnaha Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

HawkHawk – 6/14/23, Imnaha Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

Common nighthawkCommon nighthawk – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Chipping sparrowChipping sparrow – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Cassin's finchCassin’s finch – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Western wood pee weeWestern wood pee-wee – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Western tanagerWestern tanager – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Red-eyed vireoRed-eyed vireo – 6/16/23, Trail 1890, Hells Canyon Wilderness

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

Possibly a Macgillivray’s warblerMacgillivray’s warbler? – 6/25/23, North Umpqua Trail, BLM Roseburg District

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

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

White crowned sparrowWhite-crowned sparrow – 7/1/23, Boundary Trail, Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Cedar waxwingsCedar waxwings – 7/1/23, Boundary Trail, Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

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

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

Canada jayCanada jay – 8/5/23, Timberline Trail, Mt. Hood Wilderness

Wilson's warblerWilson’s warbler? – 8/29/23, Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Cloverdale

Clark's nutcrackerClark’s nutcrakcer – 9/2/23, Dry River Canyon, BLM Prineville District

Owl in the P Ranch long barnGreat horned owl – 9/3/23, P Ranch, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

Western grebeWestern grebe – 9/3/23, Krumbo Reservoir, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

Bird at Kurmbo ReservoirUnidentified bird – 9/3/23, Krumbo Reservoir, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

White faced ibisWhite-faced ibis – 9/3/23, Cental Patrol Road, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

PheasantRing-necked pheasant – 9/3/23, Central Patrol Road, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

Townsends solitaireTownsends solitaire – 9/4/23 Fryrear Canyon, BLM Prineville District

WrenRock wren? – 9/4/23 Fryrear Canyon, BLM Prineville District

Mountain chickadeeMountain chickadee – 9/4/23 Fryrear Canyon, BLM Prineville District

Black backed woodpeckerBlack-backed woodpecker – 9/9/23, Pacific Crest Trail, Sky Lakes Wilderness

American pipitAmerican pipit – 9/9/23, Devil’s Peak, Sky Lakes Wilderness

Golden eye on Fish LakeGolden eye – 9/16/23, Fish Lake, Mt. Hood National Forest

White breasted nuthatchWhite-breasted nuthatch – 9/16/23, Fish Lake Trail, Mt. Hood National Forest

Stellar's JayStellar’s jay – 9/30/23, Big Creek Park, Newport

Red-tailed hawkRed-tailed hawk – 9/30/23, Strom Boulder Ridge, Burnt Woods

Varied thrushVaried thrush – 10/9/23, Babyfoot Lake Trail, Kalmiopsis Wilderness

SeagullSeagull – 10/28/23, Oceanside Beach, Oceanside

Great blue heronGreat blue heron – 10/28/23, Oceanside Beach, Oceanside

Red-throated loonRed-throated loon – 10/28/23, Pacific Ocean, Oceanside

Bald eagleBald eagle – 10/28/23, Tillamook Wetlands, Tillamook

HawkHawk – 10/28/23, Tillamook Wetlands, Tillamook

Hooded merganserHooded merganser – 11/18/23, D River, Lincoln City

CrowsCrows – 11/18/23, Siletz Bay, Lincoln City

Brown pelicanBrown pelicans – 11/18/23, Siletz Bay, Lincoln City

Categories
Hiking Year-end wrap up

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.
Snow queen

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Blue-bells of ScotlandBluebells of Scotland – 7/15/23, Sheepshead Rock, Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Butterflies on buckwheatBuckwheat – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District

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

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

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

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

BunchberryBunchberry – 7/4/23, Santiam State Forest

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fading yellow columbineYellow columbine – 8/17/23, West Eagle Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Skipper on a peaPea (non-native) – 6/24/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, Wild Rogue Wilderness

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Flase helleboreFalse 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 fleabaneDesert yellow fleabane – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District

Crab spider on fleabaneSub-alpine fleabane – 10/7/23, Forest Road 600, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

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

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

Eastern tailed blue - best guessNot even going to guess, could be a non-native. – 5/13/23, Graham Oaks Nature Park, Wilsonville

Eight-spotted Forester-Alypia octomaculataDiasy? – 7/4/23, Niagra Heights Road, Santiam State Forest

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hounds tongueHoundstongue – 6/13/23, Iwetemlaykin State Heritage Site, Joseph

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Golden paintbrush and checker-mallow
Golden Paintbrush (Castilleja levisecta) – 5/13/23, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Sherwood

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jacob's ladderJaccob’s ladder – 8/16/23, West Eagle Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lupine with Mt. Hood in the backgroundLupine – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District

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

Lewis flaxFlax – 5/30/23, Riley Ranch Preserve, Bend

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

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

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

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

Beetle on a white mariposa lilyWhite mariposa lily – 8/14/23, Main Eagle Creek Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Silver-spotted Skipper on common buglossCommon bugloss (non-native) – 6/14/23, Eureka Bar, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

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

Wildflower along the Rocky Top TrailUnknown – 7/4/23, Rockytop Trail, Santiam State Forest

Wildflower along the Scramble trail from the McNeil Point Shelter to the Timberline TrailUnknown – 8/5/23, McNeil Point scramble trail, Mt. Hood Wilderness

Wildflowers along the Willard Springs LoopBest guess is a popcorn flower but? – 6/3/23, Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Trout Lake, WA

Wildflowers near a seep along the Nez Perce – Nee-Mee-Poo National Historic TrailUnknown, possibly non-native – 6/15/23, Nee-Mee-Poo National Historic Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

Flower at Iwetemlaykin State Heritage SiteUnknown, possibly non-native – 6/13/23, Iwetemlaykin State Heritage Site, Joseph

Flower along the Imnaha TrailUnknown, probably non-native – 6/14/23, Imnaha Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

Flower near the picnic areaUnknown, probably non-native – 8/26/23, Old Growth Cedar Trail, Rockaway Beach

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

Categories
Hiking Mt. St. Helens Trip report Washington Washington Cascades

The Hummocks to Johnston Ridge – 07/01/2023

On May 14, 2023 a washout along Washington’s SR504 below the Johnston Ridge Observatory closed vehicle access for the foreseeable future. We’d visited the observatory in August 2013 (post) and had planned on revisiting this July. While the washout made driving to the observatory impossible the trails in the area were not impacted. The shortest route was to start at the Hummocks Trailhead and take the Boundary Trail from its intersection with the Hummocks Trail to the observatory. We actually had this hike on our 2024 schedule for July so we swapped those (hoping that the road is repaired before then).

This would also be our second visit to The Hummocks having hiked the 2.5-mile loop in May of 2014 (post) before hiking a longer loop around Coldwater Lake. From the trailhead we set off on the left most trail (next to the large signboards).
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IMG_2572While the loop did come in at 2.5-miles it was a little over 3/4 of a mile to the Boundary Trail.

There were a lot more flowers (and green vegetation) along the trail than there had been during our May hike.
IMG_2585Lupine

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IMG_2589One of several ponds along the trail.

Interpretive signs, trail guide markers, and “Student Stops” are located throughout the loop.
IMG_2599A “Student Stop” marker surrounded by dwarf lupine. We aren’t sure what the these meant or what program they are related to.

IMG_2601An interpretive sign along the trail facing some of the hummocks.

IMG_2606Penstemon

IMG_2608Mt. St. Helens as we neared the Boundary Trail junction.

IMG_2612Trail guide marker #3 and an interpretive sign at the junction.

We turned left onto the Boundary Trail which began as a level path passing by more hummocks.
IMG_2616The lower left map shows the current closure area and open trails. In a nutshell, all the trails are open but everything off-trail to the side facing SR504 is currently closed.

IMG_2623The views of Mt. St. Helens were great.

IMG_2625The trail began to climb as it squeezed between a gap in the hillsides ahead.

IMG_2629View back to the hummocks from the gap.

IMG_2632Trees in the gap.

IMG_2634After exiting the gap we got another good view of the mountain before the trail veered left turning away from the mountain.

After another short level stretch the trail began to climb in earnest. While the climb never felt very steep the trail netted 1400′ of elevation gain over the next 3 miles to reach the parking lot at Johnston Ridge.
IMG_2643Heading away from Mt. St. Helens to start the climb.

IMG_2649Dwarf lupine was profuse below the ridge.

IMG_2653Scouler’s bluebell

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IMG_2658Thimbleberry blossoms

IMG_2662Castle Peak above Castle Lake with Spud Mountain to the right and the North Fork Toutle River below.

IMG_2676Horned lark

IMG_2682Tiger lily

IMG_2686Savannah sparrow

IMG_2690Heading back toward Mt. St. Helens.

IMG_2692The North Fork Toutle River flowing between Spud Mountain (left) and Elk Rock (right).

IMG_2695Castle Peak and Castle Lake

IMG_2704Elk Rock on the left and Coldwater Lake on the right.

IMG_2705Coldwater Lake

IMG_2712Mountain bluebird.

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IMG_2723At one point quite a bit of dust? kicked up from the South Fork Toutle River canyon.

