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Dayhikes: Salmon Butte, OR
Thursday, June 04 @ 16:39:51 PDT by (12 reads) |  Drew writes "Vicinity Location:
The trailhead is about 40 miles southeast of Portland, OR.
Directions:
From Portland drive east on Hwy 26 to Zigzag and turn right onto East Salmon River Road. Follow the paved road for 5 miles to the bridge over Salmon River. Watch for potholes at the end of the bridge and most of the way along the 1.7 miles of gravel road to the parking area. The parking area is a small pull-off on the left side of the road. Look for the sign for trail 791 on the right.
A Northwest Forest Pass is required to park at the trailhead.
Portable outhouses are available seasonally at the bridge over Salmon River.
Dogs on leashes are allowed on these trails.
Length and Elevation: (approximate)
Salmon Butte Trail #791 is 4.4 miles one way.
Trailhead elevation: 1,980 feet. High point on trail: 4,877 feet.
Trail:
Salmon Butte Trail #791
Trail Maps:
Topo Map, Forest Service Map
History:
A Forest Service fire lookout was at the top of this butte. It was demolished in the 1960s by the Forest Service. Only fused glass, old nails, rusty hinges, and a few boards remain.Review: June 27, 2009From the top are great views in all directions. There are some steep side slopes but with reasonable care, this trail is safe for small children and pets.
Review: June 27, 2009
From the top are great views in all directions. There are some steep side slopes but with reasonable care, this trail is safe for small children and pets.
Full review by 7/8/09.
Enjoy the photos!!
Gallery Pics "
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Dayhikes: Kamiak Butte, WA
Thursday, June 04 @ 16:39:11 PDT by (14 reads) | Drew writes "Vicinity Location:
The trailhead is about 250 miles east of Seattle and about 280 miles northeast of Portland, OR.
Directions:
From Portland or Seattle drive to Colfax, WA. From Colfax, drive partway through Palouse and take a left onto State Highway 272 (Palouse Highway) East for 5 miles and go straight at the intersection of Hwy 272 and Clear Creek Road. Drive on Clear Creak Road for 7 miles. Take a sharp right onto Fugate Road(Road No. 5100). Travel .6 mile to Kamiak Butte County Park Road (Road No. 6710) to the park entrance on the left.
The park gates close at dusk and opens at 7am.
No permits are needed to park at the trailhead.
Restrooms and drinking water are available at the main parking lot.
Dogs on leashes are allowed on these trails.
Length and Elevation: (approximate)
Pine Ridge Trail: 2 miles one-way. Kamiak Butte Trail: 1.5 miles one-way.
Trailhead elevation: 2,960 feet. High point on trail: 3612 feet.
Trail:
Pine Ridge Trail
There is at least one geocache along this trail at: N 46° 51.740 W 117° 10.035. Info at Geocaching.com
Trail Maps:
Topo Map, Whitman County map for Kamiak Butte
History:
The deep soils of the Palouse region were created from pulverized rock from the ice age glaciers. Duststorms deposited the loess in up to 200 foot deep drifts. These drifts have become some of the most productive wheat producing soils in the world. In this area, there are just a few buttes and steptoes protruding from the rolling hills. Both Kamiak Butte and Steptoe Butte are complsed of quartzite over a layer of basalt.
Review: June 20, 2009
From the top are great views in all directions but to the north, which is blocked by trees and cell towers. There are some steep side slopes but with reasonable care, this trail is safe for small children and pets.
Full review by 7/1/09.
Enjoy the photos!!
Gallery Pics
Switchback Steve"
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Dayhikes: Neahkahnie Mountain, OR
Friday, March 13 @ 08:05:45 PDT by (48 reads) | Drew writes "Directions:
From Portland, Oregon, take Highway 26 west for 70 miles, Near Seaside, take the exit for Highway 101 South. Once on Highway 101 South, drive about 14 miles to Oswald West State park and choose the first parking lot on the right, or the second parking lot, with the restrooms, on the left. The first parking lot will be shaded in the afternoon. For a shorter hike, drive an additional .8 miles to the parking lot for just the Neahkahnie Mountain Trail.
The first three parking lots at Oswald West State Park fill up early on all but winter weekends so plan to arrive by 9am.
No permits are needed to park at the trailhead.
