We’re continually looking for hikes that are new to us which led us to a pair of such hikes in the Tillamook State Forest. William L. Sullivan includes the 1.6-mile round trip to a former lookout site in Cedar Butte as an additional, non-featured hike in his “100 Hikes Oregon Coast” guidebook. A hike that short didn’t warrant the 2hr drive from Salem, so I took a look at the Oregonhikers.org field guide for other nearby hikes. That research revealed the Triangulation Point Loop. The field guide entry mentioned that the loop could be started from a saddle on the north side of Cedar Butte which was just over a mile from the Cedar Butte Trailhead.
We decided to start with the long loop first. We drove up the steep, narrow Cedar Butte Road past the Cedar Butte Trailhead and parked at the saddle overlooking a clearcut.
From the saddle South Triangulation Point, the highpoint of the loop, is to the right.
We would be doing the loop clockwise to avoid ending the loop with a climb back up to up to the saddle. We headed down Kilchis Forest Road which wound down through the clearcut before entering the forest.
The roadside was lined with wildflowers which we focused on over the missing trees.
Bleeding heart
Fairy lanterns
Solomonseal
Inside-out flower
Paintbrush
Lupine
Starflower
Salmonberry
Cardwell’s penstemon
Beargrass
Wallflower
Little-leaf montia
Fringecup
Salal
Rosy bird’s-foot trefoil
Band-tailed pigeons
Looking back at the saddle before heading into the trees.
Vetch
Leaving the clearcut.
The road leveled out in the forest making for a pleasant walk. Two miles from the saddle we arrived at 100′ Kilchis Falls.
Rock cliffs marking the location of Kilchis Falls.
Located on a tributary of the North Fork Kilchis River the falls reportedly seldom have much flow, but there was enough water today to make for a pretty sight.
The small pool below the falls.
Avens
Spider hiding on a columbine.
Scouler’s corydalis
Youth-on-age
Valerian
After a relaxing break at the falls, we continued along Kilchis Forest Road which approached the North Fork Kichis River and then followed it NW.
Hedgenettle
Waterfall on an unnamed creek. It was quite a way back in thick vegetation.
The above waterfall sans zoom.
Buttercup
Fick Creek joining the river.
Potholes on the North Fork Kilchis River.
Triangulation Creek flowing into the river.
Approximately two miles from Kilchis Falls we crossed the river on a bridge.
We continued to follow the river for another 0.6-miles where Middle Road joined steeply from the right.
Snail shadow on a iris.
Middle Road coming downhill on the right. This is the Middle Road Trailhead mentioned in the Oregonhikers.org field guide.
We made a sharp right turn here and began the difficult climb to South Triangulation Point.
Middle Road isn’t really a road anymore and is only suitable for high clearance 4wd vehicles or OHVs. We huffed and puffed up this track passing a road on the left after 1.3 miles and arriving at a saddle in another 0.3 miles.
A very blurry picture of a doe that was way down the hillside in the forest.
Large rock and log in the middle of Middle Road.
Monkeyflower surrounded by candyflower
Paintbrush on some cliffs above Middle Road.
Thistle
The road at the 1.3-mile mark along Middle Road.
The saddle at the 1.6-mile mark.
Memorial at the saddle.
We took a break at the saddle before continuing the climb. We passed another road on the left approximately half a mile from the saddle then came to 4-way junction 0.6 miles later.
Middle Road continuing on from the saddle.
Beargrass
The road on the left at the 2.1-mile mark.
Iris
Stream flowing down the road.
Coming up to the 4-way junction.
From the junction we took the righthand fork signed “FB3”.
Middle Road from the 4-way junction.
The two lefthand forks at the 4-way junction.
FB3
The elevation at the 4-way junction is about 2600′ and the Middle Road Trailhead is just over 800′ so we’d gained over 1800′ on Middle Road. South Triangulation Point tops out at 3255′ meaning we were still over 650′ below its summit so neither of us were pleased when FB3 proceeded to lose approximately 100′ of elevation in the first 0.6 miles.
Monkeyflower
Beargrass, paintbrush and penstemon
More flowers on a rocky outcrop along FB3.
A bunch of monkeyflowers.
When the road finally started climbing again it was more gradual than Middle Road had been. In 3/4 of a mile, we gained 350′ before coming to a fork.
Springs along the road.
Snake cooling off in the mud.
The snake didn’t budge as we passed around it.
This fork is approximately 4.2 miles from the Middle Road Trailhead.
At the fork we veered uphill to the left. This road gained nearly another 300′ in half a mile where it arrived at a saddle between Triangulation Point and South Triangulation Point.
Snake number two on the day.
This one didn’t budge either.
Switchback below the saddle.
Approaching the saddle.
Gated road up Triangulation Point.
South Triangulation Point
The wildflower display at the saddle was impressive and we spent some time admiring the blooms.
Serviceberry, paintbrush, yarrow, and iris.
Paintbrush and Cardwell’s penstemon
Iris
Broadleaf arnica, paintbrush and penstemon
Columbine among others.
Broadleaf arnica
Aside from a vehicle that was just leaving the saddle below Cedar Butte when we’d arrived that morning we hadn’t seen anyone all day. That changed at South Triangulation Point as a group of dirt bikes had arrived while we were taking a break at the switchback below the saddle. We took a left fork in the road and made our way to the summit where we briefly spoke with them.
Final pitch to the summit.
We could see our car parked at the saddle below Cedar Butte from South Triangulation Point.
Motorcycle track heading down from the summit with Triangulation Point on the other side of the saddle.
Looking to the NW you can see out to the Pacific Ocean. The line of peaks furtherst back staring from left to right consists of Neahkahnie Mountain (post), Angora Peak (post), West Onion & Onion Peaks, Sugarloaf Mountain, and Kidders Butte.
Closer look at Surgarloaf Mountain and Kidder Butte.
Wildflowers on South Triangulation Point.
After a break we headed down the road to the fork where we turned left and quickly began a steep half mile descent to a 5-way junction.
Another nice clump of wild iris.
Lupine
Flowers lining the road.
More motorcycles at the 5-way junction.
We stayed straight at this junction and continued downhill sticking to the main road at all junctions.
Variable-leaf collomia
The road briefly followed a narrow ridge.
Anemones
Moth
Heather spotted this little one. Not sure if it’s a vole, pocket gopher, or something else.
A little over a mile from our car we passed a series of wet cliffs that were putting on a spectacular flower display.
Silverleaf phacelia and chickweed
A lomatium
Larkspur and monkeyflower
This pink larkspur really stood out on the cliffs.
