Paradise Park, Mt Hood Wildflower extravaganza Mount Hood Pussypaws Bear Grass Subalpine Cat’s Ears Late July is a phenomenal time to visit Paradise Park on the the southwest slopes of Mt Hood, nestled up on fingers of meadows stretching out from the forest between the Paradise Branch of the Sandy River and the Zigzag River.Continue reading “Paradise Park Mt Hood Flowers”
Author Archives: Jim Wilson
An Eagle Creek Loop
An Eagle Creek Loop to Wahtum Lake and return via PCT and 400 The Eagle Creek trail in the Columbia River Gorge near Cascade Locks recently reopened after clearing the landslides on the road (after reopening briefly after the 2017 fire) and I headed out for a morning hike to see the waterfalls. The trailContinue reading “An Eagle Creek Loop”
Badger Creek and the Divide Trail
Badger Creek and the Divide Trail Starting in the afternoon at High Prairie on the northwest corner of the Badger Creek Wilderness within Mt. Hood National Forest, I set out on foot down the rocky Bennet Pass Rd, the historic route now 4×4 route that runs along the west boundary of the wilderness. There wereContinue reading “Badger Creek and the Divide Trail”
Timberline Trail Loop
Timberline Trail Loop 2021 Note: If you haven’t yet heard about the alterations to the route neccesary this year due to the destruction of trail above the Muddy Fork, visit this Detour Information Page Timberline Trail Detour July 7, 2021 With significantly lower temperatures, and even some clouds in the forecast, on Tuesday evening IContinue reading “Timberline Trail Loop”
Badger Creek Wilderness, Jordan Creek and Points Between
Badger Creek Wilderness, Jordan Creek, and Points Between Continuing to explore the eastern side of Mt Hood National Forest, today I pieced together 26 miles of roads ranging from pavement to decommissioned and nearly overgrown, trails both well taken care of and nearly forgotten, and off trail peak wandering. I started by exploring an oldContinue reading “Badger Creek Wilderness, Jordan Creek and Points Between”
The Eastern Reaches of Mt Hood National Forest
The Eastern Reaches of Mt Hood National Forest On the tail end of a period of hot spring weather in the valley, the far eastern reaches of the Mt Hood National Forest is a pleasant place to be where higher elevations drop the temperature and flowers are in bloom. The area east of Surveyors RidgeContinue reading “The Eastern Reaches of Mt Hood National Forest”
Deschutes River Explorations
Deschutes River Explorations I spent some time exploring the Deschutes River on two days this week. It’s a beautiful time to be near the river, with lots of birds being active in the morning and flowers out now, and just starting to really bake by afternoon. First I did a few miles at the mouthContinue reading “Deschutes River Explorations”
Lyle Cherry Orchard
Lyle Cherry Orchard Lyle Cherry Orchard, just past the tunnels east of Lyle, Washington in the eastern Columbia River Gorge is a lovely climb from the river up into the oak savanna of the hillside. A few old remaining cherry trees from the long-abandoned orchard dot the top of hills lending the place its namesake.Continue reading “Lyle Cherry Orchard”
Wygant Natural Area and Beyond
Wygant Natural Area and Beyond Wygant Natural Area seems to be one of the less popular routes climbing up the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. From the trailhead for the much more frequented Mitchell Point, the Wygant trail heads west and then starts to climb up the hillside. The trail has so many switchbacks, itContinue reading “Wygant Natural Area and Beyond”
Hood River’s Bald Mountain
Hood River’s Bald Butte I arrived at the Oak Ridge Trailhead off of Highway 35 south of Hood River before dawn and headed up the hillside to catch some warm morning glow on Mount Hood as I hiked through the oak savanna hillsides scattered with blooming balsam root, lupines, and paintbrush. The trail connects withContinue reading “Hood River’s Bald Mountain”