Posts with tag 'Hiking Central Oregon'

The Wildflowers are Abundant in Central Oregon's Canyon Meadow in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness

The heavy snow experienced during the winter of 2024-2025 delayed the opening of the most popular Central Oregon hikes until later in the summer. However, the heavy snow also provided extra moisture in the soil which has resulted in a fabulous wildflower season. Among the best areas for wildflowers in the Central Oregon Cascades is Canyon Meadow, part of the hike to the base of Three Fingered Jack. Canyon Meadow hike is a moderate loop that takes hikers from Jack Lake to the meadow and then returns through the burned forest resulting from 2003's B & B complex fire. However, for those wanting a more challenging hike, taking the unmaintained spur from Canyon Meadow to Three Fingered Jack provides for spectacular views and a tough scramble up the moraine of Jack Glacier (unofficial name) which is mostly gone. The aqua blue of the glacial lake was especially stunning the beginning of August. Hikers can climb the moraine until they reach the ridge connecting Three Fingered Jack with the unnamed colorful hoodoo next to it. The flat top of the ridge can be a great location for lunch or a snack before taking the slow trek down the moraine back to the more established trail. There is a side trail that can be taken to the upper meadows following the stream which exits the moraine. The upper meadow was stunning with blooming wildflowers the beginning of August. Once the lower meadow is reached, the loop back to Jack Lake can be taken, although much of this is in burned forest. Another option is to return the way hikers arrived at Canyon Meadow rather than continuing the loop through the burned forest. This will add elevation and distance, however.

All in all, for those not taking the loop but returning the way to Jack Lake that they arrived at Canyon Meadow, the entire hike is roughly 8 miles and just shy of 1800 feet of elevation gain.

The Pacific Crest Trail Abuts Collier Cone

It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of people hike sections of the Pacific Crest Trail each year, but only a few hundred succeed in completing the entire 2650 +- miles. In Central Oregon, the PCT runs next to the Cascade Mountains, with sections on the east side and other sections on the west side of the seven prominent peaks. Collier cone is next to North Sister with Collier Glacier lying in the saddle between North and Middle Sister abutted on the west by Little Brother. Over the years the glacier has been in retreat with the greatest loss prior to 1950. The wet winter and cooler spring experienced in 2025 compared with 2023 appears to reflect more snow and more water in the glacial lake later in the summer.

Access to Collier Cone can be found through hiking the Obsidian Trail, Four in One Cone, or through Lava Camp Lake. All approaches come with at least seven miles one direction which is why there are few people who visit Collier Glacier. Even though the PCT runs right next to Collier Cone, climbing to the moraine bordering the lake takes another third of a mile one direction, which is probably why few PCT hikers take the time to see the view.

The hike from Lava Camp Lake starts in burned forest, the result of 2017's Milli Fire. However, there remains untouched forest near Matthieu Lakes and the lava fields were natural fire breaks. The meadow, which is the junction for Scott Trail and the PCT, was stunning in July 2025 with the lupines at their peak. California tortoiseshell butterflies were abundant and filled the dry stream beds in the meadow and circled in groups by the lava fields. The total in and back hike from Lava Camp Lake is 15 miles with 2400 feet of elevation gain.

Maxwell Butte is a Little Known Central Oregon Hike

While the higher Cascade Mountain hikes were still snow covered in mid July 2025, Maxwell Butte was snow free and offered spectacular mountain views. On July 12, only one other hiker was seen the entire day and while mosquitoes were a problem in the morning, they were gone once the sun rose. The hike from the trail head to the top of Maxwell Butte is a moderate, forested trek with 2453 feet of elevation gain over 5.10 miles one way; the last steep mile up the butte can be more challenging with switchbacks on pumice on parts of the path. However, the higher hikers get, the more the views of Mt. Washington, North and Middle Sister, The Husband and the Wife become visible until near the top, the full view of Tam McArthur Rim and Broken Top can also be seen. Hoodoo Ski Bowl and Hayrick Butte really stand out as well in the topography in a way that is not visible from lower elevations. Looking east, Three Fingered Jack dominates the skyline and north, fabulous views of Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Hood and the eight lakes basin are seen.

For those wanting a good, challenging 10+ mile hike that is rarely crowded and does not require anything other than a self-issued day pass at the trail head, Maxwell Butte may be a good option, especially when the passes for the most popular high Cascade hikes are not available.

The Wildflowers and Views Are Fabulous at Browder Ridge

Iron Mountain remains one of the favored Central Oregon wildflower hikes that many people on both sides of the Cascades enjoy yearly. However, the lesser known and less traveled Browder Ridge offers even more wildflowers and views unseen from Iron Mountain. The easiest access to Browder Ridge Trail is near the Iron Mountain trailhead a few miles up paved forest service road 15.

In early July 2025, the wildflowers were blooming and the air was clear, providing outstanding views of multiple peaks of the Cascades. The hike from the trailhead off forest service road 15 climbs over 2300 feet to the peak at the top of Browder Ridge at a distance slightly more than six miles one direction. Varied shade loving and sun loving wildflowers can be seen throughout the hike.

Patjens Lakes Loop Trail is a Moderate Hike in the Mt. Washington Wilderness

For those who are looking for a Bear grass hike in Central Oregon, Patjens Lakes Loop Trail is hard to beat the end of June 2025. When hikers leave Hwy 20 to drive to the paved trailhead near the end of Big Lake Road, blooming Bear grass can be seen on each side of the road, a great indicator that the hike has a significant amount of it seen during the trek. Patjens Lakes Loop Trail runs adjacent to Big Lake at Santiam Pass before it leaves the lake to run south into the Mt. Washington Wilderness where it skirts the 4 small Patjens Lakes before returning to the starting point next to Big Lake. There are still signs of the B & B complex fire of 2003 which burned over 90,000 acres in the Mt Washington and Mt Jefferson Wildernesses, running along the crest of the Cascades. However devastating the fire was to the area, the burned areas provided more growing areas to sun-loving plants, such as Bear grass.

Areas untouched by the fire retain the lush undergrowth and tall trees of most Western Oregon old growth forests, complete with shade-loving plants and many birds. The last two miles of the hike, however, are in the burned area. Part of the path climbs a ridge from which hikers have amazing views of the Three Sisters, Black Crater, Hoodoo Ski Area, Three Fingered Jack and Mt. Washington. The slope of this ridge is covered with Bear grass and the Cascade views would not be evident had the area remained unburned.

The entire hike is under 7 miles with a little over 700 feet of elevation gain, considered by many a moderate route.