Littleleaf miner’s-lettuce
Several types of yellow wildflowers.
The cliffs helped explain why the road had dipped so far below Kilchis Saddle where our car was. Shortly after passing them the road began a final climb to the saddle gaining close to 200′ in the final three quarters of a mile.
Still dropping a little after the cliffs.
Bleeding heart and candyflower
Climbing the road at the edge of the clearcut.
The saddle where our car was parked across the clearcut.
South Triangulation Point from Cedar Butte Road.
South Triangulation Point
Looking down the North Fork Kilchis River valley from the saddle.
For us this loop came in at 12.7 miles a little over 2700′ of elevation gain. Despite being on roads some of the elevation change was quite steep adding to the difficulty. That being said this was a good hike with a nice waterfall and lots of wildflowers. We encountered about a dozen motorbikes, all between South Triangulation Point and end of the hike and we didn’t hear them all that often either.
It had been a long hard loop, so Heather chose not to add another 780′ climb when we arrived at the Cedar Butte Trailhead.
I on the other hand am a glutton for punishment so I threw my pack back on and walked 250′ up a gravel road to a signboard marking the start of the Cedar Butte Trail.
The trail information lists the hike as “difficult” due to the amount of elevation gained over just three quarters of a mile to the summit.
The start of the Cedar Butte Trail.
The trail began fairly level passing through some heavy brush before breaking into a second growth forest.
Star-flowered false solomonseal
Black-headed grosbeak
False lily of the valley
The trail didn’t really begin to climb until the 0.3-mile mark where it made a series of short switchbacks then alternated between steep straightaways and more switchbacks.
The trail was in good shape with just one small tree down over it.
Blue-eyed Mary
Small saddle below the summit.
Beargrass
Phlox
Final pitch to the summit.
Wild onion
Benches at the former lookout site.
View from the summit.
Wildflowers at the summit.
On the way back down I took a short, steep spur trail to a viewpoint where I could see Kings Mountain (post) to the NE.
Kings Mountain is the high point to the right along the ridge.
After checking out the viewpoint I continued my descent and rejoined Heather at the trailhead.
Fairy bells and vanilla leaf
Almost back
This hike had been 1.6 miles and one heck of a climb. My legs were feeling all 3500′ on the day. Late Spring seems like a good time to visit this area as the wildflowers were the highlight. Kilchis Falls was nice but at different times of the year the flow would likely diminish the appeal quite a bit. Happy Trails!
Flickr: Kilchis Falls, South Triangulation Point, and Cedar Butte
The trailhead is just a large gravel pullout along Cook-Underhill Road.
There is no parking for the trail anywhere along Jackson Rd.
Ookow surrounded by poison oak.
Mt. Defiance (
Large-flower triteleia
Monkeyflower along the road.
Ookow
Small waterfall through the vegetation.
The first of two crossings of this unnamed creek.
There was a lot of spotted coralroot along the road.
Most of the trees had been cleared from the road, those that remained were easily stepped over.
Anemones
The second creek crossing.
Lupine
White groundsel
Small spring near the junction with the start of the loop.
Reeder mentioned a rock cairn at the start of the loop which was still present, but now there were signs too.
Going counterclockwise seemed to be preferred direction based on trip reports. This was also the shorter distance to the summit at 1.6-miles.
The clockwise sign listed the summit as 2.8-miles away in that direction.
Arriving at the lower meadow.
Balsamroot
Groundsel and balsamroot
Lupine
Death camas
The rocks up ahead made for some nice seats to take in the view from.
Mt. Hood peaking over the ridge to the left with Mt. Defiance to the right.
Mt. Hood
Vanilla leaf
Starflower
Fairybells
The start of the long upper meadow.
Larkspur
Violets
Slender phlox and blue-eyed Mary
Phlox
Balsamroot surrounded by larkspur and coastal manroot.
Coastal manroot
Groundsel
Dog Mountain from the meadow.
Chocolate lily
This was the closest lupine to blooming in the upper meadow.
Chickweed
Oregon sunshine yet to boom.
Mt. Hood from the meadow.
Woodland stars, larkspur, and lomatium.
Yellow buttercups lining the trail.
Mt. Hood and Mt. Defiance
Mt. Hood
Mt. Defiance
Alpine pennycress
Larkspur and lomatium
Chocolate lily eating a buttercup.
Largeleaf sandwort
The final stretch of the upper meadow.
Violets
Phlox
Dog Mountain
Mt. Hood and Mt. Defiance from the upper meadow.
Table Mountain (
Phlox, paintbrush, and lomatium
Mt. Adams from between trees.
Arnica
The final stretch of the steep descent was through this forest with no understory.
Vine maple overhanging the trail.
It’s hard to tell from the photo but these were huge paintbrushes.
Another view of Mt. Hood and Mt. Defiance.
Dogwood
Trillium
The first tower.
Looking toward Mt. Adams from beneath the powerlines.
Mt. Adams
Wind Mountain (
The faint roadbed heading left back toward the forest.
Wild ginger
Candyflower
The trail passed under a talus slope where a fair number of flowers were present.
Lupine and yarrow
Stonecrop
Bee visiting penstemon.
The talus slope.
Descending to the junction.
Ookow and bachelor buttons along the trail.
Bachelor button
Heather spotted this arctic skipper on some vetch.
Clarkia. It wasn’t open yet when we’d passed by in the morning.
There were a lot of phantom orchids starting along the lower portion of the hike, but this was the only one with any flowers opened.
Cook-Underhill Road from Jackson Road.
Sign for the trailhead along FS21.
This mud and torn up area was why we chose the shoulder instead.
Arnica near the trailhead.
Broomrape
Larkspur
Death camas
Lomatium and few-flowered pea-vine
Lupine
Woodland star
Oregon sunshine
Violet
McClellan Mountain, Moon Mountain and Fields Peak (
Balsamroot
The clearer track to the left leads to Tupper Butte in approximately 0.3-miles. We continued straight on the Madison Butte Trail.
The Strawberry Mountains with Strawberry Mountain (
Glacier lily
The fence in the distance.
Huckleberry
Mt. Hood
Old man’s whiskers
Ball-head waterleaf
Small bluebells
Paintbrush
Trail marker on the tree.
One of two fresh piles of scat along the trail.
The markers were helpful because the trail was quite faint at times.
Slender phlox
Shooting stars
Rock outcrop along the trail at the 2.1-mile mark.
View from the rock outcrop.
Larches
Chocolate lily
Lance-leaf spring beauty
Violets
Madison Butte from the trail.
Bottle Spring
Pond below the spring.
Glacier lilies
Trail sign at Madison Butte Road.
