We’re continuing to whittle away at the hikes contained in Matt Redder’s various guidebooks (Off the Beaten Trail!) and were down to just two of the 55 hikes from the second edition of “Off the Beaten Trail”. One of those is a bit too far from Salem to be a day hike, but the Underhill Trail is just a 2:15 drive if traffic is cooperative. Leaving between 4:45 and 5am usually means that traffic isn’t a problem on the way to trailhead, but coming home is always a different story.
Reeder’s suggested hike for the Underhill Trail is an out-and-back to Fifteenmile Creek which for us came to 6.3-miles with approximately 1600′ of elevation gain.
Clearly the trail has been realigned based on where the map shows it is and where our track shows we were.
Since that hike alone would have led us to violating our self-imposed rule of not spending more time driving than hiking on day hikes we wanted to add some hiking miles. We had some options including continuing down Fifteenmile Creek three miles on a seldom used section of trail. We also could have hiked upstream along Fifteenmile Creek, but we had hiked the trails leading upstream in 2016 on an 11.9-mile loop (post). The third option was to try another nearby hike which is the option we chose. We picked the Eightmile Loop based on its proximity to the Underhill Trail (less than 5 miles) and length.
We began our day at the Underhill Site.
Scarlet gilia with the Underhill Site picnic shelter in the background.
The Underhill Trail began next to a signboard and descended to cross Forest Road 4450.
Balsamroot
Penstemon
Rosy pussytoes
Lomatium
Paintbrush
Forest Road crossing.
Shortly after crossing the road we passed an old fence and then came to a fork in the trail.
Here the Old Cabin Loop Trail headed left while the Underhill Trail continued straight ahead. We decided to turn onto the Old Cabin Loop after looking at the map and seeing that it wouldn’t add too much distance to the hike (it added about a third of a mile).
The abandoned East Loop splits off from the Old Cabin Loop shortly beyond the Underhill Trail.
The Old Cabin Loop descended to a footbridge over Ramsey Creek where Scouts from nearby Camp Baldwin had placed some benches.
Ramsey Creek
After crossing Ramsey Creek the trail climbed to an unmarked junction with the Underhill Trail.
The first Queen’s cup blossom that we’d seen this year.
The junction with the Underhill Trail.
We turned left on the Underhill Trail and climbed gradually to Logging Gulch Road atop a ridge.
Penstemon along the trail.
View of the opposite ridge from the trail.
Sliverleaf phacelia
Rayless arnica
Honeysuckle and snowberry
There were no signs at the road crossing but a small rock on top of a larger rock to the left on the far side of the road marked the continuation of the Underhill Trail.
Lookout Mountain (post) from the road.
Closer look at Lookout Mountain.
After crossing the road the Underhill Trail starts a 1.8-mile descent to Fifteenmile Creek. While this section of the trail loses over 800′ of elevation it managed to do so without ever feeling too steep. This was accomplished by good use of switchbacks and hopping ridges a couple of times.
Yarrow and white-stemmed frasera
There was a lot of white-stemmed frasera blooming which was exciting because we had been too early for the bloom when we were in the area Memorial Day Weekend (post).
Flag Point is the highest point to the left and Lookout Mountain is behind the tree.
Buckwheat
Diamond clarkia
Onion
Nevada deervetch
Balsamoot covering the hillside. We were a few weeks late for the balsamroot bloom, but getting to see so much white-stemmed frasera made up for it.
Onion
Passing over a ridge.
Grand collomia
Gently heading down an open ridge.
Mt. Hood making an appearance.
Mt. Hood
Desert yellow fleabane
Pacific coralroot
The junction with the Fifteenmile Creek Trail.
Fifteenmile Creek
We took a short break at the creek before starting the climb back up to the Underhill Site. The reasonable grade of the trail kept the climb from feeling overly difficult.
Mt. Hood from the Underhill Trail.
Sagebrush false dandelion
Western sulphur
Balsamroot covered hillside.
Beetles on white-stemmed frasera
Brief glimpse of Mt. Adams through the trees.
Swallowtail
Woodland stars
Lupine
We went left sticking to the Underhill Trail when we reached the junction with the Old Cabin Loop Trail.
Vanilla leaf lining the trail.
Footbridge over Ramsey Creek.
Old cabin ruins near Ramsey Creek.
Steep set of stairs leading up from the creek.
Passing the upper junction with the Old Cabin Loop Trail.
During the hike Heather was dealing with a blister on her foot which wasn’t causing a problem yet, but she was a little concerned that doing the whole Eightmile Loop might be pushing it. We’d talked about it and came up with a plan. I would drop her off at the Bottle Prairie Trailhead where we had originally planned to start the loop. I would then take the car to the day-use area at Eightmile Campground and start the loop from that trailhead. This would allow me to be following behind Heather and possibly catch up to her at the Fivemile Butte Lookout, and Heather would be able to skip approximately 3-miles of the loop along Eightmile Creek while still getting to see the views from the lookout site. It took just ten minutes to drive to the day-use area after dropping Heather off and I was quickly on my way behind her.
Please note that this campground is one of several that the Forest Service has contracted private concessionaires to manage and there is a $10.00/day parking fee for day-use. An annual NW Forest Pass is accepted in lieu of the fee but a single day NW Forest Pass and some interagency passes may not be. There is conflicting information online through the Forest Service website and what is posted at the trailhead.
Signage at the trailhead still shows that a variety of passes are honored there but the link for the campground provided above only lists the annual NW Forest Pass as accepted.
I followed the trail from the parking area down to Eightmile Creek and crossed it on a footbridge.
Beyond Eightmile Creek the trail switchbacked up to a crossing of Forest Road 4430 and then to a junction starting the actual loop.