The trail contoured along the hillside, occasionally entering a stand of trees or losing sight of the mountain behind a ridge.
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IMG_2738Cardwell’s penstemon

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A little over 2 3/4-miles from the Hummocks-Boundary Trail junction we came to a viewpoint at a ridge end where we could see Coldwater Peak and the top of Mt. Adams.
IMG_2751Coldwater Peak with Mt. Adams to the far right of the photo. The hiker ahead to the left of Coldwater Peak was from Belgium. He was here on work but using the weekends to explore the area. We would see him two more times, once from the observatory as he continued on the Boundary Trail and then as we were exiting the trailhead. He had done a loop using the Coldwater Trail (post) which by our calculations would have been at least 16-miles and that is assuming he didn’t detour to Coldwater Peak.

IMG_2976Mt. Adams from the viewpoint on our way back. The angle of the Sun earlier caused the mountain to look pretty washed out.

IMG_2755Mt. St. Helens from the viewpoint.

IMG_2764Variable-leaf collomia

IMG_2766The Loowit Viewpoint on the ridge ahead.

IMG_2773Paintbrush covered hillside.

The Loowit Viewpoint is located along SR504. The Boundary Trail passes by the viewpoint 3/4 of a mile from the Johnston Ridge Observatory.
IMG_2781Mt. St. Helens from the Loowit Viewpoint.

IMG_2785Mt. St. Helens crater.

As we continued on from the viewpoint we were under the watchful eye of some nosey locals.
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IMG_2794Golden mantled-ground squirrel. These brazen con-artists often convince visitors they would starve without humans help. While this is definitely not the case and wildlife really shouldn’t be fed it happens all too frequently. (They are awfully cute though.)

The closer we came to the observatory the more paintbrush we began seeing.
IMG_2796A single plant.

IMG_2799A lot of paintbrush.

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IMG_2817Daisies and paintbrush

IMG_2819Penstemon, yarrow, and Scouler’s woolyweed along with the paintbrush.

IMG_2823Paintbrush and penstemon along the trail.

The Boundary Trail turns to a paved path across from the parking lot for the observatory following the parking entrance road for approximately 450′.
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IMG_2832Passing by the Johnston Ridge Observatory.

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IMG_2836Before and after photos of the 1980 eruption.

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We followed the Eruption Trail uphill to a mountain identifier then down the other side to rejoin the Boundary Trail.
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IMG_2846Mt. Adams peaking over the ridges with Spirit Lake also visible (center).

IMG_2847Spirit Lake

IMG_2849The mountain identifier ahead on the left.

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IMG_2857We could see where the repair work was happening on SR504 from this trail.

IMG_2864The rounded peak to the right is Goat Mountain (post).

IMG_2862Goat Mountain with a few patches of snow still showing up.

IMG_2866Rock Arch near Coldwater Peak.

IMG_2875Memorial for the lives lost in the 1980 eruption.

IMG_2878Junction with the Boundary Trail.

The views and flowers were so nice that we decided to continue on the Boundary Trail for a bit. The trail had been slowly losing elevation and after a little over a half mile neared a saddle where more elevation would have been lost. We decided to turn around there since shortly after climbing up from the saddle on the far side the trail would lose sight of Mt. St. Helens as it passed behind the ridge for a bit.
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IMG_2881Pussypaws

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IMG_2904Another view of the washout.

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IMG_2926Our turn around spot. You can see the trail on far side of the saddle veering left behind the ridge.

IMG_2927Coldwater Peak from our turnaround spot.

We headed back to the Hummocks Trail, sticking to the Boundary Trail the entire way.
IMG_2934The Johnston Ridge Observatory from the trail. We hadn’t realized how much elevation we’d lost until we turned around.

IMG_2936Castle Peak and Spud Mountain on the left and the observatory above some colorful cliffs.

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IMG_2940Penstemon

IMG_2944White crowned sparrow

IMG_2964Boundary Trail leaving the Loowit Viewpoint.

IMG_2972Snowberry checkerspot on penstemon.

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IMG_3017Another checkerspot, this time on lupine.

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IMG_3030Cedar waxwings

When we arrived back at the Hummocks Trail we turned left to finish that loop.
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IMG_3062Mt. St. Helens and the North Fork Toutle River.

Between it having been 9 years since we’d hiked this trail and the difference in the time of year the scenery was very different.
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North Fork Toutle RiverThe same view in May 2014.

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Hummocks TrailSame spot, different angle 2014.

IMG_3078Monkeyflower

IMG_3081Maybe a yellow-rumped warbler.

IMG_3085Caterpillar

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IMG_3089Dragonfly

IMG_3096Pearly everlasting

IMG_3097Arriving back at the Hummocks Trailhead.

The hike came in at 12.5 miles with just under 2000′ of cumulative elevation gain.

This turned out to be the perfect day for this hike. The weather was pleasant, the views and flowers great, and the road closure provided solitude at the observatory. In addition to the Belgian hiker we passed a couple near the small viewpoint on the way to the observatory. We passed a few more people on the way back but nearly half of those were volunteers with the Mt. St. Helens Institute. The only thing that the hike lacked was any larger wildlife. It was one of the only hikes we could recall at the mountain where we didn’t see at least one deer, elk or mountain goat. Maybe next time. Until then Happy Trails!

Flickr: Boundary Trail – Hummocks TH to Johnston Ridge

Categories
Columbia Gorge North Hiking SW Washington Trip report Washington

Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Nestor Peak – 06/03/2023

We have really come to enjoy spending time at wildlife refuges and have been looking for more to visit. I’d noticed Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge on maps when looking at the Mt. Adams area so I dug a little deeper to find that there is a trail there, the Willard Springs Trail. The refuge webpage describes the Willard Springs Trail as a “two-mile loop” then lists the trail length as 3.79 miles. The Oregonhikers.org field guide entry shows 2.3 miles as the hike length. No matter which length was correct, on it’s own the hike would be too short to warrant the 2:30 hour drive from Salem. I went looking for a way to fit a visit in and looked over my map of future trailheads and saw that the trailhead for the Nestor Peak hike was located on the way to the refuge. The Nestor Peak hike was just over 8-miles so adding the Willard Spring Loop would put the day around 11 miles which sounded manageable.

Our plan was to visit Conboy Lake first since it was the furthest from home, and an earlier start there might provide a better chance at spotting wildlife. We parked at the refuge headquarters and made our way to the historic Whitcomb-Cole Hewn Log House.
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IMG_9244The path to the cabin on the right.

IMG_9246Built in 1875 the cabin was moved from its original location in 1987.

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IMG_9256The snowy top of Mt. Hood from the cabin.

After exploring the cabin we set off on the Willard Springs Trail only we briefly went the wrong way. A grassy track lead north directly across the gravel road from the path to the cabin and we took it.
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We got about 250′ before realizing that this path was just going to take us back to the parking lot so we backtracked to the gravel road and followed it toward the lakebed across a small canal. (The Garmin named this Cold Springs Ditch.)
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We turned left on a wide grassy track along the ditch. Numerous colorful birds were flying in and out of the bushes and trees along the ditch, most of which would not sit still long enough for me to photograph.
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IMG_9266There was a lot of monkeyflower in and along the ditch.

IMG_9268Lupine along the ditch.

DSCN3934Lazuli bunting

DSCN3943Robin

Yellow warblerYellow warbler (according to the Merlin app).

DSCN3947Red-winged blackbird

IMG_9270The top of Mt. Adams above the trees.

We followed the ditch for a third of a mile then crossed over it to a field with bird houses and more birds.
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DSCN3949Swallow

DSCN3952Western bluebirds

We stayed right at a junction near the corner of the field following the trail through the grass then into a mixed forest.
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20230603_080226Honeysuckle

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IMG_9286Columbine

20230603_081412Rose

The lakebed was often visible through breaks in the trees.
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Through one such gap in the trees we spotted a pair of greater Sandhill cranes. The refuge is the only place in Washington that supports breeding pairs of the birds.
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Approximately 1.4 miles from the trailhead we came to a 4-way junction. To the left was a “shortcut trail” and to the right a viewing platform with the Willard Springs Trail continuing straight(ish).
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IMG_9320Continuation of the Willard Springs Trail behind the sign.

More often than not on our hikes we strike out with viewing platforms/bird blinds. (We’d have better luck if we sat and waited for the wildlife to come to us.) It was a different story today with a deer making its way across the lakebed and an excellent view of Mt. Adams.
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Warbling vireoWe hung around long enough that this warbling vireo came to check on us.

After a nice break at the platform we continued on the Willard Springs Trail. After another 0.5-miles we came to a signed spur trail to Willard Springs.
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We followed this spur 0.2-miles to its end at a couple of benches near the springs.
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IMG_9330Willard Sprins hidden in the vegetation. We could hear them better then we could see them.

20230603_085150A healthy lupine near the springs.

We returned to the junction and continued on the loop which now turned back south. It was interesting to see the change in the forest along this section that was further from the lakebed.
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IMG_9339Cat’s ear lily

20230603_090320Hitchhiker

IMG_9342Lupine along the trail.