Blue-eyed Mary
The 
Mt. Jefferson poking up in the distance.
Wild onions
The Strawberry and Aldrich Mountains to the south.
The Elkhorns (
The Elkhorns with Mt. Ireland (
Looking SW we could see Mt. Jefferson and also make out the Three Sisters further to the south. Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams were also visible although partially obscured by clouds.
A rockcress
Swallowtail
Milbert’s tortoiseshell
Skipper
Mushroom
Fairy slipper
A particularly large paintbrush.
Orange tip
Larkspur
Violets
Ring-necked ducks and an American coot
Arnica
Ducklings
Ring-necked duck
Fleabane?
Camas
A coot and a sandpiper
Red-winged blackbird
Our first eared grebe.
Allumroot – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Alpine pennycress – 5/4/23, Forest Road 011, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
American saw-wort – 8/14/23, Main Eagle Creek Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Anemone – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Serpentine arnica – 5/4/23, Eight Dollar Mountain Boardwalk, BLM Grants Pass Resource Area
Arnica – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Arnica – 7/31/23, Garfield Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Spear-leaf arnica – 7/31/23, Garfield Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Arnica? – 8/16/23, Tombstone Lake Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Avalanche lilies – 7/15/23, Plaza Trail, Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness
Fawn lily – 4/13/23, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Rickreall
Henderson’s fawn lily – 5/2/2023, Sterling Mine Ditch Trail System, BLM Medford District
Checker lily – 5/4/23, Forest Road 011, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Azalea – 5/4/23, Eight Dollar Mountain Boardwalk, BLM Grants Pass Resource Area
Rhododendron – 7/15/23, Tumala Mountain, Mt. Hood National Forest
Ball-head waterleaf – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Pacific waterleaf – 5/2/2023, Sterling Mine Ditch Trail System, BLM Medford District
Balsamroot – 5/27/23, Metolius Preserve, Camp Sherman
Hoary balsamroot – 6/15/23, Buckhorn Lookout, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Silky balsamroot – 5/4/23, Little Falls Trail Loop, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest (first time seeing)
Deltoid balsamroot – 5/2/2023, Sterling Mine Ditch Trail System, BLM Medford District
Beargrass – 7/4/23, Rockytop Trail, Santiam State Forest
Bigelow sneezweed – 10/7/2023, Sturgis Fork Trail, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Field bindweed (non-native) – 6/14/23, Eureka Bar, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Bindweed (non-native) – 8/26/23, Old Growth Cedar Trail, Rockaway Beach
Biscuitroot – 5/4/23, Little Falls Trail Loop, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Biscuitroot – 5/13/23, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Sherwood
Biscuitroot – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Bistort – 7/31/23, Castle Crest Wildflower Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Blanket flower – 6/14/23, Eureka Bar, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Bleeding heart – 4/29/23, Canemah Bluff, Oregon City
Blue dicks – 5/1/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, BLM Medford District
Ookow – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husem, WA
Large-flower tritelia – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Bluebells of Scotland – 7/15/23, Sheepshead Rock, Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness
Tall bluebells – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Scouler’s bluebell – 7/4/23, Natural Rock Arch Trail, Santiam State Forest
Blue-eyed Mary – 5/2/23, Cathedral Hills, Grants Pass
Giant blue-eyed Mary – 4/29/23, Canemah Bluff, Oregon City
Bog orchid – 7/31/23, Castle Crest Wildflower Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Phantom orchid – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husem, WA
Bolander’s yampah – 6/15/23, Nee-Mee-Poo National Historic Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Broad-leaved pepperweed (non-native) – 6/11/23, Hat Rock State Park, Hermiston
Brown’s peony – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Buckwheat – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Buckwheat – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Buckwheat – 7/31/23, Garfield Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Buckwheat – 7/30/23, Crater Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Buckwheat – 6/3/23, Nestor Peak, Husem, WA
Wickerstem buckwheat – 9/3/23, Threemile Canyon, BLM Burns District
Bunchberry – 7/4/23, Santiam State Forest
Buttercups – 4/29/23, Canemah Bluff, Oregon City
California darlingtonia – 5/4/23, Eight Dollar Mountain Botanical Area, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
California gromwell – 5/4/23, Eight Dollar Mountain Botanical Area, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Western stoneseed – 5/27/23, Metolius Preserve, Camp Sherman
California groundcones – 5/3/23, Dollar Mountain, Grants Pass
California harebells – 6/25/23, North Umpqua Trail, BLM Roseburg District
California poppies – 6/13/23, Highway 351, Joseph
Camas – 4/29/23, Canemah Bluff, Oregon City
Death camas – 5/4/23, Eight Dollar Mountain Boardwalk, BLM Grants Pass Resource Area
Mountain death camas – 8/14/23, Main Eagle Creek Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Candy flower – 5/3/23, Waters Creek Interpretive Trail, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Candysticks – 7/8/23, Santiam Wagon Road, Willamette National Forest
Carolina bugbane – 7/15/23, Old Baldy Trail, Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness
Cascade lily – 7/4/23, Natural Rock Arch Trail, Santiam State Forest
Catchfly – 7/4/23, Rockytop Trail, Santiam State Forest
Checker-mallow – 5/13/23, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Sherwood
Checker-mallow – 5/13/23, Graham Oaks Nature Park, Wilsonville
Checker-mallow – 6/25/23, North Bank Habitat, BLM Roseburg District
Orange globe mallow – 6/14/23, Eureka Bar Hells Canyon National Scenic Area
Chicory (non-native) – 6/14/23, Imnaha Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Chokecherry – 5/30/23, Riley Ranch Preserve, Bend
Mallow ninebark – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman
Cinquefoil – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Shrubby cinquefoil – 8/14/23, Main Eagle Creek Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Clarkia – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husem, WA
Elkhorn clarkia – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Tomcat clover – 5/13/23, Cooper Mountain Nature Park, Beaverton
Clover (possibly Beckwith’s?) – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Twin clover – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (first time seeing)
Large-head clover – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Wooly-head clover – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Owl’s clover – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Clustered broomrape – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Naked broomrape – 5/1/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, BLM Medford District
Coast flat stem onion – 5/4/23, Jeffrey Pine Loop Trail, BLM Medford District
Swamp onion – 8/14/23, Main Eagle Creek Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Tolmie’s onion – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Coltsfoot – 4/15/23, Enchanted Valley, Siuslaw National Forest
Columbian lewisia – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Threeleaf lewisia – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Columbine – 7/4/23, Rockytop Trail, Santiam State Forest
Yellow columbine – 8/17/23, West Eagle Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Coneflower – 8/16/23, West Eagle Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Pacific Coralroot – 7/15/23, Plaza Lake Trail, Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness
Spotted coralroot – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husem, WA
Crater Lake collomia – 9/9/23, Cliff Lake Trail, Sky Lakes Wilderness
Grand collomia – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Variable-leaf collomia – 6/24/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, Wild Rogue Wilderness
Tiny trumpet – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (first time seeing)