The trail also crossed the campground road before climbing to FR 4430.
Raceme pussytoes
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FR 4430
Sticky cinquefoil
The start of the Eightmile Loop.
The loop is more popular with mountain bikers than hikers, in fact we saw no other hikers on any of the day’s trails. We did see around a dozen mountain bikers on the loop trails though.
Clockwise provides the gentlest climbing for the loop which is the direction we were hiking so I went left.
The trail gradually climbed for a little over 2.5-miles gaining over 650′ before arriving at the Bottle Prairie Trailhead.
Lupine
Columbine
The creek wasn’t visible for much of the 2.5-miles, but it was always within earshot.
Vanilla leaf
About a mile into the loop the trail crossed Eightmile Creek.
Eightmile Creek
Bunchberry
Western Jacob’s ladder
Arnica
Trillium
Valerian
Tall mountain bluebells
Eightmile Creek to the right of the trail.
Forest Road 120 near the Bottle Prairie Trailehad.
The Bottle Prairie Trailhead.
I located the sign for the continuation of the Eightmile Loop and headed up the trail.
Just beyond that trail sign I came to a fork where I went right on the unsigned Bottle Prairie Trail (the left fork was the Knebal Springs Trail
I learned later that Heather had gone left a short distance before realizing the mistake, something I too almost did.
A 0.4-mile climb brought me to another fork where the Bottle Prairie continued left and the Eightmile Loop split off to the right.
Duksy horkelia
Silvercrown along the trail.
This hillside was covered in buckwheat.
The OregonHikers Field Guild mentioned a short detour up the Bottle Prairie Trail to visit Perry Point, the site of a former crow’s nest lookout. At some point in the future we plan to hike a loop using the Bottle Prairie and Knebal Springs Trails and we will pass Perry Point then so I could have skipped the extension, but that’s just not in my nature so left I went.
I followed the Bottle Prairie Trail uphill a little over a quarter mile to a spur trail signed for Perry Point.
Flowers along the trail.
Penstemon, false sunflower, and scarlet gilia.
The spur trail toward Perry Point.
It was about two tenths of a mile out to the rocky point.
I failed to look for the remains of the old crow’s nest although there appears to be a small board at the top of the fir tree in the center.
Mt. Adams between the trees.
Lookout Mountain from Perry Point.
Larkspur
After visiting the point I returned to the Eightmile Loop and turned left.
After a brief climb the trail gradually descended to a saddle where it crossed Rail Hollow Road.
Orange agoseris
Vanilla leaf
Anemones
On the far side of the road the trail once again began climbing. It was a gentle climb through some recent thinning activities which are intended to help stop invasive insect damage to the areas trees.
Moth on yarrow.
View toward Central Oregon.
The trail stayed below the top of the ridge where Rail Hollow Road was.
View toward Lookout Mountain.
A little over half a mile from the crossing of Rail Hollow Road I forked left at this unsigned junction to visit the Fivemile Butte Lookout where Heather was waiting.
The rentable Fivemile Butte Lookout. Because the lookout is actively rented the Forest Service asks other visitors not to go up the tower.
Heather was sitting at a picnic table below the lookout and said she’d only been there about 15 minutes. She let me know where the views of Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, and Mt. Rainier were.
Mt. Hood from below the lookout.
Mt. Adams and Mt. Rainier from a path to the north of the lookout.
Mt. Adams with Mt. Rainier to the left.
Paintbrush and yarrow.
Rosy pussytoes
After a short break at the picnic table I started to get a little too warm in the sunlight and we resumed the hike together. From the junction with the spur to the lookout the trail began a series of long switchbacks that brought us down the hillside 1.6-miles to the junction at the start of my loop.
Large-flower triteleia
Stonecrop
Duskywing on penstemon.
The hill was fairly steep but the switchbacks made the descent nice and gradual.
Lupine and paintbrush along the trail.
Western tanager
Twinflower
Signs below marking the start/end of the loop.
After completing the loop we made our way to the car, changed shoes, and headed home. My hike including the side trips wound up coming in at a very fitting 8-miles.
My hike included approximately 1400′ of elevation gain.
These were a fun pair of hikes with lots of wildflowers and good variety in the forest types. Our timing was good for the flowers on the Eightmile Loop and okay for the Underhill Trail although as I mentioned earlier May would have been better for catching the balsamroot bloom there. We were also pleasantly surprised by how reasonably graded these trails were after a couple of extremely steep hikes in the area over Memorial Day Weekend. We’re looking forward to heading back to the area to experience more of the trails in the future. Happy Trails!
The pullout only has room for two cars, a third might be able to squeeze in but it would be tight. DO NOT drive past the gate if it happens to be open as motor vehicle use by the public is not allowed beyond the gate.
A section of intact forest.
False lily-of-the-valley
Chipmunk
Salmonberry
Another junco
Mt. Rainier
Dandelion (non-native) in the penstemon. There were surprisingly few non-native wildflowers which was nice.
Looking back after having made it onto the ridge. The loop route is the road seen on the right cutting along the hillside, not the roadbed straight ahead going up the knoll.
Lomatium
The Tygh Creek Trail across FR 27 from the Tygh Creek Trailhead.
The only two trees down that needed to be climbed under/over.
Tygh Creek
Distance + low light + moving animal = blurry photo.
The skunk had been at the far end of this section of trail which was lined with lupine.
The little stinker had a pretty cute face.
The trail is to the right in this photo.
Paintbrush, balsamroot, and a strawberry blossom.
Ball Point
Rough eyelashweed
When a trail looks steep in a photo that tells you something.
More paintbrush and balsamroot.
Townsend’s solitaire
Buckwheat
My goal, the turn around point, was up on the crest of that ridge ahead.