IMG_9352Golden-mantled ground squirrel

IMG_9355Swallowtail

IMG_9358Lorquin’s admiral

IMG_9360Arriving back at the refuge headquarters.

Two interesting things to note about the hike were that the Oregonhikers.org Field Guide mentioned a trailhead 0.2-miles from the HQs along the entrance road but we passed no trails coming from the road and there appeared to be a no parking sign on the side of the road near where we expected to see this other trailhead. Our guess is that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department decommissioned the alternate trailhead at some point. The other oddity was that while we did pass the other end of the shortcut trail neither of us noticed another trail joining from the left closer to the headquarters which would have been the other end of the trail that had split off at the edge of the field with the bird houses. There was even a map at the trailhead showing such a trail. Possibly another recent change (or we both just missed the connector trail).
IMG_9367Trail map at the trailhead.

The Garmin map shows the shortcut, spur to the old trailhead, and the other connector as well as some different locations for the trails.

Between exploring the cabin and briefly going the wrong way our hike here came in at an even 4-miles with only 50′ of elevation gain. Given the 4-mile figure the 3.79 miles listed on the refuge webpage for the Willard Springs Trail is probably the most accurate of the distance we came across. We didn’t see any other people, just a lot of wildlife which made for a great first stop of the day.

After finishing at Conboy Lake we drove back south to the Buck Creek Trailhead #1.
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This is one of several trailheads located along the roughly 21-mile Buck Creek Trail loop. We had hiked a segment of the Buck Creek Trail in 2020 on our Monte Carlo – Monte Cristo Loop (post). Today’s segment would be a roughly 4.2 mile climb to a former lookout site atop Nestor (Nester) Peak. We picked up the trail on West side of N-1000 across from the trailhead.
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It was later in the morning than we usually get started due to visiting Conboy Lake first and even though it was a little before 10:30am it was already feeling a little warm. The trail made a steep initial ascent before leveling off a bit.
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IMG_9374There were lots of phantom orchids blooming along the lower sections of the hike.

IMG_9378Thimbleberry

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IMG_9386Spotted coralroot was also plentiful.

IMG_9387Wallflower

Near the 3/4-mile mark we recrossed N-1000.
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The trail actually lost some elevation here as it descended toward N-1300.
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The trail ran parallel to N-1300 for a mile before again turning steeply uphill.
IMG_9397One of only two trees that were down over the trail, both were easily manageable.

IMG_9398The one small stream crossing.

IMG_9399There was enough sunlight getting through to really heat up the trail.

IMG_9401While there wasn’t much there we did occasionally see poison oak throughout most of the lower 2/3rds of the hike.

After the trail steepened we passed a spring on the right at the first of three switchbacks.
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IMG_9589Sign above the switchbacks warning mountain bikers that they were ahead.

Following a fourth switchback the trail came to another dirt road which we jogged slightly right on before finding the continuation of the Buck Creek Trail.
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IMG_9411Buck Creek Trail to the left near the roads end.

For the next half mile the trail climbed at a healthy pace. Heather hadn’t been feeling well and the heat wasn’t helping things. We talked it over and she told me to go ahead and she would go at her own pace so we split up for now.
IMG_9412

IMG_9414More spotted coralroot.

Just over a half mile from the road crossing the trail crossed another road.
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After another initial steep climb the trail relented a bit as it traversed around a ridge before gaining a ridgetop and following down to a saddle below Nestor Peak. Along the way were a couple of openings hosting bright wildflowers.
IMG_9420

IMG_9421Vanilla leaf

IMG_9422Queen’s cup

IMG_9425Anemone

IMG_9428

IMG_9429Lupine

IMG_9432Mt. Hood from the Buck Creek Trail.

IMG_9433Mt. Hood

Cedar hairstreakCedar hairstreak on yarrow.

IMG_9450Paintbrush, lupine, penstemon, and balsamroot.

IMG_9453Moth

IMG_9455Penstemon

IMG_9469Gaining the ridge.

IMG_9472Paintbrush

20230603_122928Showy phlox

The trail dropped off the ridge and started another good climb along a hillside to a ridge end where it turned steeply uphill climbing to road N-1600 a tenth of a mile below the summit of Nestor Peak.
IMG_9473Approaching the start of the final climb.

IMG_9474

IMG_9477Sub-alpine mariposa lily

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IMG_9482Showy phlox

IMG_9486

IMG_9490Road N-1600.

A right turn on the road led past more wildflowers with a view of Mt. Hood to the remains of a shed on top of Nestor Peak.
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IMG_9495

IMG_9496

At the summit Mt. Adams came into view to the NE.
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I took a break at the summit and followed some butterflies around trying to get pictures. While I was busy chasing butterflies Heather messaged to let me know she was at the start of the final climb so I waited for her at the summit.
IMG_9504

IMG_9498Unfortunate amount of graffiti on the old shed.

IMG_9530Mt. Hood and balsamroot.

IMG_9507Mt. Hood

IMG_9511Oregon sunshine

Boisduval's blueBoisduval blues

IMG_9521Duskywing

IMG_9525Balsamroot

IMG_9547Moths

IMG_9549Moth

IMG_9556Lupine

IMG_9561Butterfly on cat’s ear lily.

IMG_9563Woodland stars

IMG_9566Paintbrush

After Heather got a break too, we headed back down. There was a little bit of a breeze as we went down which combined with going downhill instead of up helped it feel cooler on the way down.
IMG_9575

IMG_9576Blue-head gilia

IMG_9580Ookow

IMG_9585Winecup clarkia

IMG_9594Mountain lady slipper

The hike here would have been between 8 and 8.5 miles but I wandered around the summit area enough to log 8.9 miles on the GPS unit.

We passed 8 others on the trail (3 hikers and 6 mountain bikers) and saw another mountain biker on Road N-1600 from the summit. It was a nice hike but it would have been a little more enjoyable in cooler temperatures. The views and wildflowers were great though. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Conboy Lake WLFR and Nestor Peak

Categories
Columbia Gorge North Hiking Trip report Washington

Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge – 05/20/2023

For the second week in a row, we turned to a National Wildlife Refuge System as a hiking destination. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service currently manages 568 wildlife refuges throughout the United States with the primary statutory purpose being the conservation of native species. Where and when appropriate the refuges offer access to the public for activities such as photography, wildlife viewing, hunting, fishing, paddling, and of course hiking. We have really come to enjoy our visits the various refuges, so we were looking forward to exploring a new one to us, the Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

Situated just East of Washougal Washington along the Columbia River, Steigerwald Lake is part of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Complex. In addition to Steigerwald Lake the complex also includes the Franz Lake, Pierce, and Ridgefield refuges. Of those Ridgefield (post) is the only one we’d previously visited. We had hoped to visit this refuge a couple of years ago, but the refuge was undergoing an extensive restoration that kept it closed until May of last year. The refuge hosts roughly 5-miles of crushed gravel trails. Two of the trails, the Mountain View and the Refuge River, are open all year. A third trail, the Wildlife Art Trail, is partially closed October 1st through April 30th. The Refuge River Trail is open to pedestrians, bicycles, jogging, horseback riding, and leashed dogs which is rare for a refuge while the other trails are hiker (pedestrian) only. To use the Refuge River Trail joggers, cyclists, equestrians and leashed dogs enter the refuge from the West via the Captain William Clark Park Trail by either starting at Steamboat Landing or Captain William Clark Park.

Our plan was to start at the refuge trailhead and hike the trails then then take the Captain William Clark Park Trail to Steamboat Landing and back. We opted for this approach because online information showed 7am and 8am as the opening times for Captain William Clark Park and Steamboat Landing respectively while the refuge website reported that it’s gate opened at 5:30am and we’d be arriving shortly after six.
IMG_8000The 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.

IMG_8001Map and information at the trailhead.

We followed the wide gravel trail as it climbed atop a levee separating the wetlands to the east from industrial lands to the West.
IMG_8005

IMG_8011View to the East.

IMG_8009Looking West toward Washougal.

We followed the trail atop the levee watching on both sides for wildlife.
IMG_8013

DSCN3604Mallards

DSCN3626A duck and a goose sharing a log.

DSCN3611A mallard and an egret in a channel to the West.

DSCN3607Ducks flying over the wetlands casting clear reflections.

DSCN3620Water dripping from a mallards bill.

IMG_8019

DSCN3631One of several rabbits we spotted to the West.

DSCN3635Deer across the wetlands. (The young buck may have been sticking his tongue out at us.)

DSCN3643Families of geese.

DSCN3648Wood duck mallard

When the trail split just prior to reaching the Refuge River Trail we stayed left.
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DSCN3652

IMG_8026Trail sign at the junction with the Refuge River Trail.

We turned left onto the Refuge River Trail following it for 0.3-miles to the Wildlife Art Trail where we again turned left.
DSCN3660Sparrow

IMG_8032

DSCN3667Coming in for a landing.

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IMG_8034Red Tail Lake to the right of the Wildlife Art Trail.

DSCN3678Pretty sure these are the same three we saw from the Mountain View Trail.

DSCN3685This deer laying along the shore of Red Tail Lake was new though.