Creeping wirelettuce – 7/29/23, Stuart Falls Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Currant – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Red flowering currant – 4/14/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem
Cusick’s speedwell – 8/15/23 Bear Lake Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Daffodils (non-native) – 4/13/23, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Rickreall
Dalmation toadflax (non-native) – 6/16/23, Copper Creek Day Use Area, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Deer vetch – 7/22/23, Shut-In Trail, Deschutes National Forest
Idaho milk-vetch – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Rogue River milk-vetch – 5/2/2023, Sterling Mine Ditch Trail System, BLM Medford District
Woolly-pod milk-vetch – 5/2/2023, Sterling Mine Ditch Trail System, BLM Medford District
Vetch – 5/13/23, Cooper Mountain Nature Park, Beaverton
Vetch – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Pea (non-native) – 6/24/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, Wild Rogue Wilderness
Del Norte iris – 5/1/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, BLM Medford District
Tough leaf iris – 5/13/23, Cooper Mountain Nature Park, Beaverton
Iris – 5/4/23, Little Falls Trail Loop, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Diffuse-flower evening primrose surrounded by blue-eyed Mary – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Drummond’s anemone – 7/30/23, Crater Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Western pasque flower – 7/8/23, Sand Mountain, Willamette National Forest
Western paque flower (seedheads) – 7/31/23, Garfield Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Dwarf ceanothus – 5/3/23, Limpy Botanical Trail, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Elegant brodiaea – 6/24/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, Wild Rogue Wilderness
European centaury (non-native) – 6/25/23, North Bank Habitat, BLM Roseburg District
Fairy slippers – 5/3/23, Limpy Botanical Trail, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Mountain lady slipper – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husem, WA
Fiddleneck – 5/2/2023, Sterling Mine Ditch Trail System, BLM Medford District
Field chickweed – 5/4/23, Forest Road 011, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Fireweed – 6/25/23, North Umpqua Trail, BLM Roseburg District
False hellebore – 7/31/23, Garfield Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Desert yellow fleabane – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Sub-alpine fleabane – 10/7/23, Forest Road 600, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Fleabane? – 6/14/23, Eureka Bar, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Fleabane? – 6/11/23, Hat Rock State Park, Hermiston
Not even going to guess, could be a non-native. – 5/13/23, Graham Oaks Nature Park, Wilsonville
Diasy? – 7/4/23, Niagra Heights Road, Santiam State Forest
Hairy golden aster – 6/14/23, Eureka Bar, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Oregon sunshine – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Oregon sunshine – 6/3/23, Nestor Peak, Husem, WA
Sunflower – 9/3/23, Threemile Canyon, BLM Burns District
Foam flower – 8/5/23, McGee Creek Trail, Mt. Hood Wilderness
Foxglove (non-native) – 7/4/23, Natural Rock Arch Trail, Santiam State Forest
Fringecup – 5/13/23, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Sherwood
Gentians – 8/16/23, Tombstone Lake Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Gold stars? – 5/2/23, Cathedral Hills, Grants Pass
Goldenrod – 7/22/23, Metolius River Trail, Deschutes National Forest
Grass-of-parnassus – 9/9/23, Pacific Crest Trail, Sky Lakes Wilderness
Gray sagewort (among others) – 8/14/23, Main Eagle Creek Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Groundsel – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husem, WA
Groundsel – 7/30/23, Plaikni Falls Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Heatleaf spring beauty – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Hedgenettle – 7/22/23, Shut-In Trail, Deschutes National Forest
Honeysuckle – 5/13/23, Cooper Mountain Nature Park, Beaverton
Honeysuckle – 6/25/23, North Bank Habitat, BLM Roseburg District
Twinberry honeysuckle – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Utah honeysuckle – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Twinflower honeysuckle – 7/22/23, Metolius River Trail, Deschutes National Forest
Horkelia – 7/22/23, Metolius River Trail, Deschutes National Forest
Houndstongue – 6/13/23, Iwetemlaykin State Heritage Site, Joseph
Pacific houndstongue – 5/2/2023, Sterling Mine Ditch Trail System, BLM Medford District
Jessica’s stickseed – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Hooker’s Indian pink – 5/3/23, Dollar Mountain, Grants Pass
Hooker’s fairy bells – 4/29/23, Canemah Bluff, Oregon City
Huckleberry – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Indian plum – 4/13/23, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Rickreall
Mountain snowberry – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman
Salmonberry – 4/8/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem
Salal – 6/25/23, North Umpqua Trail, BLM Roseburg District
Oregon grape – 4/8/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem
Serviceberry – 5/13/23, Cooper Mountain Nature Park, Beaverton
Strawberry – 4/29/23, Canemah Bluff, Oregon City
Thimbleberry – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husem, WA
Large-flower hawksbeard – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Hairy Indian paintbrush (Castilleja tenuis) – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman
Paintbrush – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman
Paintbrush – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman
– 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husem, WA
Cobwebby paintbrush (Castilleja arachnoidea) – 7/31/23, Rim Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Cobwebby paintbrush (Castilleja arachnoidea) – 7/31/23, Rim Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Yellow Wallowa Indian paintbrush (Castilleja chrysantha) – 8/15/23, Lookingglass Lake Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Rosy paintbrush – 8/16/23, Tombstone Lake Trail, Eagle Cap WildernessFph
Indian warrior (Pedicularis densiflora) – 5/2/23, Cathedral Hills, Grants Pass (first time seeing)
Inside-out flower – 7/4/23, Natural Rock Arch Trail, Santiam State Forest
Jaccob’s ladder – 8/16/23, West Eagle Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Larkspur – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Larkspur – 5/1/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, BLM Medford District
Red larkspur – 5/1/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, BLM Medford District (first time seeing)
Tall mountain larkspur – 8/14/23, Main Eagle Creek Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Dwarf lupine – 7/8/23, Santiam Wagon Road, Willamette National Forest
Miniature lupine – 5/2/2023, Sterling Mine Ditch Trail System, BLM Medford District
Lupine – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Lupine (non-native colors) – 5/13/23, Graham Oaks Nature Park, Wilsonville
Flax – 5/30/23, Riley Ranch Preserve, Bend
Coiled lousewort – 8/16/23, Tombstone Lake Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Sickletop lousewort – 8/16/23, West Eagle Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Sea blush (plectritis) – 4/29/23, Canemah Bluff, Oregon City
Longhorn plectritis – 5/30/23, Riley Ranch Preserve, Bend
White mariposa lily – 8/14/23, Main Eagle Creek Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Sagebrush mariposa lily – 6/14/23, Eureka Bar, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Mariposa lily (possibly a white sagebrush) – 6/14/23, Eureka Bar, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Sub-alpine mariposa lilies – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husem, WA
Tolmie’s mariposa lily – 5/3/23, Dollar Mountain, Grants Pass
Manyflower tonella – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman
Small-flowered tonella – 4/29/23, Canemah Bluff, Oregon City (first time seeing)
Lewis monkefylower – 7/30/23, Plaikni Falls Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Monkeyflower – 5/1/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, BLM Medford District
Monkeyflower – 6/3/23, Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Trout Lake, WA
Milk kelloggia (Kelloggia galioides) – 7/31/23, Garfield Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Monkshood – 7/30/23, Plaikni Falls Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Moth mullein (non-native) – 6/14/23, Imnaha Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Mountain heather – 8/5/23, Timberline Trail, Mt. Hood Wilderness