Restrooms and drinking water is available at the main parking lot for Oswald West State Park, .8 mile north of the parking lot for just Neahkahnie Mountain.
Dogs on leashes are allowed on these trails.
Length and Elevation:
Upper Neahkahnie Mountain Trail: 5 miles roundtrip. Lower Neahkahnie Mountain Trail: 2.5 miles roundtrip.
Trailhead elevation: 100 feet.
Parking lot for upper and lower Neahkahnie Mountain Trail: 200 feet, Neahkahnie Mountain: 1420 feet. Highest point 1420 feet.
Trail:
Neahkahnie Mountain Trail (Part of the Oregon Coastal Trail) with connections to Cape Falcon Trail.
Trail Maps:
Topo Map, Oregon State Parks map
History:
Neahkahnie Mountain is made from lava that flowed from Eastern Washington all the way to the ocean about 15 million years ago. These headlands and blocky basalt ridges along this part of the Oregon Coast are remains of those ancient lava flows. In the Chinook language Ne translates to "the place of", so NeahKahNie means "The Place of the Gods."
Review: May 24, 2009
From the main parking lot for Oswald West State Park (on the east side of Hwy 101), near the restrooms, walk on the paved trail that crosses underneath Hwy 101 and head along the creek towards the beach. At the large signpost, just to the left of the trail, take the left fork and make your way to the wood plank suspension bridge across the creek.
After crossing the bridge, walk about 200 feet and take the left junction. The trail is small and a bit overgrown and climbs fairly rapidly uphill. There are a few glimpses of the ocean through the forest. The trail passes through an interesting root-tunnel. This happens when a tree grows on an old stump or log over the trail and eventually the old wood rots leaving an living arch where the old tree once stood.
The trail goes over the top of a viewless, treed knob, and drops down into a big open field of Salmon berries and Salal. From there, it parallels downslope of Hwy 101 for a few tenths of a mile until the trail climbs up and crosses the highway.
This trail crossing is also the alternate starting point for the Neahkahnie Mountain Trail. From the south end of the parking lot, look for the Oregon Coast Trail sign and begin climbing the 2.5 miles up to the top of Neahkahnie Mountain.
The trail switchbacks up the open slope of the mountainside for a bit, enters into the trees, and crosses a small stream. From the stream the trail climbs up the forested slopes. The trail enters a dark section of the forest and loses elevation for the next .25 mile. The highway sounds are replaced by chirping birds and the sound of the wind rustling the trees.
Suddenly you can see the summit to your left and at the same time the trail goes around a corner and breaks out of the trees for a great view of Nehalem Bay to the south. The trail crosses over a ridgeline and enters back into the trees. Pick a spot to leave the trail and take a short climb on one of the user trails on your left up to the top of Neahkahnie Mountain.
From the top are great views in all directions but to the north, which is blocked by trees.
This is safe for small children and pets. The only really steep slopes are near the short climb from the trail up to the summit. There is also an alternate vehicle route available that allows you to drive almost to the summit so expect to encounter people you wouldn’t usually see on the top of a small mountain. Enjoy the photos!! Gallery PicsSwitchback Steve
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Dayhikes: Cape Falcon, OR
Friday, March 13 @ 08:05:27 PDT by (47 reads) | Drew writes "Directions:
From Portland, Oregon, take Highway 26 west for 70 miles, Near Seaside, take the exit for Highway 101 South. Once on Highway 101 South, drive about 14 miles to Oswald West State park and choose the first parking lot on the right, or the second parking lot, with the restrooms, on the left. The first parking lot will be shaded in the afternoon.
The parking lots at Oswald West State Park fill up early on all but winter weekends so plan to arrive by 9am.
No permits are needed to park at the trailhead.
Restrooms and drinking water is available at the main parking lot, just south of the Cape Falcon Trailhead.
Dogs on leashes are allowed on these trails.
Length and Elevation: (approximate)
Cape Falcon: 5 miles roundtrip. Cape Falcon Viewpoint: 7 miles roundtrip.
Trailhead elevation: 100 feet.
Cape Falcon: 200 feet, Cape Falcon viewpoint: 250 feet. Highest point 400 feet.
Trail:
Cape Falcon Trail (Part of the Oregon Coastal Trail) with connections to Neahkahnie Mountain Trail.