DSCN3675Common yellow throat

DSCN3676One of many great blue herons that we watched fly overhead throughout the day.

IMG_8042The Wildlife Art Trail passing around Redtail Lake.

IMG_8045Gibbons Creek is in that grass somewhere with at least one deer.

DSCN3692

DSCN3698Killdeer along Redtail Lake.

DSCN3700Turns out the deer laying on the lake shore wasn’t alone.

IMG_8044Roses

DSCN3705Purple martins

IMG_8046Just 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.

IMG_8050We headed left to the overlook before continuing on the loop.

DSCN3713Egret at Scaup Pond.

DSCN3717Egret with a frog meal.

IMG_8051

IMG_8052Mushrooms

IMG_8054We got a kick out of the “Birds Only Beyond This Sign”.

DSCN3727Kingfisher

I had been watching a kingfisher as we arrived at the overlook and after it flew off I turned to my right and thought that there was a bittern standing just a few yards away. Then my eyes adjusted and I realized it was one of the art pieces and I’d been fooled.
IMG_8055We’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.

We returned to the loop and passed through the seasonal gate.
IMG_8056

The wetlands were pretty full of water to our left but between the trail and the water was a fair number of bushes and grass which was apparently popular with the deer.
IMG_8057

DSCN3740You have something in your teeth.

DSCN3741Spotted towhee

DSCN3742At least two deer in the grass.

DSCN3747Another American goldfinch.

We left the seasonal section of trail near the junction with Refuge River Trail where we again turned left, promptly crossing a creek on Dragonfly Bridge.
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IMG_8067

IMG_8068

DSCN3752Spotted sandpiper

We followed this trail to its end at the refuge boundary.
IMG_8071Oregon sunshine and yarrow

IMG_8072The Columbia River ahead.

IMG_8075Viewpoint along the Columbia River.

IMG_8078Approaching the Lampray Brdige.

IMG_8081Looking back from across the bridge there was a bald eagle in the dead snag along the river.

DSCN3760

DSCN3762There were lots of geese along this section of trail.

IMG_8084Red clover in some Oregon sunshine

DSCN3763Another spotted sandpiper

DSCN3767Steigerwald Lake in the distance with a family of geese and crow on a log in the near channel.

IMG_8089End of the trail.

IMG_8090It 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.

DSCN3778Savannah sparrow

IMG_8091Here come the clouds.

DSCN3780Double the eagles.

DSCN3782For the second week in a row we got to watch an American Kestral on the hunt.

IMG_8093Arriving back at the Dragon Fly Bridge and the junction with the Wildlife Art Trail.

We had planned on following the Refuge River Trail all the way to the western end of the refuge but just 500′ beyond the trail junction we rounded a corner to find the trail flooded.
IMG_8094

Since neither of us was interested in finding out how deep the water was we turned around and simply took the Wildlife Art Trail back.
IMG_8095

DSCN3787Red tailed hawk

DSCN3798Geese nesting atop a snag.

DSCN3796More deer in the grass along Gibbons Creek.

DSCN3803Egret at Redtail Lake.

DSCN3811Great blue heron at Redtail Lake.

We followed the Refuge River Trail back past the junction with the Mountain View Trail and continued West.
IMG_8102

DSCN3828Purple martins

DSCN3819When the light catches the feathers right it’s obvious where the purple martin’s name comes from.

DSCN3827Common yellowthroat

DSCN3833House finch

IMG_8106A mile from the Mountain View Trail we arrived at the refuge boundary with Captain William Clark Park.

IMG_8107The trail follows a dike to Steamboat Landing.

The main attraction at Captain William Clark Park is Cottonwood Beach where in 1806 Lewis & Clark established a camp while they secured provisions for the return trip through the Columbia River Gorge. The Provision Camp Trail leads down to the beach and picnic area.
IMG_8108

IMG_8109The Provision Camp Trail

While there had been quite a few people on the Captain William Clark Park Trail there were just a few people in this area.
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IMG_8114

While the beach is extremely popular in the Summer and especially on weekends it became evident why we weren’t seeing folks today when we reached the “beach access”.
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DSCN3835Northern flicker

Having the beach be underwater was fine with us, it meant fewer people, but the water level became an issue when the Provision Camp Trail turned back inland toward the dike to complete its loop.
IMG_8117Flooded trail ahead.

With the loop cut off we went back the way we’d come and returned to the dike where we turned left to continue on to Steamboat Landing.
DSCN3844Black headed grosbeak

DSCN3850Osprey

IMG_8119Back on the dike.

At the other end of the Provision Camp Trail was an interpretive display with replica canoes.
IMG_8120

IMG_8122

IMG_8124

IMG_8123The flooded section of trail from above.

It was another mile from the interpretive display to Steamboat Landing. The trail was pretty busy, and we were now in the city, but we were still managing to see a good deal of wildlife.
IMG_8129

DSCN3856Turtles!

DSCN3864Another turtle

IMG_8134

DSCN3870Common merganser

DSCN3891Great blue heron

IMG_8140Steamboat Landing

At Steamboat Landing we turned down to a viewpoint along a fishing dock.
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After a brief break we headed back.
DSCN3898A family of geese out for a float.

While it had clouded up overhead the morning clouds that had blocked any view of Mt. Hood had given way. Unfortunately, there was enough haze in the air to essentially wash the mountain out.
IMG_8153The large “hump” ahead is Larch Mountain (post). Mt. Hood is a little further to Larch’s right.

IMG_8152Grainy proof of Mt. Hood’s existence.

IMG_8159Silver Star Mountain (post) to the North.

We turned left onto the Mountain View Trail and headed back to the trailhead feeling really good about the amount of wildlife we’d seen although I was still a bit bummed about being fooled by the bittern art. As we neared the end of the wetlands that changed as a pair of bitterns got into a dispute over territory. The victor landed along the water below the levee.
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DSCN3915The American bittern in the grass.

I had the chance to take way too many pictures as the bittern posed for the people on the levee.
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DSCN3932

It was an exciting ending to a great wildlife hike. We made our way down to the now nearly full trailhead. Happy Trails!
IMG_8174We’d been the first car in the lot that morning.

Having to retrace our steps a couple of times due to flooded trails put our hike at 12.4 miles for the day with minimal elevation gain.

Full album (Flickr): Steigerwald Lake Wildlife Refuge

Categories
Hiking Year-end wrap up

2022 Wildlife Gallery Part 2 – Featherless Friends

This year we split our wildlife gallery into two posts starting with our feather friends (post). We now move on to our featherless friends which ranged from tiny ants to bull elk and an almost too friendly black bear. It was an especially good year for deer including several encounters with does and fawns.

We’ll start out small and work our way up to the larger mammals.
IMG_6653Ants 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.

Lady bugs on Observation PeakWe see a lot of beetles but usually not all at once like these lady bugs on Observation Peak.

LadybugLady bug – Upper Table Rock

Beetle on a California poppyYellow & black beetle – Mule Mountain

IMG_5905Redish brown beetle – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_5941Green beetle – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_6578Hitchhiker – Mt. Ireland

IMG_6831Blueish green beetle – Catherine Creek Meadows

IMG_6836Small beetle – Catherine Creek Meadows

20220711_064348Green beetle on a geranium – Eagle Cap Wilderness

IMG_8377Green beetle on a wallflower – Silver Star Mountain

IMG_1487Stripped beetle – Spring Valley Greenway

Water skippers on Big Twin LakeWater skippers – Big Twin Lake

IMG_6019Spider on thimbleberry – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_6708Crab spider – Eagle Cap Wilderness

20220714_094414Another crab spider – Eagle Cap Wilderness

20220824_144345Cricket – Pacific Crest Trail

20220824_140037We 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 phaceliaBee on phacelia – Mule Mountain

Wet bumblebee on lupineWet bee on lupine – Julia Butler Hanson Wildlife Refuge

IMG_8781Bumble bee – Hemlock Creek Trail

IMG_9449Lots of pollen – Mt. Adams Wilderness

Marsh marigold with a visitorBee landing on a marsh marigold along the PCT

IMG_5329Bee approaching penstemon – Siskiyou Wilderness

Bee and ant in bindweedBee and a tiny ant in a bindweed – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_7688Insects on thistle – Eagle Cap Wilderness

IMG_7600Wasp? – Eagle Cap Wilderness

IMG_8429Some sort of wasp – Silver Star Mountain

IMG_7791Insect along Bear Creek – Eagle Cap Wilderness

IMG_0149My brother and I used to call these “weird things”; I have no idea what it actually is – Trinity Alps Wilderness

Damsel flyDamsel fly – Denman Wildlife Area

IMG_8876Damsel fly – Hemlock Lake

IMG_4843Dragon fly – Goat Marsh Lake

IMG_5430Dragon fly – Siskiyou Wilderness

Dragon flyDragon fly – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_7975Dragon fly – Eagle Cap Wilderness