Mock orange – 7/4/23, North Santiam Park, Mill City
Mountain ash – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Showy milkweed – 6/14/23, Eureka Bar, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Western clematis – 6/16/23, Trail 1890, Hells Canyon Wilderness
Western blue clematis – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Nightshade (non-native) – 6/14/23, Imnaha Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
A knotweed? – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman
Shasta knotweed – 7/31/23, Rim Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Nettle-leaf giant hyssop – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman
Nuttal’s linanthus – 8/15/23 Bear Lake Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
One-sided wintergreen – 7/29/23, Stuart Falls Trail, Sky Lakes Wilderness
Wintergreen – 7/30/23, Plaikni Falls Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Orange agoseris – 7/15/23, Sheepshead Rock, Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness
Partridgefoot – 7/31/23, Garfield Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Pearly everlasting – 7/29/23, Stuart Falls Trail, Sky Lakes Wilderness
Granite prickley-phlox – 7/31/23, Garfield Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Phlox – 5/4/23, Little Falls Trail Loop, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Showy phlox – 5/4/23, Eight Dollar Mountain Boardwalk, BLM Grants Pass Resource Area
Slender phlox – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Phlox – 7/31/23, Rim Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Phlox? – 6/14/23, Eureka Bar, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Woodland beardtongue – 7/4/23, Rockytop Trail, Santiam State Forest
Globe penstemon – 8/15/23 Bear Lake Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Royal? penstemon – 5/30/23, Riley Ranch Preserve, Bend
Finetooth? penstemon – 6/3/23, Buck Creek Trail, Husem, WA
Shrubby penstemon – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Wilcox’s? penstemon – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Scabland penstemon – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Unknown penstemon – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman
Glaucous? beardtongue – 7/4/23, Niagra Heights Road, Santiam State Forest
Silverleaf phacelia – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Threadleaf phacelia – 5/30/23, Riley Ranch Preserve, Bend
A phacelia? – 8/16/23, Tombstone Lake Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Pinedrop – 7/22/23, Metolius River Trail, Deschutes National Forest
Prairie smoke – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman
Prickly pear cactus – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman (first time seeing)
Prince’s pine – 7/8/23, Santiam Wagon Road, Willamette National Forest
Pussypaws – 7/8/23, Santiam Wagon Road, Willamette National Forest
Pussytoes – 7/30/23, Crater Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Rosy pussytoes – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Queen’s cup – 7/15/23, Old Baldy Trail, Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness
Ragwort (non-native) – 8/26/23, Fort Yamhill State Heritage Area, Grand Ronde
Wild rose – 6/3/23, Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Trout Lake, WA
Rose campion (non-native) – 6/16/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallow-Whitman National Forest
Rough eyelashweed – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Sagebrush false dandelion – 7/30/23, Crater Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Sandwort – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
A saxifrage – 7/4/23, Niagra Heights Road, Santiam State Forest
A saxifrage – 7/15/23, Sheepshead Rock, Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness
A saxifrage – 7/31/23, Rim Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Silvery raillardella – 7/31/23, Rim Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Scarlet gilia – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Scenic Area, Wallowa-Whitman
Scarlet fritillary – 5/2/2023, Sterling Mine Ditch Trail System, BLM Medford District
Siskiyou fritillary – 5/3/23, Limpy Botanical Trail, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Self-heal – 6/25/23, North Umpqua Trail, BLM Roseburg District
Shooting star – 5/2/23, Cathedral Hills, Grants Pass
Scouler’s woollyweed – 7/29/23, Stuart Falls Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Silvercrown – 5/3/23, Dollar Mountain, Grants Pass
Skullcap – 5/2/23, Cathedral Hills, Grants Pass
Skunk cabbage – 4/15/23, Enchanted Valley, Siuslaw National Forest
Douglas spirea – 10/7/2023, Sturgis Fork Trail, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Mountain spirea – 7/4/23, Niagra Heights Road, Santiam State Forest
White spirea – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Spreading dogbane – 7/22/23, Metolius River Trail, Deschutes National Forest
St. John’s wort (non-native) – 6/14/23, Imnaha Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Solomonseal – 5/27/23, Blowout Arm, Detroit Lake
Star-flower solomonseal – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Star flower – 5/13/23, Cooper Mountain Nature Park, Beaverton
Sticky purple geranium – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Tasselflower brickellbush – 8/14/23, Main Eagle Creek Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Tiger lily – 7/4/23, Rockytop Trail, Santiam State Forest
Leopard lilies – 7/29/23, Stuart Falls Trail, Sky Lakes Wilderness
Toothwort – 4/15/23, Enchanted Valley, Siuslaw National Forest
Trillium – 4/15/23, Enchanted Valley, Siuslaw National Forest
Giant white wakerobin – 5/2/23, Cathedral Hills, Grants Pass
Twinflower – 7/8/23, Santiam Wagon Road, Willamette National Forest
Thistle (wavy-leaf?) – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Thistle (Palouse?) – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Snowy thistle – 6/24/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, Wild Rogue Wilderness
Thistle (Canadian? if so non-native) – 6/25/23, North Umpqua Trail, BLM Roseburg District
Stonecrop – 7/30/23, Crater Peak Trail, Crater Lake National Park
Stonecrop – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Stonecrop – 8/16/23, Tombstone Lake Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Valerian – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Goosefoot violet – 5/27/23, Metolius Preserve, Camp Sherman
Hookedspur violet – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Marsh violet – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Violet – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Violet – 4/15/23, Enchanted Valley, Siuslaw National Forest
Violet – 6/3/23, Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Trout Lake, WA
Violets – 5/4/23, Little Falls Trail Loop, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Wedgeleaf violet – 5/4/23, Eight Dollar Mountain Boardwalk, BLM Grants Pass Resource Area
Wallflower – 5/30/23, Riley Ranch Preserve, Bend
Western meadowrue – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Western snakeroot – 8/16/23, West Eagle Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
White-stemmed frasera – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Woodland-stars – 6/12/23, Imnaha River Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Yarrow – 6/14/23, Eureka Bar, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Youth-on-age – 4/29/23, Canemah Bluff, Oregon City
Common bugloss (non-native) – 6/14/23, Eureka Bar, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
White campion (non-native) – 6/14/23, Eureka Bar, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Unknown – 7/4/23, Rockytop Trail, Santiam State Forest
Unknown – 8/5/23, McNeil Point scramble trail, Mt. Hood Wilderness
Best guess is a popcorn flower but? – 6/3/23, Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Trout Lake, WA
Unknown, possibly non-native – 6/15/23, Nee-Mee-Poo National Historic Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Unknown, possibly non-native – 6/13/23, Iwetemlaykin State Heritage Site, Joseph
Unknown, probably non-native – 6/14/23, Imnaha Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Unknown, probably non-native – 8/26/23, Old Growth Cedar Trail, Rockaway Beach
Unkown. probably non-native – 12/16/23, Mt. Tabor Nature Park, Portland
It was a little before 6am when I started up to the lakes.