Lupine, balsamroot, and a death camas.
Dogwood tree among the ponderosa pines.
Mahala mat
Getting close to the ridge and still steep.
The trail got less steep near the ridge.
Gordon Butte to the right. Broken Top, the Three Sisters, and Mt. Jefferson would also have been visible if not for the clouds.
Level trail on the ridge!
Looking ahead at the trees atop the “small” ridge.
Sandwort
Oregon sunshine
Wildflowers on the “small” ridge.
Almost to the crest.
The clouds here are hiding Mt. Hood which should be visible behind the ridge. What is visible is Flag Point (
Looking toward Mt. Jefferson.
Parts of Mt. Jefferson peeking out through the clouds.
I’d seen a couple whitestem frasera going up but coming down I realized just how many there actually were, although none of the plants were quite blooming yet.
Groundsel
Broken Top and some of the Three Sisters were visible on the way down.
Tam McArthur Rim (
I missed this whole patch of silvercrown earlier.
Pine Hollow Reservoir and Central Oregon.
Elkhorn clarkia aka ragged robin.
Threadleaf phacelia
Paintbrush with Ball Point in the background.
Vetch
Penstemon
Bastard toadflax
Back in the forest near Tygh Creek.
Tygh Creek
Squirrel
Starflower
Coral fungus
The trailhead in sight.
The Tygh Creek track along with a portion of Saturday’s hike on the School Canyon Trail at the bottom.
Phacelia
Fleabane
Thistle
Madia
Fiddleneck and lupine
The first of several deer we spotted during the day.
The distinctive cliffs behind the lupine are across the river from the parking area so we were almost always able to tell where we had parked.
This jeep track would veer to the left to pass between the smaller hills and cliffs ahead.
Western meadowlarks could be heard throughout the hike.
The view south.
Desert yellow fleabane
The view west.
Mt. Hood peaking over the canyon rim to the NW.
Mt. Hood
Butterfly on yarrow
Grasses and wildflowers added color to the landscape.
The route became very faint at times.
Balsamroot
Looking back at the route so far.
View from the trail after passing between the hills and cliffs.
An old fence.
Mt. Hood and Lookout Mountain (
Buckwheat
Rough eyelashweed
Paintbrush
Another stretch of faint tread.
It was often easier to see the road ahead than below our feet.
Balsamroot and lupine
Grand collomia and lupine.
Spreading dogbane
Digging in.
Small water trough (empty).
View from the water trough.
Haven’t identified this bird yet.
Looking back at the route again.
Mt. Hood again.
Ochre ringlet. There were hundreds of butterflies.
Looking at the climb ahead. At this point most of the rest of the hike would be in direct sunlight, and it was already getting warm.
Buck
Buck number two.
We had to get pretty high up before we could see Washington’s Mt. Adams and even once it was in view the lighting made it hard to make out.
Mt. Adams
The newer barbed wire fence at the public land boundary. This is around 3.5-miles from the parking area.
Hawksbeard
The fence went up and down steeply so that meant we got to as well.
Crow
Fritillary
Cattle trail
Western kingbirds
A milkvetch
Another butterfly on balsamroot.
Stag Point is the high triangular point along the plateau in the foreground.
Zoom in on Stag Point. (The lone post on top gives it away.)
First and only brief view of the top of Mt. Jefferson.
Mt. Jefferson
The newer fence turned left at the corner.
Onion
This rocky gully was a little tricky to cross.
Checkerspot
Old stone structure along the fence.
Western meadowlark
Lark sparrow
Probably cattle bones.
Checkerspot on fiddleneck.
Balsamroot and Mt. Hood from the road.
Phlox
Indra swallowtail
Checkerspot
Another checkerspot
A blue or copper of some sort.
Oregon sunshine
Skipper
Colorful rocks
Looking back up along the switchback section.
Gate along the road at the end of the switchbacks.
Allumroot
Cusick’s sunflowers and desert yellow fleabane.
Cusick’s sunflowers
Looking back up the road toward the snake.
The still coiled snake to the right of the track.
The fainter jeep track split off here to the right. It’s really hard to see it in the photo but was a little more obvious in person.
The goal was to aim for the knoll ahead then find two junipers that were relatively close together and descend between them.
Looking back up from the jeep track.
The view upriver with a private house.
Going between the two junipers.
Looking back up at the two junipers.
It’s a checkerboard of public and private land along the road. While this portion of the road is open to hikers, public fishing along the riverbank is limited to the public land portions. No trespassing signs line the road in the private sections.
Heather spotted this rattlesnake off the side of the road. We couldn’t tell if it was still alive and didn’t really want to find out.
One of the few bits of shade along the road walk.
Probably some sort of flycatcher.
There were a lot of osprey along the river.
There were also quite a few Bullock’s orioles.
Mock orange along the river.
Mallard
Bindweed
Another unknown bird and an angler in the river.
Cliff swallow
Dove
More osprey
Portland Deschutes Club Gatekeepers House
Geese
Common merganser
Yarrow covered hillside.
Rock formations above the road.
The distinctive cliffs on the opposite side of the river from the parking area.
Arriving back at the parking area.
Yellow is our track from 2023.
We headed off through the trees here.
Mt. Jefferson and Olallie Butte (
Gordon Butte in the foreground.
Balsamroot and oak trees.
Buckwheat and balsamroot
Whitestem frasera with Mt. Jefferson in the background.
Rough eyelashweed
Paintbrush
We picked up a faint path, not sure if it was a game or use trail.
Lupine and ponderosa pines.
The trailhead is on the opposite side of FR 2710 from the trail.
Sign at the start of the Little Badger Trail.
Badger Creek Wilderness sign next to Little Badger Creek.