IMG_8117Dragon fly along the Wallowa River – Wallowa Homeland

IMG_8716Dragon fly – E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area

IMG_8871Dragon fly – Hemlock Lake

IMG_2635Dragon fly – Sky Lakes Wilderness

Snail on the Rock Creek TrailSnail – Rock Creek Trail

Snail on the Payette TrailSnail – Applegate Lake

SnailSnail – North Siouxon Trail

SnailSnail – Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge

IMG_6043Snail – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_2814Snail – Cascade Head

IMG_3254Slug – Larch Mountain Trail

Slug on a flowerSlug (and a fly) – Susan Creek Trail

IMG_1364Slug – Fish Lake

Slug on lupineSlug on lupine – Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge

Slug and an unfortunate earth wormSlug and an unfortunate earth worm – Rock Creek Trail

Worms on the trailWorms – Chehalem Ridge Nature Park

MillipedeMillipede – North Siouxon Trail

MillipedeMillipede – Rock Creek Trail

Milli or centipedeMillipede – Illahee Rock

MillipedeMillipede – Eagle Cap Wilderness

Woolly bear caterpillarWet caterpillar – Yakona Nature Preserve

IMG_3245Dry version – Larch Mountain Trail

CaterpillarCaterpillar – Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge

IMG_5393Caterpillar – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_5584Caterpillar – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_3169Caterpillar – Larch Mountain Trail

IMG_3240Caterpillar – Larch Mountain Trail

IMG_3243Caterpillar – Larch Mountain Trail

Moth?Moth – Klickitat Trail

IMG_7092Moth -Eagle Cap Wilderness

MothMoth – Twin Lakes

IMG_6645Moth – Eagle Cap Wilderness

IMG_7670Moth – Eagle Cap Wilderness

20220714_094512Moth – Eagle Cap Wilderness

IMG_9093Moth – Wolf Creek Falls Trail

IMG_3002Moth – Cascade Head

Propertius duskywing - Erynnis propertiusPropertius duskywing (Erynnis propertius) – Klickitat Trail

IMG_5978Duskywing – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_5374Northern Cloudywing? – Siskiyou Wilderness

Silver-spotted skipperSilver-spotted skipper – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_9637Skipper – Grizzly Peak

IMG_1233Skipper – Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness

IMG_8702Skipper – E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area

A hairstreakHairstreak (bramble?) – Siskiyou Mountains

IMG_5289Cedar hairstreak – Siskiyou Wilderness

Thicket Hairstreak?Hairstreak (possibly thicket) – Eagle Cap Wilderness

Ochre ringlet on fiddleneckOchre ringlet – Jack Ash Trail

IMG_5972Butterfly – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_0779Butterfly – Trinity Alps Wilderness

IMG_0813Butterfly – Trinity Alps Wilderness

Butterfly on buckwheatButterfly – Upper Table Rock

Butterfly on scatButterfly – Mule Mountain

IMG_7644Butterfly – Eagle Cap Wilderness

IMG_6852Butterfly – Eagle Cap Wilderness

IMG_9401Butterfly – Mt. Adams Wilderness

IMG_9455Butterfly – Mt. Adams Wilderness

IMG_6555Butterfly – Mt. Ireland

IMG_0243Butterfly – Trinity Alps Wilderness

IMG_8481Butterfly – Silver Star Mountain

IMG_0333Butterfly – Russian Wilderness

IMG_0185Butterfly – Trinity Alps Wilderness

Sara's orangetipSara’s orangetip – Klickitat Trail

IMG_8677Common woodnymph – E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area

IMG_1256Another woodnymph – Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness

IMG_5133Orange sulphur – Siskiyou Wilderness

Mountain ParnassianMountain parnassian – Eagle Cap Wilderness

IMG_8937Clodius parnassian – Hemlock Lake

20220712_102723Western white? – Eagle Cap Wilderness

IMG_0926Western white – Trinty Alps Wilderness

20220824_134541Pine white – Russian Wilderness

IMG_6882Butterfly – Eagle Cap Wilderness

IMG_0311Butterfly – Russian Wilderness

IMG_9418Butterfly – Mt. Adams Wilderness

Possibly a northern checkerspotButterfly – Mule Mountain

IMG_8310Butterfly – Silver Star Mountain

IMG_8508Butterfly – Silver Star Mountain

IMG_8445Butterfly – Silver Star Mountain

IMG_8364Western meadow fritillary? – Silver Star Mountain

IMG_8450A fritillary – Silver Star Mountain

IMG_0210A fritillary – Trinity Alps Wilderness

IMG_0342A fritillary -Russian Wilderness

IMG_1193A fritillary – Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness

Mourning cloakMourning cloak – Klickitat Trail

IMG_5152California tortoiseshell – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_6900Milbert’s tortoiseshell – Eagle Cap Wilderness

IMG_7654Lorquin’s admiral – Eagle Cap Wilderness

IMG_9704Common buckeye – Mt. Shasta Wilderness

IMG_2417Hoary comma – Sky Lakes Wilderness

Green comma?Green comma? – Eagle Cap Wilderness

Swallowtails:
Anise swallowtailKlickitat Trail

SwallowtailJulia Butler Hanson Wildlife Refuge

IMG_8127Eagle Cap Wilderness

IMG_0394Tadpoles – Russian Wilderness

IMG_9385Tadpole transforming – Mt. Adams Wilderness

IMG_0479Frog – Russian Wilderness

IMG_4761Frog – Goat Marsh Lake

IMG_5227Tree frog – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_0169Frog – Trinity Alps Wilderness

IMG_0171Toad – Trinity Alps Wilderness

IMG_9667Toad – Mt. Jefferson Wilderness

IMG_0354Fish – Siphon Lake

Rough skinned newtRough skinned newt – Yakona Nature Preserve

Western painted turtleWestern painted turtle – Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge

Garter snakeBaby snake – Miller Woods

Garter snakeGarter snake – Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge

LizardLizard – Mule Mountain

LizardLizard – Upper Table Rock

IMG_0585Lizard – Russian Wilderness

IMG_5200Lizard – Siskiyou Wilderness

LizardLizard – Klickitat Trail

LizardLizard – Upper Table Rock

Alligator lizardAlligator lizard – Mule Mountain

ChipmunkChipmunk – Observation Peak

IMG_0470Ground squirrel – Russian Wilderness

Ground squirrelGround squirrel – Klickitat Trail

IMG_7344Ground squirrel – Eagle Cap Wilderness

Ground squirrelGround squirrel – Upper Table Rock

SquirrelSquirrel – Rock Creek Trail

SquirrelSquirrel – Twin Lakes

IMG_3250Squirrel – Larch Mountain Trail

IMG_7945Marmot – Wallowa Homeland

Jack rabbitJack rabbit – Denman Wildlife Area

IMG_8674Rabbit – E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area

IMG_8461Pika – Silver Star Mountain

MuskratMuskrat – Julia Butler Hansen – Wildlife Refuge

Otter at Killin WetlandsOtter – Killin Wetlands

IMG_2902Sea lion – Hart’s Cove

DeerDeer – Memaloose Hills

DoeDoe – Miller Woods

DoeMamma – Roxy Ann Peak

FawnFawn – Roxy Ann Peak

Columbain white-tailed buckColumbian white-tailed buck – Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge

Doe and fawn in Donomore MeadowsDoe & fawn – Donomore Meadows

IMG_5571Three bucks – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_6285Buck – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_0197Buck – Trinity Alps Wilderness

IMG_0384Doe & fawn – Russian Wilderness

IMG_0496Buck and does – Russian Wilderness

IMG_1923Two bucks – Crater Lake National Park

Elk on Road 200Elk – Yakona Nature Preserve

Bull elk at Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for Columbian White-tailed DeerBull elk – Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge

Mountain goat below the Mt. Ireland LookoutMountain goat below the Mt. Ireland Lookout – Mt. Ireland

Goat on the other side of Highway 4Domestic goat – Near the Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge

IMG_6302Black bear – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_5594The same black bear making eye contact the day before.

Categories
Hiking Year-end wrap up

2022 Wildlife Gallery Part 1 – Feathered Friends

We thought we’d do something different this year and split our 2022 wildlife gallery into two posts to keep them a little shorter. It made the most sense to us to do a post with the different birds we saw during 2022 and then one of the other wildlife. As with our wildflower post any corrections or additions to our attempts at identifying what we’ve photographed is greatly appreciated. One last note, while we really enjoy taking pictures as a way to record what we see on our hikes, we are by no means photographers. We use our phones and a point and shoot camera on the auto setting, so the pictures are far from professional, but we hope you enjoy them.

We’ll start small which, aside from some of the raptors, is where we have the most difficulty identifying the various species (ducks and sea birds can be tricky too).
HummingbirdHummingbird at Memaloose Hills in May.

HummingbirdHummingbird at Upper Table Rock in May.

Black capped chickadeeBlack capped chickadee at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.

Yellow-rumped warbler (Audubon's)Yellow-rumped warbler (Audubon’s) at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.

Marsh wrenWren (marsh?) at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.

White-capped sparrowWhite-crowned sparrow at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.

SparrowSparrow? at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.

Common yellow throatCommon yellow throat at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.