There was an interesting amount of sagebrush along the lower portion of this hike.
There was still some smoke in the air, but it was quite a bit less than it had been the day before.
The trail initially seemed like it is heading up this valley before it crosses over a ridge and heads for the Echo Lake basin.
From this trail the route of the Tombstone Lake Trail was visible.
Waterfall along Olive Lake’s outlet creek. One of the switchbacks along the Tombstone Lake Trail is just to the right.
Tasselflower brickellbush
There was a lot of paintbrush along the trail.
Paintbrush and I believe fading false sunflowers.
Penstemon and paintbrush
Pika!
View across the valley.
The trail approaching the outlet of Echo Lake.
Above Echo Lake Falls which wasn’t visible from this trail.
Groundsel, lupine, and fireweed along the creek.
Sunrise in the basin.
The pond.
Gray sagewort
Looking back toward the valley and pond.
The spur trail.
Spotted sandpiper
Spirea
A no fires beyond this point sign. Several of the lakes in the Eagle Cap Wilderness are in no campfire zones.
Fleabane or aster lining the trail.
Two types of lousewort.
Echo Lake hidden by the trees.
Pearly everlasting along the trail.
Looking down at that trail from above the blowdown.
Bluebells
Echo Lake from the ridge end.
The Elkhorn Mountains (
Arriving at Traverse Lake.
Golden-mantled ground squirrel
Yellow Wallowa Indian paintbrush
Columbian ground squirrel
Cusick’s speedwell
Remember that no fires sign? (Sigh)
Monkeyflower
Globe penstemon
Gentians along the lake.
A lone paintbrush.
The blowdown at the far end of the boulder field.
White mariposa lily
Arnica
Swamp onions
Echo Lake
The pond below on the left.
Passing through the meadow.
Paintbrush and fireweed
Above Echo Lake Falls.
West Eagle Meadows in the valley in the distance.
Zoom in on West Eagle Meadows.
Looking down at the switchbacks.
Heather had also warned me about this blowdown over one of the switchbacks. There was a steep reroute that bypassed the trees.
There were some interesting cloud formations on the way back.
There was also an increase in the smoke.
Can you spot the pika?
Pika (possible the same one from earlier given the location).
Paintbrush and buckwheat
Another pika at the end of this switchback.
The Tombstone Lake Trail junction ahead.
Swallowtail photo bomb.
West Eagle Creek Crossing.
Sphinx moth
Leaving the Eagle Cap Wilderness.
Squirrel
West Eagle Meadows
It’s hard to see here but there is a trail post at this fork with a point to the left. This is for the horse camp and not the way back to the 
The trailhead in sight.
Flax
Registration box and signboard at the Mt. Hood Wilderness boundary.
There were a few downed trees but nothing too difficult to navigate.
The brush was mostly huckleberry bushes.
Trail side snacks.
McGee Creek Trail junction with the Timberline Trail.
Blowdown from the September 2020 storms that also flamed the destructive wildfires across the state. For more information on the storms impact on Mt. Hood check out this Wy’East Blog 
Looking through the trees at one of the areas that suffered severe blowdown.
It was a cloudy day. We got sprinkled on briefly a couple of times.
Fireweed
Pinedrop
Avalanche lilies
Paintbrush
Valerian, spirea, and paintbrush
Gentians
Yellow monkeyflower
A tributary of McGee Creek.
Spirea along the Timberline Trail.
Shooting star
Pink monkeyflower
Fleabane
Beargrass
False hellebore
Partridge foot
Lupine
Lewis monkeyflower along a tributary of McGee Creek.
Beardstongue
Lousewort
Dry pond surrounded by beargrass.
The idiots camped in the meadow. There is even an arrow on the “Do not camp in meadow” sign pointing at the meadow. Please DON’T be these people.
The second pond still had some water in it.
Junction with the Mazama Trail (
The butterflies weren’t out today but the bees were.
The clouds just wouldn’t quite raise enough.
Lupine and paintbrush
Beargrass along the Timberline Trail.
Paintbrush, partridge foot and lupine
Signpost for the McNeil Point Trail.
We’d never seen a paint colored like this before.
Western pasque flower
Lupine and two types of monkeyflower
Pikas spend the Summer gathering greens for the rest of the year when they remain in their homes under the snows.
Mountain heather and paintbrush.
Saxifrage
A variety of flowers.
Avalanche lilies
Sub-alpine fleabane
Western pasque flowers
Doe that was as surprised as we were when we spotted each other.
Lewis monkeyflower
The righthand fork.
View from the plateau.
Some low clouds to the East.
Dwarf lupine
A hiker on the righthand fork headed for the McNeil Point Shelter.
Caves below the Sandy Glacier.
Bluebells of Scotland
The shelter below to the right.
Muddy Fork
Goldenrod
With the clouds the view wouldn’t have been great from the ridge on this day.
Patches of blowdown along Bald Mountain Ridge.
Columbine
Valerian
Paintbrush and bistort
Aster
Chipmunk snacking on huckleberries.
Meadow near the Timberline Trail.