There is at least one geocache along this trail at: N 45° 45.868 W 123° 58.221. Info at Geocaching.com
Trail Maps:
Topo Map, Oregon State Parks map
History:
The State Park this trail is in was named after a person, Oswald West, who was an early advocate for preserving Oregon's beaches for public use. West was the 14th Governor of Oregon and served from 1911 to 1915. West had ridden a horse through this area in 1912 and later claimed the ride inspired him to write a bill declaring the wet sand areas of Oregon’s ocean beaches a public highway. However, in 1966, the issue of the dry sand part of the beach rose in public awareness after a person was kicked off dry sand beach at Cannon Beach. At the trail junction of the Cape Falcon Trail and the trail to the beach meet, is a memorial marker for Matt Kramer, a Associated Press reporter whose articles in 1967 helped pass the Oregon “Beach Bill” which grants "free and uninterrupted use of the beaches" to the public.
Review: May 24, 2009
The first part of this trail is lush and green and the trickles and seeps of water helps the plants flourish in this area. The trail is well maintained and climbs gently for the first .3 mile. After just a short walk, the sounds of the highway are replaced by the sounds of Short Sand Creek. The trail is about 100 feet above the creek then drops down to the junction with a beach access trail and the Falcon Cape Trail.
From the Cape Falcon junction of the trail, it is just a short walk to a day use area with picnic tables, restrooms and, or course, the beach. The beach at Oswald West State Park is very popular with surfers and on nice days there can be over 50 surfers in the water.
If you decide to hike this trail in the rainy season, which can last through the end of May, be prepared for several muddy patches. There is plenty of water on the Coast to go around and that applies to this trail.
From the junction with the beach trail and the Cape Falcon Trail, any remaining road noise is soon replaced by the sounds of the ocean surf. There are many places along the trail where the nearby trees have raised their gnarly roots across the trail, making it important to pay attention to where you step, so you don't trip over an unexpected root.
The fury of Coastal storms is apparent in the amount of downed trees along the trail, but most all have been cleared along the well-maintained trail. The trail out to Cape Falcon has a very moderate grade and passes by several locations where there are nice views of the ocean and the beach at Oswald West State Park.
The trail affords views of the ocean as you walk closer to the cape. It is a lovely walk through the woods and the elevation changes are gentle. The sounds and salt air scent of the ocean provide a pleasant accompaniment to the hike.
After about a mile from the junction, there is a steep user trail down through the brush to the beach. Avoid this trail on wet days, but on dry days, it does provide an access route and an unobstructed overlook of the beach. The trail crosses over a few small streams with a couple crossing having a short but slippery descent to the step-across creek.
As the trail nears Cape Falcon, there is a junction to the left to an overlook of the ocean with nice views to the south. Continuing on, the trail curves around a small point and you can hear sea lions barking as they lay on the rocks below. The trail then drops down a bit, crosses a small stream, and makes the final gentle ascent to Cape Falcon. The forest floor along the trail is carpeted with Oxalis, ferns, Trillium, False Lily of the Valley, and or course, Salal. The trees here are mostly Douglas Fir and Sitka Spruce.
The junction to Cape Falcon is to the left and the trail to the cape has been hewn through Salal, creating a wall of brush seven or eight feet high on either side of the trail. The trail to Cape Falcon leads towards a brushy knoll with small trails to several viewpoints of the ocean and headlands jutting from the sea.
Back at the trail junction to Cape Falcon itself, you can continue to the right on the Oregon Coastal trail for several miles to Arch Cape. I chose to continue about another mile and enjoy more walking through the woods, crossing a small stream, and walking out to another viewpoint on a headland that juts a short way into the Pacific Ocean. This is a good point to turn around but you can go another .5 mile to a partially obstructed northern view of the coast.
Pick your turnaround point, or you could make a shuttle hike from Arch Cape, past Cape Falcon, to Oswald West State Park.
The best option for a day hike is to hike out and back from the Cape Falcon Trailhead at Oswald West State Park.
This trail is okay for young experienced hikers who know to stay away from cliffs along the ocean and not stray off the trail. The views are great and the trail isn’t crowded.
"
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Dayhikes: Tom McCall Nature Preserve, OR
Friday, March 13 @ 08:05:03 PDT by (45 reads) | Drew writes "Directions:
From Portland, Oregon, take I-84 east for about 70 miles, driving past Hood River, and take exit #69 for Mosier.