Yellow-rumped warbler (Myrtle)Yellow-rumped warbler (Myrtle) at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.

Tree swallowsTree swallows at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.

Wren and white-crowned sparrowWhite-crowned sparrow and a wren at Miller Woods in May.

American goldfinchAmerican goldfinch pair at Miller Woods in May.

Song sparrowAnother sparrow at Miller Woods in May.

Hermit warblerHermit warbler? near Kings Mountain in May.

House finchHouse finch? at Upper Table Rock in May.

Rock wrenRock wren? at Upper Table Rock in May.

Ash-throated flycatcherAsh-throated flycatcher at Denman Wildlife Area in May.

Small bird at Ken Denman Wildlife RefugeUnknown at Denman Wildlife Area in May.

SwallowSwallow at Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge in June.

WarblerSome sort of warbler? at Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge in June.

Purple MartinsPurple martins at Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge in June.

WrenAnother wren at Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge in June.

SongbirdUnknown at Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge in June.

SparrowSparrow? at Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge in June.

WarblerWarbler? at Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge in June.

Black phoebeBlack phoebe? at Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge in June.

IMG_1694Mountain bluebird near Union Peak in September.

IMG_1985Red-breasted nuthatch (best I could get) at Crater Lake in September.

IMG_2015Red crossbilss at Crater Lake in September.

IMG_4818Wren on the Eagle Creek Trail in November.

IMG_5040Dark eyed junco at Waverly Lake in December.

Going up a bit in size now (and a little easier to identify).
Grey jayCanada jay (grey jay) along the Crown Zellerbach Trail in March.

Scrub jayCalifornia scrub jay along the Balfour-Klickitat Trail in April.

Stellar's jayStellar’s jay along the Hood River Pipeline Trail in May.

Female red-winged blackbirdFemale red-winged blackbird at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.

Red-winged blackbirdRed-winged blackbird at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.

Spotted towheeSpotted towhee at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.

StarlingsStarlings along the Hood River Pipeline Trail in May.

Brownheaded cowbirdBrownheaded cowbird at Upper Table Rock in May.

RobinAmerican robin at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.

Tropical kingbirdTropical kingbird? at Denman Wildlife Area in May.

Black-headed grosbeakBlack-headed grosbeak (also all I could get) at Applegate Lake in May.

Lazuli buntingLazuli bunting at Roxy Ann Peak in May.

Cedar waxwingCedar waxwing at Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge in June.

IMG_6214Western tanagers, Siskiyou Wilderness in July.

IMG_1094American dipper (Ouzel) near South Umpqua Falls in September.

IMG_2047Townsends solitaire at Crater Lake National Park in September.

IMG_2249Clark’s nutcracker at Crater Lake National Park in September.

IMG_4556Varied thrush along the Eagle Creek Trail in November.

IMG_2981Unknown at Cascade Head in October.

We also struggle with a few of the woodpeckers.
WoodpeckerForest Park in January.

Northern flickerNorthern flicker at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April. We seem to see flickers on nearly every hike, but they don’t often sit still long enough for us to get a decent picture.

Pileated woodpeckerPileated woodpecker at Chehalem Ridge Nature Park in May. We rarely see these but like the flickers, when we do they are very difficult to get a photo of.

Acorn woodpeckerAcorn woodpecker at Denman Wildlife Area in May.

WoodpeckerHairy? woodpecker near Twin Lakes in the Umpqua National Forst in June.

IMG_8655Red breasted sapsucker at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area in July.

IMG_4737Either a hairy or downy woodpecker along the Eagle Creek Trail in November.

IMG_2764Unknown, Sky Lakes Wilderness in late September.

Next up are scavengers and birds of prey including those pesky hawks.
CrowCrow along the Crown Zellerbach Trail in March.

RavenRaven at Upper Table Rock in May.

Turkey vultureTurkey Vulture at Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge in June.

American kestralAmerican kestral along the Crown Zellerbach Trail in March.

OspreyOsprey along the Hood River Pipeline Trail in May.

OspreyAnother osprey at Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge in June.

Bald eagleBald eagle at Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge in June.

IMG_2517Eagle in the Sky Lakes Wilderness in September. Not sure if it is a bald or golden.

Immature bald eagle and a hawkA bald eagle and hawk at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.

HawksPair of hawks at Denman Wildlife Area in May.

Hawk at Ken Denman Wildlife RefugeHawk at Denman Wildlife Area in May.

HawkHawk at Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge in June.

IMG_0907Hawk along the Pacific Crest Trail near Carter Meadows Summit in August.

IMG_2056Hawk at Crater Lake National Park in September.

Barred owlBarred owl at Noble Woods in May.

Great horned owl at Ken Denman Wildlife RefugeGreat horned owl at Denman Wildlife Area in May.

Great horned owlYoung great horned owl at Roxy Ann Peak in May.

Moving on to game birds, a few of the species we saw this year were at the E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area at their breeding facility in June.
IMG_8635

IMG_8640Ring-necked pheasant

IMG_8634Silver pheasant

IMG_8649Near the breeding facility at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area.

DoveMourning dove at Roxy Ann Peak a in May.

IMG_6290Grouse? in the Siskiyou Wilderness in July.

IMG_9295Grouse in the Mt. Adams Wilderness in August.

IMG_1783Grouse in the Sky Lakes Wilderness in September.

Bodies of water attract a lot of birds and provide us with a less obstructed view vs the forest.
Long billed dowitchers?Long billed dowitchers? at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.

KilldeerKilldeer at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.

SandpiperSandpiper? at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.

Great blue heronGreat blue heron at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.

KingfisherKingfisher at Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge in June.

American bitternAmerican bittern at Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge in June.

White pelicansWhite pelicans at Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge in June.

Hooded mergansersHooded mergansers at Yakona Nature Preserve in February.

Common mergansersCommon mergansers along the Klickitat Trail in April.

American cootAmerican coot at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.

Cinnamon tealCinnamon teal at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.

Ring necked ducks and an American cootRing-necked ducks (and an American coot) at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.

Nothern shovelerNorthern shoveler at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.

White -fronted geeseWhite-fronted geese at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge in April.

MallardMallard along the Hood River Pipeline Trail in May.

Wood duckWood duck at Denman Wildlife Area in May.

IMG_4906Not sure if this is a ruddy duck at Waverly Lake in December.

IMG_4967Mostly American widgeons with a green winged teal and a female bufflehead or two mixed in at Talking Water Gardens in December.

IMG_5016Bufflehead at Talking Water Gardens in December.

Family of geese on Applegate LakeCanada geese at Applegate Lake in May.

GeeseDomestic geese near the Klickitat Trail in April.

IMG_4914Domestic or hybrid? ducks at Waverly Lake in December.

Categories
Hiking Year-end wrap up

2022 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 2022 was right around 400. We are still learning to identify the flowers and are a long way from being able to tell some of the different species apart. For instance, we encounter species in both the genus Castilleja as well as Penstemon regularly but are not typically knowledgeable enough to determine which one we are seeing. That doesn’t take away from our ability to enjoy the flowers though, but the large number of different flowers makes it difficult if not impossible to get them all in one post.

With that in mind here are some (but not all) of the different flowers we saw this past year, in no particular order. (Any IDs provided are best guesses and any corrections or additional IDs are greatly appreciated.)

The first wildflower we spotted was a little violet on February 5th at the Yakona Nature Preserve.
Violet

It was certainly not the last violet we’d encounter as they are one of the more common flowers we see and also one that struggle to identify beyond “violet”.
Pioneer violetsMay 14th – Chehalem Ridge Nature Park

VioletsJune 15th – Donomore Meadows

VioletsJune 16th – Pacific Crest Trail near Siskiyou Gap

Marsh violetMarsh violet, June 25th – Goat Marsh Lake

IMG_5305July 1st – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_5566Wedgeleaf? violet – July 1st – Youngs Valley, Siskiyou Wilderness

Goosefoot violetGoosefoot? violet, July 9th – Mt. Ireland

IMG_6593July 9th – Mt. Ireland

IMG_9410August 13th – Mt. Adams Wilderness.

The final flower to be photographed was a bleeding heart enjoying a late season bloom along the Eagle Creek Trail on November 19th.
IMG_4739

Bleeding heartHere is a more photogenic bleeding heart from May 21st on the Kings Mountain Trail.