Groundsel
Woodland stars
Little Badger Creek
Fairy slipper
American vetch
Bastard toadflax
Duskywing on sagebrush false dandelion.
Balsamroot
Bee coming in for a landing on phacelia.
Sticky cinquefoil
Western wood-pewee
Madia
Brown elfin (and another pollinator) on Oregon sunshine.
Starflower
Mahala mat along the trail.
Duskywing on blue-eyed Mary
Largeleaf sandwort along the trail.
Skunk cabbage
Red-flowering currant
Duskywing on arnica
Silvercrown
Oregon grape
Last of the trillium.
Plumed solomonseal
What’s left of the cabin.
Little Badger Creek at the cabin site.
Anemone
There was a short climb before reaching the spur trail.
Spur trail to the mine.
The old mine. We did not go in as wildlife do sometimes use it for shelter.
Ballhead waterleaf near the mine.
Western tanager
A stand of oaks ahead.
Balsamroot along the trail.
Paintbrush
Buckwheat
Juniper trees
Threadleaf phacelia
Signpost ahead for the trail junction.
Wildflowers along the trail.
The spur trail on the left to the Helispot.
Penstemon
Pine Hollow Reservoir in Central Oregon.
Woodland star
This was the most significant obstacle we had to navigate on the entire loop.
Yarrow
A dogwood on top of the rocks and penstemon below.
First view of Ball Point.
Penstemon
From the ridge we could faintly make out Broken Top and the Three Sisters.
The Three Sisters on the right and Broken Top with Tam McArthur Rim (
Pen Point across the Tygh Creek Valley.
Passing through the 2009 Ball Point Fire scar.
Pen Point toward the center and the taller Hootnanny Point to the right.
Death camas
View east as we came around Ball Point.
Desert yellow fleabane.
Prairie smoke aka Old Man’s Whiskers
Heather coming down the ridge.
I think this is a western racer.
Looking up at the ridge.
A clarkia
Lewis’ woodpecker
Lizard
On last view of Mt. Jefferson
Ball Point
Butterfly on whitestem frasera
Signs at the trailhead.
Orange is the road + cross country portion.
The trails were well marked with plenty of reminders which users were allowed on them.
Giant white wakerobin (Trillium albidum)
The only columbine we spotted.
Fairy lanterns
In addition to identifying the trails by name, several had mile markers.
Trillium
Solomon’s seal
Toothwort
Largeleaf sandwort
Bleeding heart
Old fungus
Oregon grape
The 2.5-mile marker on the Mossy Maple Trail.
Seasonal closure sign and map at the upper junction with the bike only Yee-Haw Trail.
Pacific hound’s tongue
Fairy slippers
Star flowered solomon’s seal
Iris
Vetch
Fringecup
Strawberry
Shooting star
Spotted towhee
Small-flowered woodland-stars
Checker lily and baby blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii)
Manroot
Red-flowering currant
Dogwood
On the Cervus Road passing an old quarry on the right.
The Basalt Rim Trail.
The lupine is still a week or so away from blooming.
Basalt columns
Fawn lily
Springfield from the trail.
There is a short one-way loop at the top.
Looking down from one of the viewpoints.
The highest peak to the left in the distance is Mount June (
Mt. Pisgah (
Biscuitroot
Another viewpoint along the loop.
The peak with two humps is Mount Nebo. With the naked eye we could just make out Tidbits Mountain (
Camas (and poison oak) near the viewpoint.
Finishing the loop.
Stripped coralroot.
Switchbacks leading down to the Basalt Rim Trail.
Wren
Violets
Basalt outcrops
Ginger
Arriving back at the Mossy Maple Trail.
Starflower
Dunn’s salamander
Mossy Maple Connector Trail (left).
The Yee-Haw Trail coming down from the left to the Mossy Maple Connector Trail.
Buttercups
Fairy bells
Meadow near the trailhead.
Menzies’ larkspur
Western meadowrue
Bleeding heart and purple deadnettle
Completing the loop.
Faint grassy path.
Golden crowned sparrow
A section of obvious trail.
The faint path disappeared near the fenced off-leash dog area. The AllTrails loop appeared to turn around here, but since we couldn’t see even a faint path leading back around closer to the parking areas we turned around and followed the river back.
We did find this short section of what appears to have been a paved path in the grass.
An example of the posts. Every directional arrow, including the far side that you can’t see, was for the “Elk Trail”.
Cedar along the Elk Trail.
Candy flower and woodland buttercups
Picnic tables near Lost Creek.
Lost Creek
Not a signed junction so this is the one time we veered right.
Middle Fork Willamette River.
I was hoping that there might be a turtle hiding in this photo but alas it does not appear that is the case.
We veered left here leaving the River Trail briefly to actually get a view of the river.
We hadn’t noticed the goslings in the grass until seeing the picture of the parents.
Another look at the river shortly before the River Trail turned away.
Barrow’s goldeneye
Left here as right led to a picnic area at the end of the entrance road.
Signpost at the second junction where we kept right.
The clouds had been stubborn all morning but by early afternoon they had mostly burned off.
We stayed left on the trail near the entrance road (across from the 
ADA accessible path to a brushy wildlife viewing spot along a backwater channel.
Bufflehead and at least three turtles on the logs behind.
The Lost Creek Trailhead on the far side of the entrance road.
Atwood Road
Death camas
Saxifrage and a yellow bells.
Grass widows
Gold stars, wood-land stars, and blue-eyed Mary.
Catherine Creek from Atwood Road.
Pungent desert parsley
Closer look at the arch.
Buttercup
I believe this was just our second time coming across these flowers.
Closer look at the Dutchman’s breeches.