Arriving back at the Timberline Trail.
Every once in awhile the trail was clear of other users.
We’re always drawn to this rock fin above the Muddy Fork.
Canada jay
McGee Creek Trail junction.
Bunchberry
Is that sunlight?
While the clouds never lifted from Mt. Hood we did experience a window of blue sky near the end of our hike.
Bog Orchid
Bistort and monkeyflower
Some sort of orchid?
Yellow monkeyflower
Monkshood
Not sure if this is a robin or ?
Crater Lake Lodge
Garfield Peak from behind the lodge.
The Watchman and Hillman Peak
Golden-mantled ground squirrel with a mouth full.
Mt. McLoughlin (
Mt. McLoughlin
Union Peak
Paintbrush
Reservoir structure (built 1931).
Mt. Bailey (
Mt. Bailey
Deer below the trail.
Western pasque flowers
Arnica
One of several patches of snow at the higher elevations.
Crater Lake Lodge below to the left.
Mt. Scott (
Clark’s nutcracker
Beetle on sub-alpine fleabane.
Yellow-bellied marmot
Bench below the summit of Garfield Peak.
Partridge foot
Applegate Peak to the left and Crater Peak (
Arriving at the summit.
Mt. Scott above the Phantom Ship.
It was a bit hard to make out but Mt. Shasta was visible to the south.
Cowhorn Mountain (
Crater Lake from the summit of Garfield Peak.
Blurry photo due to the sheer distance away it was but it looked big.
Union Peak behind a marmot.
Penstemon
Painted lady
There were a lot of marmots out.
Paintbrush, phlox and buckwheat.
Stonecrop, paintbrush and pearly everlasting.
The clear blue water of the deepest lake in the United States.
Yellow-rumped warbler
Viewpoint and The Watchman from the trailhead.
Western pasque flowers above Crater Lake.
Hillman Peak ahead.
Lounging on a rock.
Rim Drive below the Rim Trail.
Mt. Bailey and Diamond Peak with Diamond Lake (
Red Cone with Sawtooth Mountain (
Snow patch on Hillman Peak.
Penstemon
Llao Rock
It took us a moment to notice the two deer ahead along the tree line.
We spotted the doe but she also had a pair of fawns nearby that bounded off.
This buck had zero concern with us as we passed by.
Dwarf lupine
Devil’s Backbone with Mt. Scott behind.
Wizard Island
Devil’s Backbone
Hillman Peak from Devil’s Backbone.
Garfield Peak across Crater Lake.
The Watchman
If I stand perfectly still, they won’t see me.
Hillman Peak and Llao Rock from the viewpoint at The Watchman Trailhead.
Rock formations below Hillman Peak.
Godfrey Glen Trailhead
The ADA accessible trail made for a nice easy walk.
Super-heated volcanic gas fused ash creating these pinnacles.
First viewpoint of Godfrey Glen above Munson Creek.
Godfrey Glen
Another viewpoint.
We could hear Munson Creek but it wasn’t visible in the canyon below.
One waterfall.
Another waterfall in the canyon.
The end of the loop.
Sinnott Memorial Overlook on the rim to the left.
View from the overlook.
Mt. Scott and Garfield Peak from the overlook.
These numbers blew our minds.
Swallowtail and a painted lady on penstemon.
The forecast for Salem was for temps in the mid-90s so we got an early start.
Bleeding heart and penstemon
Iris
A few green trees remain.
Another Cascade lily
The trail was in pretty good shape overall and we could tell there was ongoing trail work. It looked like there were some rock steps that were going be placed in this section.
Penstemon
Oregon sunshine
View from the arch.
Fin below the arch.
Snowberry checkerspot
Rocky Top straight ahead.
Penstemon and big deer vetch
Cascade lily
Oregon sunshine, penstemon, Oregon bedstraw, and a daisy or two.
Oregon sunshine and paintbrush
There was a fair amount of shade while the Sun was still low.
Paintbrush and penstemon
Thimbleberry
Bleeding heart. There was more bleeding heart on this hillside than we’d ever seen in one spot.
Pika below the road.
Pika
Rhododendron
The Three Sisters on a hazy morning.
Anemone
Paintbrush and lupine
Beargrass
A few patches of green below Rocky Top.
This was probably the worst spot in the road in between the two trailheads.
Trillium with a few petals yet to fall off.
Violets
Spirea and valerian
Large boykinia
Lots of lupine.
Larkspur and phacelia
Arriving at the Rocky Top Trailhead.
Clodius paranssian
Columbine
Lupine
The road from the trail. The taller, rounded, peak in the center is Sardine Mountain (
Mt. Washington and the Three Sisters.
Mt. Jefferson, Three Fingered Jack, Mt. Washington and the Three Sisters.
Mt. Jefferson through the haze.
Elkhorn Ridge (
Mt. Hood above ridges of burned forest.
The loss of the trees did result in better views of the various rock formations in the area.
We’d never seen so many of these eight-spotted forester moths.
Hummingbird taking a rest from visiting the penstemon and paintbrush.
Another moth that had some excellent camo.
The moth putting its camouflage to use.
Penstemon
Rose
Rocky Top from the trail.
This was the only pink colored penstemon we spotted.
Lupine and beargrass
Not sure which of the Lycaenidae this is but it was pretty.
The spirea was popular.
Bumble bee
At one point it looked like Three Fingered Jack was sitting on top of Coffin Mountain (
Nice blue sky overhead.
Looking North. Henline Mountain (
Bistort and penstemon
Haven’t been able to identify this one yet.
A snowberry checkerspot and some fried avalanche lilies.
The trail wound behind Rocky Top to come up the West ridge to the summit.
Arnica
Sub-alpine mariposa lily
Catchfly
Not sure what the story is behind this chair, but we weren’t about to test its stability.
Detroit Lake
Mary’s Peak (
Looking North we could see Table Rock (
Closer look at Table Rock.
Henline Mountain, Table Rock, Mt. Hood, in front and just to the right of Mt. Hood is Whetstone Mountain (
Mountain bluebird checking us out.
Mt. Jefferson
Three Fingered Jack behind Coffin Mountain, Maxwell Butte (
Zerene fritillary
Beargrass
Moth and a checkerspot
A bee, a moth, and a butterfly land on some flowers…
Painted lady
Fireweed Clearwing Moth (Albuna pyramidalis).
A fritillary and a copper.
Two coppers and a bee.
Checkerspots, a bee, a copper and part of an eight-spotted forester moth.
Eight-spotted forester moth.
The previous four photos were all from this group of Oregon sunshine.
Bleeding heart, no butterfly but a nice group of blossoms.