We were lucky enough to see a handful of bucket list flowers during our trips to Southern Oregon and Northern California.
20220618_084641Snow plant, June 18th – Red Buttes Wilderness

20220702_090623California lady slippers, July 2nd – Siskiyou Wilderness

20220702_100604(1)Bolander’s lily, July 2nd – Siskiyou Wilderness

Scarlet fritillaryScarlet fritillary, May 27th – Jack-Ash Trail

Henderson's fawn lilyHenderson’s fawn lily, May 27th – Jack-Ash Trail

Here are some of the other’s that we encountered over the course of the year.
Pungent desert parsleyPungent desert parsley, April 2nd -Balfour Trail

Columbia desert parsleyColumbia desert parsley, April 2nd – Klickitat Trail

Woodland-starsWoodland stars, April 2nd – Balfour Trail

Pacific hound,s tonguePacific hound’s tongue, April 2nd – Balfour Trail

LupineLupine, April 2nd – Klickitat Trail

Big-leaf mapleBig leaf maple, April 2nd – Klickitat Trail

Slender phloxSlender phlox, April 2nd – Klickitat Trail

FringecupFringecup, April 23rd – Ankeny Wildlife Refuge

ButtercupsButtercups, April 23rd – Ankeny Wildlife Refuge

CheckermallowCheckermallow, April 23rd – Ankeny Wildlife Refuge

CheckermallowAnother checkermallow, April 23rd – Ankeny Wildlife Refuge

IrisIris, April 23rd – Ankeny Wildlife Refuge

PaintbrushA paintbrush, May 1st – Memaloose Hills

BalsamrootBalsamroot, May 1st – Memaloose Hills

Large-flower triteleiaLarge-flower triteleia, May 1st – Memaloose Hills

Naked broomrape and poison oakNaked broomrape, May 1st – Memaloose Hills

VetchVetch, May 1st – Moiser Plateau

Large-head cloverLarge-head clover, May 1st – Moiser Plateau

FiddleneckFiddleneck, May 1st – Moiser Plateau

Bachelor buttonBachelor button (non-native), May 1st – Moiser Plateau

Service berryService berry, May 7th – Orenco Woods

AvenAven, May 7th – Noble Woods

CamasCamas, May 7th – Miller Woods

GingerWild ginger, May 7th – Miller Woods

Striped coralrootStriped coralroot, May 7th – Miller Woods

Fairy slippersFairy slippers, May 7th – Miller Woods

PlectritisPlectritis, May 14th – Chehalem Ridge Nature Park

Fairy bells and bleeding heartFairy bells, May 21st – Elk/Kings Mountain Traverse

Snow queenSnow queen, May 21st – Elk/Kings Mountain Traverse

Red flowering currantRed flowering currant, May 21st – Elk/Kings Mountain Traverse

TrilliumTrillium, May 21st – Elk/Kings Mountain Traverse

MonkeyflowerA monkeyflower, May 21st – Elk/Kings Mountain Traverse

Chocolate lilyChocolate lily, May 21st – Elk/Kings Mountain Traverse

KittentailsKittentails, May 21st – Elk/Kings Mountain Traverse

Glacier lilyGlacier lily, May 21st – Elk/Kings Mountain Traverse

Henderson's starsHenderson’s stars, May 25th – Mule Mountain

LarkspurLarkspur, May 25th – Mule Mountain

Possibly a popcorn flower (or a cryptantha)Not sure if this is a cryptantha or a popcorn flower, May 25th – Mule Mountain

Douglas' stitchwortDouglas’ stichwort, May 25th – Mule Mountain

Blue-eyed MaryA blue-eyed Mary, May 25th – Mule Mountain

California poppyCalifornia poppy, May 25th – Mule Mountain

ClarkiaA clarkia, May 25 – Mule Mountain

Hooker's Indian pinkHooker’s Indian pink, May 25th – Mule Mountain

StarflowerStar flower, May 25th – Mule Mountain

California ground coneCalifornia ground cone, May 25th – Mule Mountain

OokowOokow, May 26th – Upper Table Rock

Blow wivesBlow wives, May 26th – Upper Table Rock

Parry's hawkweed?Best guess is Parry’s hawkweed, May 26th – Upper Table Rock

Clustered broomrapeClustered broomrape, May 26th – Upper Table Rock

Narrowleaf onionNarrowleaf onion, May 26th – Upper Table Rock

California goldfieldCalifornia goldfield, May 26th – Upper Table Rock

Possibly Fitch's tarweedPossibly Fitch’s tarweed, May 26th – Upper Table Rock

Marigold pincushionplantMarigold pincushion plant, May 26th – Upper Table Rock

Butterfly and beetles on Arrowleaf buckwheatArrowleaf buckwheat, May 26th – Upper Table Rock

ClarkiaA clarkia, May 26th – Upper Table Rock

IrisIris, May 27th – Jack-Ash Trail

MIlkvetchMilkvetch, May 27th – Jack-Ash Trail

Wildflowers on Anderson ButteUnknown on Anderson Butte, May 27th – Jack-Ash Trail

Giant white wakerobbinGiant white wakerobbin, May 27th – Jack-Ash Trail

LarkspurA larkspur, May 27th – Jack-Ash Trail

Rough eyelashweedRough eyelashweed, May 27th – Jack-Ash Trail

WallflowerWallflower, May 27th – Jack-Ash Trail

OnionA wild onion, May 27th – Jack-Ash Trail

Jacob's ladderJacob’s ladder, May 27th – Jack-Ash Trail

Death camasDeath camas, May 28th – Denman Wildlife Area

Common madiaCommon madia, May 28th – Denman Wildlife Area

Common ViburnumCommon viburnum, May 28th – Denman Wildlife Area

Hairy Indian paintbrush - Castilleja tenuisHairy Indian paintbrush, May 28th – Denman Wildlife Area

White campionWhite campion, May 28th – Denman Wildlife Area

Pale flaxPale flax, May 28th – Denman Wildlife Area

Purple oysterPurple oyster (non-native), May 28th – Denman Wildlife Area

RoseRose, May 28th – Denman Wildlife Area

PeaPea, May 28th – Denman Wildlife Area

Kellog's monkeyflowerKellog’s monkeyflower, May 29th – Applegate Lake

Heart-leaf milkweedHeart-leaf milkweed, May 29th – Applegate Lake

Northern phloxNorthern phlox, May 29th – Applegate Lake

LupineWhite lupine, May 29th – Applegate Lake

Carrotleaf horkeliaCarrotleaf horkelia, May 30th – Roxy Ann Peak

Blue-eyed grassBlue-eyed grass, May 30th – Roxy Ann Peak

BaneberryBaneberry, June 4th – North Siouxon Trail

Star-flower solomonsealStar-flower solomonseal, June 4th – North Siouxon Trail

False lily-of-the valleyFalse lily-of-the valley, June 4th – North Siouxon Trail

CandyflowerCandyflower, June 4th – North Siouxon Trail

Scouler's corydalisScouler’s corydalis, June 4th – North Siouxon Trail

yellow glandweedYellow glandweed (non-native), June 11th – Julia Butler Hanson Wildlife Refuge

DaisyDaisy (non-native), June 11th – Julia Butler Hanson Wildlife Refuge

Flowering shrub at Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for Columbian White-tailed DeerUnknown shrub (non-native), June 11th – Julia Butler Hanson Wildlife Refuge

VetchA vetch or pea, June 13th – Susan Creek Falls Trail

ColumbineColumbine, June 13th – Susan Creek Falls Trail

SolomonsealSolomonseal, June 13th – North Umpqua Trail

ValerianValerian, June 13th – Lemolo Falls Trail

GooseberryGooseberry, June 14th – Illahee Rock

Blue-eyed MaryBlue-eyed Mary, June 14th – Illahee Rock

Fawn liliesFawn lilies, June 14th – Illahee Rock

PussytoesPussytoes, June 15th – Pacific Crest Trail near the Stateline Trailhead

BistortBistort, June 15th – Donomore Meadows

Cutleaf daisyCutleaf daisy, June 15th – Observation Peak

Lance-leaf Spring Beauty Claytonia lanceolataLance-leaf spring beauty, June 15th – Observation Peak

RockcressA rockcress, June 15th – Observation Peak

Alpine pennycressAlpine pennycress, June 15th – Observation Peak

Quill-leaf Lewisia Lewisia leeanaQuill-leaf lewisia, June 15th – Observation Peak

Marsh marigoldsMarsh marigold, June 15th – Pacific Crest Trail

AnemoneAnemone, June 16th – Pacific Crest Trail near Siskiyou Gap

Jacob's ladderJacob’s ladder, June 16th – Pacific Crest Trail

BudsBuds of an unknown flower, June 16th – Pacific Crest Trail near Big Red Mountain

PaintbrushA paintbrush, June 16th – Pacific Crest Trail near Big Red Mountain

Drummond's anemone along the PCTDrummond’s anemone, June 16th – Pacific Crest Trail near Big Red Mountain

Ballhead waterleafBallhead waterleaf, June 16th – Pacific Crest Trail near Big Red Mountain

Mariposa lilyA mariposa lily, June 16th – Pacific Crest Trail near Siskiyou Gap

20220617_072919Diamond? clarkia, June 17th – Bandersnatch Trail

20220617_073325A honeysuckle, June 17th – Bandersnatch Trail

IMG_4315A catchfly, June 17th – Bandersnatch Trail

IMG_4343Blue-head gilia, June 17th – Red Queen Trail

20220617_093917Deerbrush, June 17th – Mike Uthoff Trail

20220617_094806Grand collomia, June 17th – Mike Uthoff Trail

IMG_4460A phaceli, June 17th – Mike Uthoff Trail

IMG_4589Rhododendron, June 18th – Frog Pond Trail

20220618_073810Pretty Face, June 18th – Frog Pond Trail

20220625_115233Believe this is some sort of saxifrage, June 25th – Toutle Trail

20220625_112218Avalanche lily, June 25th – Toutle Trail

IMG_5079A penstemon, July 1st – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_5080A phlox, July 1st – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_5163Lewis flax, July 1st – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_5173A paintbrush, July 1st – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_5203Nuttall’s sandwort?, July 1st -Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_5220Queen’s cup, July 1st – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_5265Beargrass, July 1st – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_5277Shooting star, July 1st – Siskiyou Wilderness