Drive east on the Columbia River Scenic Highwayfor 6.5 miles to the Rowena Crest Viewpoint.
To return to Portland, continue east on the Columbia River Scenic Highway for 5 miles as it winds down to I-84 at exit #76. Go under the freeway and turn left to merge onto I-84 West.
No permits are needed to park at the trailhead.
No restroom facilities or drinking water is available at the trailhead. The easiest location for water and bathrooms are at the freeway rest area at milepost 73 of I-84 westbound. The next closest is Mayer State Park near exit #76 of I-84. The State Park is a day use area open from 8am to 10pm and may require a $3 Oregon State Park day use fee.
No bicycles, dogs or horses are allowed on these trails. No hunting or camping is allowed.
Length and Elevation:
Trailhead elevation: 700 feet.
Rowena Plateau Trail: 170 feet gain, 170 feet loss. Highest point 700 feet.
Tom McCall Point Trail: 1,150 feet gain, 1,150 feet loss. Highest point 1,850 feet.
Trail:
Rowena Plateau Trail and Tom McCall Point Trail.
There is at least one geocache along this trail at: N 45° 40.960 W 121° 18.024. Info at Geocaching.com
Trail Maps:
Topo Map
Review: May 9, 2009
The parking lot commands a nice view of the Columbia River Gorge and there is no shade at or near the parking lot. The sun shines a lot in the Gorge and will quickly make your car like a hot oven on most days.
Some of the best wildflower views of the plateau are along the road looking towards the Columbia River Gorge. The Rowena Plateau Trail begins just west of the Columbia River Scenic Highway and descends gently along a basalt gravel and packed dirt trail. There are a couple of side trails leading off to the right leading to overlooks into the Gorge.
In late April through mid-May the Balsamroot, Fool’s Onion, Lupines, along with many smaller wildflowers bloom profusely and put on the main show of spring flowers. The trail continues across the plateau and passes a couple more side-trails going to views of the gorge to the right.
Red-winged blackbird, Turkey Vultures, and other birds frequent this area and provide good bird-watching opportunities. This seems to be a popular place for Turkey Vultures with the wind hitting the cliffs and making updrafts for the vultures to soar lazily through the air looking for a meal.
Continuing down the trail leads alongside the first of two ponds. The pond is ringed with poison oak but has a narrow path leading to the pond. There are cattails and lily pads in the pond and willows ringing the shoreline provide shelter for birds and other wildlife.
The second pond is much smaller than the first pond and there isn’t a good trail to the edge of the pond. Continue past the second pond and downslope to the edge of the cliffs and unobstructed views into the Gorge. This is the turnaround point and from here, retrace your steps back up to the sign for Rowena Crest. From here, you can call it a hike or you can hike on the Tom McCall Point trail.
The Tom McCall Point trail crosses a large flower-strewn meadow with beautiful views of the Gorge and starts climbing up to the point after about .5 mile. Just before the trail starts to climb is a side trail to the right. This trail isn’t expecially scenic and just leads out to the highway. The trail goes along the edge of the cliff, turns gently to the left and starts to climb gently towards the ridge. There are fields of Balsamroot in the distance and poison oak along the trail.
The trail soon starts switchbacking up the ridge through scrubby oak trees, past fields of flowers, panoramic views of the Gorge. The trail leads to an open vista of Mt. Hood and the Columbia River Gorge.
There is an additional segment of the trail that leads down the far side of Tom McCall point, and back up a slope to the Columbia Plateau. The trail goes right along the top edge of the Gorge, sometimes dipping down a bit and sometimes on top of the plateau. On the plateau the trail winds in and out patches of Indian Paintbrush, lupines, scrub oaks, Goldenrod, and a few pine trees to pleasantly scent the air. There are several viewpoints into the Gorge along the way. The trail ends at a gate leading to a farm on private property.
Remember not to pick up any insect hitchhikers along the way as ticks are plentiful in this part of the Gorge.
This is a fantastic wildflower hike in early to mid-May. It is a “Must” hike during the peak season of the Balsamroot flowering. There are some 100 foot cliffs along the trails, so hikers must know their limits and stay back from cliff edges.
Enjoy the photos!!
Gallery Pics
Switchback Steve"
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