Hairy bittercress (non-native)
Entering the sunlight.
Glacier lilies
wood-land stars
Toothwort
Columbia desert parsley
Heading through the forest.
Looking east as the road emerged from the forest.
Grassy hillside
Mt. Hood behind a few clouds.
Mt. Hood
Popcorn flower
Rowland Creek
Another user trail on the left, referred to as the Shoestring Trail by the Oregonhikers Field Guide. This trail is not shown on the Forest Service map nor is it mentioned on their website.
Coastal manroot
Grass widows
View of Mt. Hood’s summit.
Robin hunting worms.
Daffodils
The Upper Labyrinth Trail (aka Co8) joining from below. This was the first junction with signs naming official trails.
Labyrinth Creek below Atwood Road.
The Labyrinth Creek crossing.
Wet trail climbing away from Labyrinth Creek.
Red-tailed hawk
Yellow bells
We stayed left here.
We ignored the singletrack leading right on the far side of this unnamed stream.
Here we veered right on the single track. I believe the single track is the “official trail” although both paths led to the signed junction.
A multitude of tracks near the junction.
On one of the switchbacks.
Turkey vulture
The upper viewpoint.
Balsamroot
Looking east over the Columbia River.
Gold stars
The 
Woolly-pod milk-vetch
Miniture lupine, redstem storksbill and a popcorn flower.
Fiddleneck
We turned right at this junction with the Old Ranch Trail to continue downhill.
Naked broomrape and redstem storksbill
Tomcat clover and redstem storksbill
We ignored the Little Maui Connector Trail on the left near the old highway.
Larkspur
Crossing for Labyrinth Creek.
First view of the Catherine Creek Trailhead on the plateau ahead.
Hound’s tongue
Rowland Creek
Rowland Basin
Lupine and balsamroot
The Rowland Pinnacle
Ocean spray – August 4th – Wizard Island (Crater Lake NP), OR
Olympic onion – June 8th – Cedar Butte, OR
One-sided wintergreen – July 25th – Minam River Trail, OR
Tapertip onion – July 21st – Granny View Overlook (Hells Canyon), OR
Ookow – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA
Orange agoseris – June 29th – Grasshopper Mountain, OR
Orange globe mallow- May 25th – Barnes Butte (Prineville), OR
An orchid – July 22nd – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Oregon bluebells – June 29th – Grasshopper Mountain Trail, OR
Oregon grape – March 30th – Mulkey Ridge Trail (Corvallis), OR
Oregon sunshine – July 13th – Nasty Rock Trail, OR
Pacific coralroot – July 13th – Joyce Lake Trail, OR
Pacific hound’s tongue – March 30th – Mulkey Ridge Trail (Corvallis), OR
Pacific waterleaf – May 12th – Cathedral Tree Trail, OR
Indian paintbrush – May 25th – Willow Creek Canyon, OR
Paintbrush – probably scarlet (Castilleja miniata) – August 18th – Cliff Creek Trail (Wallowa-Whitman National Forest), OR
Parry’s arnica – July 21st – Hat Point, OR
Patridge foot – September 13th – Pacific Crest Trail (Mt. Jefferson Wilderness), OR
Gray sagewort – July 21st – Granny View Overlook (Hells Canyon), OR
Pea-vine – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR
Pearly everlasting – June 19th – Deception Butte Trail, OR
Woolly head clover – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Pennycress – July 23rd – McCully Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Penstemon – May 25th – Barnes Butte (Prineville), OR
Penstemon – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA
Pestemon – July 13th – Nasty Rock Trail, OR
Venus penstemon – July 21st – Granny View Overlook (Hells Canyon), OR
Globe penstemon – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
A phacelia – July 26th – East Peak (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Phantom orchid – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA
Phlox – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA
Pinedrops – August 3rd – The Pinnacles Trail (Crater Lake NP), OR
Pink pyrola – June 19th – Deception Butte Trail, OR
Pioneer violet – April 13th – Wind Mountain, WA
Woolly goldenweed? (If so this was a first for us.) – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR
Prairie smoke – May 26th – Bull Prairie Lake, OR
Prince’s pine – July 22nd – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Purple dead-nettle – February 24th – Fernhill Wetlands, OR
Purpleflower honeysuckle – June 29th – Grasshopper Mountain, OR
Pussypaws – July 26th – Mount Howard, OR
Pussytoes – July 13th – Nasty Rock Trail, OR
Queen’s cup – June 22nd – Big Huckleberry Mountain, WA
Raceme pussytoes – June 29th – Grasshopper Mountain, OR
Rosy pussytoes – June 22nd – Big Huckleberry Mountain, WA
Ragwort – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR
Red clover – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Red flowering currant – April 13th – Wind Mountain, WA
Rhododendron – June 15th – O’Leary Mountain Trail, OR
Rockcress – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR
Rose campion (non-native) – June 19th – Buckhead Nature Trail, OR
Rosy bird’s-foot trefoil – June 8th – Kilchis Forest Road, OR
Sagebrush mariposa lily – July 22nd – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Salal – June 8th – Kilchis Forest Road, OR
Salmonberry – April 13th – St. Cloud Trail, WA
Sandwort – July 24th – Bonny Lakes Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Saxifrage – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Scarlet gilia – July 4th – Horsepasture Mountain, OR