Wolley-head cloverWolley-head clover, July 1st – Siskiyou ikyWilderness

IMG_5354A nightshade, July 1st – Siskiyou Wilderness

20220701_151859Siskiyou lewisia, July 1st – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_5562Spotted coralroot, July 1st – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_5565This tiny flower was at the edge of the meadow in Young’s Valley, July 1st – Siskiyou Wilderness

20220702_065556Azalea, July 2nd – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_5627Honeysuckle, July 2nd – Siskiyou Wilderness

Pacific ninebarkPacific ninebark, July 2nd – Siskiyou Wilderness

streambank bird's-foot trefoilStreambank bird’s-foot trefoil, July 2nd – Siskiyou Wilderness

White-vien wintergreenWhite-vein wintergreen, July 2nd – Siskiyou Wilderness

20220702_091852California pitcher-plant, July 2nd – Siskiyou Wilderness

20220702_094208Also California pitcher-plant, July 2nd – Siskiyou Wilderness

20220702_100311White-stemmed frasera, July 2nd – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_5776Washington lily, July 2nd – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_5809Phantom orchid, July 2nd – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_5830Oregon sunshine, July 2nd – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_5905Pussypaws, July 2nd – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_6142Musk monkeyflower, July 3rd – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_6227Klamath arnica, July 3rd – Siskiyou Wilderness

White rushlilyWhite rushlily, July 3rd – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_6418Spirea, July 4th – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_6423Wild onion, July 4th – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_6434A penstemon, July 4th – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_6483Phlox, July 9th – Mt. Ireland

IMG_6490Brown’s peony, July 9th – Mt. Ireland

IMG_6505Yet another paintbrush, July 9th – Mt. Ireland

IMG_6583Silverleaf phacelia with visitor, July 9th – Mt. Ireland

Venus penstemonVenus penstemon, July 10th – Catherine Creek Trail

20220710_062027Douglas dustymaidens, July 10th – Catherine Creek Trail

IMG_6640Bog orchid, July 10th – Catherine Creek Trail

20220710_064506Mountain lady slippers, July 10th – Catherine Creek Trail

20220710_073039Rosy pussytoes, July 10th – Catherine Creek Trail

20220710_073735Yellow columbine, July 10th – Catherine Creek Trail

heart-leaved bittercressHeart-leaved bittercress?, July 10th – Catherine Creek Trail

20220710_092803Elephants head, July 10th – Catherine Creek Trail

20220710_112424Cone flower, July 10th – Catherine Creek Trail

IMG_6858Tall mountain bluebells, July 10th – Catherine Creek Trail

20220711_062416Another wild onion, July 11th – Horse Ranch Trail

20220711_062408Scarlet gilia, July 11th – Horse Ranch Trail

20220711_062801Arrowleaf groundsel, July 11th – Horse Ranch Trail

20220711_064029Purple sticky geranium, July 11th – Horse Ranch Trail

20220711_093724Ragged robin, July 11th – Horse Ranch Trail

20220711_063742False? sunflower, July 11th – Horse Ranch Trail

20220711_144805White mariposa lily, July 11th – Horse Ranch Trail

20220712_075029Rosy paintbrush, July 12th – Buck Creek Trail

Lyall's RockcressLyall’s rockcress, July 12th – Buck Creek Trail

20220713_063711Pacific coralroot, July 13th – Rock Springs
Trail

20220713_065301Hyssop, July 13th – Rock Springs
Trail

IMG_7753Another penstemon, July 13th – Rock Springs
Trail

IMG_7689Thistle, July 13th – Rock Springs
Trail

IMG_7723Oregon checker-mallow, July 13th – Rock Springs
Trail

Moneses uniflora - one-flowered monesesThis was a new one for us one-flowered moneses, July 14th – Bear Creek Trail

20220714_101502Pinedrop, July 14th – Bear Creek Trail

IMG_7988Sagebrush mariposa lily, July 14th – Wallowa Homeland

20220714_130643Blanket flower, July 14th – Wallowa Homeland

20220714_131056Yarrow, July 14th – Wallowa Homeland

IMG_8524Scouler’s bluebells, July 23rd – Silverstar Mountain

IMG_8192Inside-out flower, July 23rd – Silverstar Mountain

Tiger lilyTiger lily, July 23rd – Silverstar Mountain

IMG_8497Bluebells of Scotland, July 23rd – Silverstar Mountain

IMG_8252Subalpine mariposa lily, July 23rd – Silverstar Mountain

IMG_8303Western sweetvetch, July 23rd – Silverstar Mountain

IMG_8335Coiled lousewort, July 23rd – Silverstar Mountain

IMG_8353Best guess is subapline fleabane, July 23rd – Silverstar Mountain

20220723_120051Orange agoseris, July 23rd – Silverstar Mountain

20220723_130806A larkspur, July 23rd – Silverstar Mountain

IMG_8526Mock orange, July 23rd – Silverstar Mountain

IMG_8670Chicory (non-native), July 30th – E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area

IMG_8735Indian pipe, August 6th – Yasko Falls Trail

20220806_104434Leopard lily, August 6th – Hemlock Creek Trail

IMG_8874Mountain owl’s clover, August 6th – Yellowjacket Loop Trail

IMG_8879Rainiera, August 6th – Yellowjacket Loop Trail

IMG_8899Hedgenettle, August 6th – Yellowjacket Loop Trail

IMG_8905Large boykina, August 6th – Yellowjacket Loop Trail

IMG_8991Candy sticks, August 6th – Yellowjacket Loop Trail

IMG_8987Monkshood, August 6th – Yellowjacket Loop Trail

IMG_9053Scarlet monkeyflower, August 7th – Fall Creek Falls Trail

IMG_9269White mountain heather, August 13th – Mt. Adams Wilderness

IMG_9307Mountain heather, August 13th – Mt. Adams Wilderness

IMG_9469Gentian, August 13th – Mt. Adams Wilderness

IMG_9504False hellebore, August 13th – Mt. Adams Wilderness

IMG_9409A saxifrage, August 13th – Mt. Adams Wilderness

IMG_9622Beardstongue, August 20th – Grizzley Peak

Shasta knotweedShasta knotweed, August 22nd – Mt. Shasta Wilderness

marsh grass-of-ParnassusMarsh grass-of-Parnassus, August 22nd – Mt. Shasta Wilderness

IMG_9731Western pasque flower, August 22nd – Mt. Shasta Wilderness

20220823_074107Bigelow’s sneezeweed, August 23rd – Trinity Alps Wilderness

IMG_9972Western snakeroot, August 23rd – Trinity Alps Wilderness

IMG_0020A buckwheat, August 23rd – Trinity Alps Wilderness

Autumn dwarf gentian - Gentianella amarellaAutumn dwarf gentian, August 23rd – Trinity Alps Wilderness

IMG_0216Saffron-flowered lupine, August 23rd – Trinity Alps Wilderness

20220823_121615An aster or fleabane, August 23rd – Trinity Alps Wilderness

Hooded ladies tressesHooded ladies tresses, August 24th – Russian Wilderness

20220824_111610Can’t seem to identify this flower on the shore of Russian Lake, August 24th – Russian Wilderness

IMG_0528This one has me a bit stumped too, it looks like a wirelettuce or some sort of lewisa, August 24th – Russian Wilderness

IMG_0596Buckwheat, August 24th – Russian Wilderness

20220826_064654A monkeyflower (dwarf purple?), August 26th -Pacific Crest Trail near Carter Meadows Summit

20220826_080306Mountain coyote mint, August 26th – Pacific Crest Trail near Carter Meadows Summit

20220826_080417Sierra larkspur, August 26th – Pacific Crest Trail

IMG_0964Tasselflower brickellbush, August 26th – South Fork Lakes Trail

20220826_100503Monkeyflower, August 26th – South Fork Lakes Trail

IMG_1050Thistle, August 26th – South Fork Lakes Trail

20220826_103807California hairbells, August 26th – South Fork Lakes Trail

Common toadflaxCommon toadflax (non-native), September 10th – Spring Valley Greenway

IMG_1563Fireweed, September 17th – Union Peak Trail

IMG_1757Douglas spirea, September 18th – Sky Lakes Wilderness

Crater Lake Collomia?Best guess is Crater Lake collomia, September 19th – Dutton Creek Trail

20220925_092616Another mystery seen near the Cold Springs Trailhead, September 25th – Sky Lakes Wilderness

We have a few wildflower hikes planned in 2023. We are hoping to see at least one or two more that we haven’t before along with plenty of familiar faces. Happy Trails!