More moths and butterflies.
Swallowtail on penstemon
One of the blues I think, but not sure which.
Lorquin’s admiral
Sparrow
Stellar’s jay
The spur trail is to the right just ahead.
We watched a norther flicker fly into the snag ahead and it took a minute to figure out where he was.
The flicker
Trailing blackberries. We might have found a few ripe ones.
Arriving at the camping area.
North Santaim River
Oregon grape
The boat launch.
North Santiam River
The park host on the left and the parking lot on the right.
Crosswalk for the pre-fire loop.
Looking North from the crosswalk there was zero sign of the former trail.
They had at least restored this short section of the loop so we were able to return to the spur trail and turn right then right again to complete the inner loop.
The “To River” sign at the spur trail junction.
Possibly a western wood pee-wee
Spotted towhee
Osprey
The park host from the trail.
While the loop did come in at 2.5-miles it was a little over 3/4 of a mile to the Boundary Trail.
Lupine
One of several ponds along the trail.
A “Student Stop” marker surrounded by dwarf lupine. We aren’t sure what the these meant or what program they are related to.
An interpretive sign along the trail facing some of the hummocks.
Penstemon
Mt. St. Helens as we neared the Boundary Trail junction.
Trail guide marker #3 and an interpretive sign at the junction.
The 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.
The views of Mt. St. Helens were great.
The trail began to climb as it squeezed between a gap in the hillsides ahead.
View back to the hummocks from the gap.
Trees in the gap.
After exiting the gap we got another good view of the mountain before the trail veered left turning away from the mountain.
Heading away from Mt. St. Helens to start the climb.
Dwarf lupine was profuse below the ridge.
Scouler’s bluebell
Thimbleberry blossoms
Castle Peak above Castle Lake with Spud Mountain to the right and the North Fork Toutle River below.
Horned lark
Tiger lily
Savannah sparrow
Heading back toward Mt. St. Helens.
The North Fork Toutle River flowing between Spud Mountain (left) and Elk Rock (right).
Castle Peak and Castle Lake
Elk Rock on the left and Coldwater Lake on the right.
Coldwater Lake
Mountain bluebird.
At one point quite a bit of dust? kicked up from the South Fork Toutle River canyon.
Cardwell’s penstemon
Coldwater 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 (
Mt. Adams from the viewpoint on our way back. The angle of the Sun earlier caused the mountain to look pretty washed out.
Mt. St. Helens from the viewpoint.
Variable-leaf collomia
The Loowit Viewpoint on the ridge ahead.
Paintbrush covered hillside.
Mt. St. Helens from the Loowit Viewpoint.
Mt. St. Helens crater.
Golden mantled-ground squirrel. These brazen con-artists often convince visitors they would starve without humans help. While this is definitely not the case and 
A single plant.
A lot of paintbrush.
Daisies and paintbrush
Penstemon, yarrow, and Scouler’s woolyweed along with the paintbrush.
Paintbrush and penstemon along the trail.
Passing by the Johnston Ridge Observatory.
Before and after photos of the 1980 eruption.
Mt. Adams peaking over the ridges with Spirit Lake also visible (center).
Spirit Lake
The mountain identifier ahead on the left.
We could see where the repair work was happening on SR504 from this trail.
The rounded peak to the right is Goat Mountain (
Goat Mountain with a few patches of snow still showing up.
Rock Arch near Coldwater Peak.
Memorial for the lives lost in the 1980 eruption.
Junction with the Boundary Trail.
Pussypaws
Another view of the washout.
Our turn around spot. You can see the trail on far side of the saddle veering left behind the ridge.
Coldwater Peak from our turnaround spot.
The Johnston Ridge Observatory from the trail. We hadn’t realized how much elevation we’d lost until we turned around.
Castle Peak and Spud Mountain on the left and the observatory above some colorful cliffs.
Penstemon
White crowned sparrow
Boundary Trail leaving the Loowit Viewpoint.
Snowberry checkerspot on penstemon.
Another checkerspot, this time on lupine.
Cedar waxwings
Mt. St. Helens and the North Fork Toutle River.
The same view in May 2014.
Same spot, different angle 2014.
Monkeyflower
Maybe a yellow-rumped warbler.
Caterpillar
Dragonfly
Pearly everlasting
Arriving back at the Hummocks Trailhead.
At least one bull in the herd.
Buckhorn Lookout
Hells Canyon
Tolmie’s onion
Pale paintbrush
Larkspur, lupine, and northern mules ears.
Purple sticky geranium
Paintbrush
Parsley, larkspur, large flower triteleia, and Tolmie’s onion
Phlox
We could have driven the 1.2-miles on FR 780 to the gate but the road was not in good shape and after driving to Eureka Bar the day before we weren’t interested in another rough road.
Mallow ninebark
Arnica
Large flower triteleia
Gate at the end of the road.
Marker for the Nez Perce – Nee-Mee-Poo National Historic Trail.
Seven Devils in Idaho
Lupine, yarrow, buckwheat, and scarlet gilia
Scarlet gilia
Elkhorn clarkia a.k.a. ragged robin
Paintbrush, lupine, phacelia, thistle, and scarlet gilia
Penstemon
A phlox
Scabland penstemon
Threadleaf phacelia
Penstemon
Lark sparrow
Cedar waxwing
Elkhorn clarkia
Wallflower
Skullcap
Monkeyflower and some tiny white flowers near a seep.
Buckwheat
Mylitta crescent
Rough eyelashweed
Looking back up the trail.
At Spain Saddle the road switched to the opposite side of the ridge.
Bush penstemon
Another type of penstemon
Manyflower tonella
Owl’s clover
The viewpoint on the far side of the fence.
Boat on the Snake River.
Salsify
Bindweed
Clouds moving in behind us.
Prickly pear cactus
The only poison ivy we saw all hike.
Eureka Viewpoint ahead to the left.
Hairy goldenaster
Fleabane
Eureka Viewpoint
Looking back
Looking down
Clustered broomrape
A very small part of the river is visible to the left and more to right.
Here come the clouds.
We spotted a rock arch on the way up that we’d missed earlier.
A closer look at the arch.
Common wood nymph
Spotted towhee
Northern flicker
The only time we noticed the Imnaha River from the trail.
Butterfly near the seep.
Mountain parnassian on yarrow.
A painted lady butterfly.
Chipping sparrow
We could actually smell a little smoke at times on the way back.
Hound’s tongue and roses
Cassin’s finch
Western bluebird
Western tanager
Western wood peewee
Mountain bluebird
The view in the afternoon from the lookout.
wanderingyuncks 