Scouler’s bluebell – June 19th – Deception Butte Trail, OR
Scouler’s corydalis – April 13th – Lower Archer Falls, WA
Scouler’s woollyweed – July 24th – Bonny Lakes Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Seaside bittercress – May 11th – Ecola State Park, OR
Self-heal – June 19th – Deception Butte Trail, OR
Serviceberry – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR
Shooting star – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR
Silverleaf phacelia – May 25th – Willow Creek Canyon, OR
Silvery raillardella (new to us) – August 4th – Crater Lake National Park, OR
Sitka mist-maidens – April 27th – Wahkeena Trail, OR
Skunk cabbage – May 11th – Ecola State Park, OR
Slender phlox – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR
mall-flowered woodland-star – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR
Small bluebells – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR
Snowberry – June 19th – Deception Butte Trail, OR
Solomonseal – April 20th – Jackson Bottom Wetlands, OR
Oregon oxalis – April 13th – Lower Archer Falls, WA
Spirea betulifolia – June 22nd – Big Huckleberry Mountain, WA
Spiraea douglasii – July 6th – Independence Riverfront Park, OR
Spiraea splendens – July 25th – Minam River Trail, OR
Spotted coralroot – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA
Spreading dogbane – July 22nd – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Spreading stickseed? – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA
Star-flowered false solomonseal – June 8th – Cedar Butte, OR
Starflower – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA
Stonecrop – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA
Wormleaf stonecrop – July 13th – Nasty Rock, OR
Strawberry – March 30th – Mulkey Ridge Trail (Corvallis), OR
Streambank globe-mallow – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Sub-alpine mariposa lily – June 19th – Deception Butte Trail, OR
Sugar sticks – July 4th – Olallie Trail, OR
Swamp onion – July 24th – Bonny Lakes Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Chicory (non-native) – August 18th – Cliff Creek Trail (Wallowa-Whitman National Forest), OR
Sweet coltsfoot – April 27th – Wahkeena Trail, OR
Tall bluebells – June 29th – Grasshopper Mountain Trail, OR
Tansy ragwort (non-native) – July 6th – Independence Riverfront Park, OR
Tasselflower brickellbrush – July 22nd – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Thimbleberry – April 20th – Jackson Bottom Wetlands, OR
Thistle – June 8th – Kilchis Forest Road, OR
Thistle (non-native) – July 6th – Independence Riverfront Park, OR
Greene’s thistle (Cirsium inamoenum) – July 26th – Mount Howard, OR
Threadleaf phacelia – May 25th – Barnes Butte (Prineville), OR
Tiger lilies – June 19th – Deception Butte Trail, OR
Dalmation toadflax (non-native) – May 25th – Willow Creek Trail (Madras), OR
Tolmie’s mariposa lily – June 19th – Deception Butte Trail, OR
Toothwort – March 30th – Mulkey Ridge Trail (Corvallis), OR
Trillium – March 30th – Mulkey Ridge Trail (Corvallis), OR
Twinberry – April 20th – Jackson Bottom Wetlands, OR
Twin flower – July 4th – Olallie Trail, OR
Valerian – June 8th – Kilchis Forest Road, OR
Vanilla leaf – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA
Variable-leaf collomia – June 8th – Cedar Butte Road, OR
Vetch – May 28th – Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, OR
Vine maple – April 13th – Lower Archer Falls, WA
Violet – March 6th – Dorris Ranch (Eugene), OR
Violet – July 25th – Minam River Trail, OR
Canary violet – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR
Hookedspur violets – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR
Wallflower – June 8th – Kilchis Forest Road, OR
Wallowa paintbrush – July 25th – Minam River Trail, OR
Washington lily – July 4th – Olallie Trail, OR
Western buttercups – March 16th – Middle Fork Willamette Path (Eugene), OR
Western clematis – August 19th – Pine Lakes Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Western featherbells – July 13th – Nasty Rock Trail, OR
Western Labrador tea – July 25th – Minam River Trail, OR
Western meadowrue – April 27th – Angel’s Rest Trail, OR
Western snakeroot – August 4th – Wizard Island (Crater Lake NP), OR
White mariposa lily – July 24th – Bonny Lakes Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Bushy blazing-star (Mentzelia dispersa) – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Tough-leaved iris – March 30th – Mulkey Ridge Trail (Corvallis), OR
Wild onion (Tolmie’s?) – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR
Wild roses – May 28th – Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, OR
Willowherb – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Wintergreen – July 13th – Nasty Rock Trail, OR
Possibly woolly groundsel – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Yarrow – June 22nd – Big Huckleberry Mountain, WA
Yellow bell – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR
Yellow columbine – July 22nd – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Yellowleaf iris – June 15th – O’Leary Mountain Trail, OR
Yellow sweet clover (non-native) – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Youth-on-age – June 8th – Kilchis Forest Road, OR
Zigzag groundsmoke – August 3rd – The Pinnacles Trail (Crater Lake NP), OR
Invasive Queen Anne’s Lace lower right corner.
Agoseris – July 26th – Mount Howard, OR
Allumroot – July 26th – Mount Howard, OR
Alpine pennycress – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA
American Sawwort (Saussurea americana) – July 24th – Bonny Lakes Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Arnica – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Drummond’s anemone seedhead – August 4th – Crater Lake National Park, OR
Columbia windflower (Anemone deltoidea) – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA
Apple blossoms – April 13th – St. Cloud Trail, WA
Heartleaf arnica – May 26th – Bull Prairie Lake, OR
Broadleaf arnica – June 22nd – Big Huckleberry Mountain, WA
Arrowleaf buckwheat – July 13th – Nasty Rock, OR
Western mountain aster – July 13th – Nasty Rock, OR
Showy? aster – August 22nd – East Fork Wallowa River Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Thick-stemmed aster and buckwheat – July 21st – Granny View Overlook (Hells Canyon), OR
Another aster (or fleabane) – August 20th – Bowman Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Largeleaf avens – June 8th – Kilchis Forest Road, OR
Bachelor buttons (non-native) – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA
Ballhead sandwort – July 24th – Bonny Lakes Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Ballhead waterleaf – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR
Carey’s balsamroot – May 25th – Willow Creek Canyon, OR
Arrowleaf balsamroot – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR
Baneberry – May 18th – Wilson River Trail, OR
Bastard toadflax – June 29th – Grasshopper Mountain, OR
Woodland beardtongue – July 13th – Nasty Rock, OR
Beargrass – June 8th – Cedar Butte, OR
Bigleaf maple – March 30th – Mulkey Ridge Trail (Corvallis), OR
Bindweed – August 18th – Cliff Creek Trail (Wallowa-Whitman National Forest), OR
Barestem biscuitroot – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR
Trailing blackberry – June 19th – Deception Butte Trail, OR
Bleeding heart – April 27th – Devil’s Rest Trail, OR
Blue-eyed Mary – April 13th – Wind Mountain, WA
Bluebell-of-Scotland – July 13th – Nasty Rock, OR
Bluehead gilia – June 22nd – Big Huckleberry Mountain, WA
Bog Orchid – July 23rd – McCully Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Bolander’s Ragwort – June 22nd – Big Huckleberry Mountain, WA
Daisies (non-native) – June 19th – Buckhead Nature Trail, OR
Sulphur-flower wild buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum) – July 13th – Nasty Rock, OR
Barestem wild buckwheat (Eriogonum nudum) – July 13th – Nasty Rock, OR
Cushion wild buckwheat – July 26th – Mount Howard, OR
Alpine wild buckwheat – August 4th – Crater Lake National Park, OR
Buek’s groundsel – July 26th – Mount Howard, OR
Carolina bugbane – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Bunchberry – July 13th – Joyce Lake Trail, OR
Buttercup – June 8th – Kilchis Forest Road, OR
Bistort – July 4th – Olallie Trail, OR
California-tea – June 19th – Deception Butte Trail, OR
California cornlily – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Camas – April 20th – Jackson Bottom Wetlands, OR
Canadian milk-vetch – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Candy flower – April 13th – Sams-Walker Day Use Area, WA
Cardwell’s penstemon – June 8th – Tillamook State Forest (Road FB3), OR
Catchfly – June 22nd – Big Huckleberry Mountain, WA
Ceanothus – June 15th – O’Leary Mountain Trail, OR
Chocolate lily – April 13th – Doetsch Ranch, WA
Meadow checker-mallow – May 28th – Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, OR
Rose checker-mallow – May 28th – Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, OR
Oregon checker-mallow – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Chickweed – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA
Cinquefoil – June 29th – Hiyu Ridge, OR
Shrubby cinquefoil – July 21st – Hat Point, OR
Farewell to spring (Clarkia amoena) – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA
Cliff beardtongue – June 22nd – Big Huckleberry Mountain, WA
Coyote mountain mint – July 13th – Nasty Rock, OR
Clover – August 22nd – East Fork Wallowa River Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Coastal manroot – May 11th – Crescent Beach Trail, OR
Columbian larkspur – March 16th – Middle Fork Willamette Path (Eugene), OR
Columbine – June 29th – Hiyu Ridge, OR
Common butterwort? – July 22nd – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Common madia – May 28th – Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, OR
Common whipplea – June 19th – Deception Butte Trail, OR
Coneflower – August 17th – Emigrant Springs State Heritage Area, OR
Cusick’s speedwell – July 23rd – McCully Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Cut-leaf thelypody – May 25th – Willow Creek Trail, OR
Cutleaf anemone – July 24th – Bonny Lakes Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Death camas – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR
Desert yellow fleabane – May 25th – Willow Creek Trail, OR
Devil’s club – June 8th – Kilchis Forest Road, OR
Dogwood – April 20th – Rood Bridge Park, OR
Dusty maidens – July 26th – East Peak (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Dwarf alpinegold – August 4th – Crater Lake National Park, OR
Dwarf lupine – August 4th – Crater Lake National Park, OR
Elderberry – June 29th – Grasshopper Mountain, OR
Elephants head – July 25th – Minam River Trail, OR
Elkhorn clarkia – July 21st – Granny View Overlook (Hells Canyon), OR
Engilish plantain (non-native) – May 11th – Fort Stevens State Park, OR
Explorer’s gentian – September 21st – Black Wolf Meadows, OR
Fairy bells – April 27th – Wahkeena Trail, OR
Fairy lanterns – June 8th – Kilchis Forest Road, OR
Fairy slipper – April 13th – Wind Mountain, WA
Fawn lilies – March 30th – Mulkey Ridge Trail (Corvallis), OR
Felt-leaf everlasting – August 4th – Crater Lake National Park, OR
Finetooth beardtongue – June 22nd – Big Huckleberry Mountain, WA
Fireweed – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
False hellebore – July 24th – Bonny Lakes Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
A fleabane? – June 29th – Grasshopper Mountain, OR
Showy? fleabane – July 22nd – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Flett’s ragwort – June 8th – Kilchis Forest Road, OR
Ground-ivy (non-native) – April 13th – Sams-Walker Day Use Area, WA
Foam flower – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA
Fringecup – April 13th – Lower Archer Falls, WA
Fringed pinesap – July 4th – Olallie Trail, OR
Gentian – August 19th – Pine Lakes Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Geranium – July 22nd – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Ghost pipe – August 22nd – East Fork Wallowa River Trail, OR
Giant purple wakerobin (Trillium kurabayashii) – April 20th – Jackson Bottom Wetlands, OR
Giant white wakerobin (Trillium albidum) – April 20th – Jackson Bottom Wetlands, OR
Wild ginger – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA
Glacier lilies- May 26th – Madison Butte, OR
Rocky Mountain goldenrod – July 22nd – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Gold stars – April 27th – Wahkeena Trail, OR
Grass-of-parnassus – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Grass widows – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR
Gray’s licorice-root – August 3rd – Castle Crest Wildflower Trail (Crater Lake NP), OR
Greene’s goldenbush – August 3rd – The Pinnacles Trail (Crater Lake NP), OR
Groundsel – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA
Harebells – July 22nd – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Hedgenettle – June 8th – Kilchis Forest Road, OR
Hoary Cress (non-native) – May 25th – Barnes Butte (Prineville), OR
Honeysuckle – June 29th – Hiyu Ridge Trail, OR
Hooded ladies tresses – August 20th – Chimney Lake Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Idaho licorice-root – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Inside-out-flower – June 8th – Kilchis Forest Road, OR
Royal Jacob’s ladder – July 4th – Olallie Trail, OR
Jacob’s ladder – July 24th – Bonny Lakes Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Jessica’s stickseed – July 4th – Olallie Trail, OR
Lance-leaf spring beauty – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR
Large-flower triteleia – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA
Largeleaf sandwort – June 29th – Grasshopper Mountain Trail, OR
Menzies’ Larkspur (Delphinium menziesii) – July 4th – Olallie Trail, OR
Possibly rockslide larkspur (Delphinium glareosum) – July 13th – Nasty Rock, OR
Sierra larkspur (Delphinium glaucum) – July 24th – Bonny Lakes Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Leafy fleabane – June 19th – Deception Butte Trail, OR
Leafy miterwort – May 18th – Wilson River Trail, OR
Lemon-scented madia – May 25th – Willow Creek Canyon, OR
Lewis flax – June 29th – Grasshopper Mountain, OR
Lewis monkeyflower – August 3rd – Castle Crest Wildflower Trail (Crater Lake NP), OR
False lily of the valley – April 20th – Rood Bridge Park, OR
Littleleaf montia – June 8th – Kilchis Forest Road, OR
Little prince’s pine – June 15th – O’Leary Mountain Trail, OR
Longhorn plectritis – May 26th – Madison Butte, OR
Sickletop louswort – July 4th – Olallie Trail, OR
Coiled lousewort – July 23rd – McCully Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Lupine – May 18th – Wilson River Trail, OR
Lupine – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Lyall’s goldenweed – July 26th – Mount Howard, OR
Microseris – June 22nd – Big Huckleberry Mountain, WA
Basalt? milk-vetch – May 25th – Barnes Butte (Prineville), OR
Mock orange – July 22nd – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Common monkey-flower (Erythranthe guttata) – June 1st – Cook Hill, WA
Chickweed monkey-flower (Erythranthe alsinoides) – June 8th – Cedar Butte Road, OR
Coastal monkey-flower (Erythranthe dentata) – June 8th – Kilchis Forest Road, OR
Monkshood – July 24th – Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Mountain ash – July 22nd – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Mountain death camas – July 22nd – Hurricane Creek Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Mountain heather – July 24th – Bonny Lakes Trail (Eagle Cap Wilderness), OR
Musk monkey-flower (Erythranthe moschata) – July 4th – Olallie Trail, OR
Naked broomrape – June 29th – Grasshopper Mountain, OR
Nettle-leaf giant hyssop – July 21st – Granny View Overlook (Hells Canyon), OR
Northern phlox – June 15th – O’Leary Mountain Trail, OR
Northwestern rabbit-tabbaco – September 13th – Pacific Crest Trail (Mt. Jefferson Wilderness), OR
Northwestern twayblade – July 13th – Nasty Rock Trail, OR
Nuttall’s linanthus – July 25th – Minam River Trail, OR
We managed to get started about ten minutes before 6am.
Bugbane and paintbrush
A 2022 wildfire burned the first 3-miles of the trail and left the old footbridge damaged. A steep scramble trail led down to it.
Big Sheep Creek
Paintbrush and lupine
Wildfire smoke filling the valley behind us.
Phacelia
Butterfly on buckwheat.
Some of the trees survived the fire.
White mariposa lilies in a meadow along the trail.
Junction with the Wing Ridge Trail.
North Fork Big Sheep Creek
Lewis Monkeyflower along the creek.
Bog orchid
Bee heading for some monkshood.
Me in some fireweed.
Getting eyed by a western tanager.
When fires burn too hot they damage the soil which makes it difficult for all plants to obtain the necessary nutrients to grow.
A healthy patch of paintbrush.
Middle Fork Big Sheep Creek
Monkeyflower
Another severely burned section.
The Bonny Lakes Trail forking to the right off of the Tenderfoot Wagon Road Trail.
Wildflowers along the Bonny Lakes Trail.
The wildflowers were profuse along this stretch of trail.
Police car moths
Larkspur and fleabane
The trail recrossed the Middle Fork Big Sheep Creek.
Orange agoseris
Taper tip onions
White mariposa lilies
Checker-mallow
Penstemon on the outcrop.
Pika!
Gathering plants for the Winter store.
On the steep climb.
Ground squirrel
The creek was below between the ridges here.
Stonecrop
Swamp onions
Wallowa paintbrush
Aneroid Mountain and Lower Bonny Lake.
Aneroid Mountain to the right and an unnamed peak on the left.
Shrubby cinquefoil
Upper Bonny Lake
Lower Bonny Lake
Aneroid Mountain from the knoll.
Spotted sandpiper
Elephants head
White mariposa lily and buckwheat
Checker-mallow and white mariposa lilies along the trail.
Gentians
Goldenrod and yarrow
Nuttal’s linanthus
North Fork Big Sheep Creek
The haze from the morning had improved now that the Sun had moved on from the east.
Looking down at the un-damaged bridge over a side stream.
Yellow columbine
Big Sheep Creek.
wanderingyuncks 
