BEFORE YOU TAKE OFF ON ANY HIKE:
DON'T depend on these notes alone for a hike! Always STOP by the Ranger Station
and ASK about the specific trail as to conditions and exactly HOW to find it.
Tell them WHERE you are going and WHEN you will return. If you are in such a BIG
hurry, then leave a note at the trailhead. If you are in too much of a hurry to
do that, then you should GO HOME and watch television, not hike, not camp, not
ride, not out here on the...
Length: 1.7 miles
Difficulty: Difficult
Topographical Map: Echo Mountain
Elevation: 4,000 - 5,455 feet
Set aside for its botanical interest, Iron Mountain provides habitat for more than 300 species of flowering plants, which share their beauty throughout the summer season. You will pass through several meadows interspersed with alpine trees before reaching bare volcanic rock at the top. A Forest Service lookout is staffed there in the summer. An interpretive brochure is available at the trailhead, courtesy of the Friends of the Iron Mountain Area (FIMA).
How to get there:
From Sweet Home, travel east on Highway 20 for 34 miles to Forest
Road 15 and turn right. The parking area is 0.5 miles down the road
to the right. A second access point is located at the end of Forest
Road 2000-035. At approximately 32 miles east of Sweet Home, on
Highway 20, turn left on Forest Road 035 and travel 2.6 miles to the
trail head. Hint: at forks in the road, take the one that goes
uphill. A restroom is located at this upper trailhead.
Length: 0.7 mile loop trail
Difficulty: Easy
Topographical Map: Harter Mountain
Elevation: 4,160 - 4,241 feet
An interpretive brochure available at the trailhead helps visitors
appreciate the history and ecology of Tombstone Pass. The pass is
named for the tombstone that marks the spot where James Alvin
McKnight, a local valley boy, accidentally killed himself with his own
rifle in 1891. A replica of the tombstone
now stands at the site. The prairie is home to a rich community
of wildflowers and was a popular stopover for
travelers on the Santiam Wagon Road
How to get there:
From Sweet Home, travel east on Highway 20 for 35 miles. Park in the
Tombstone Pass SnoPark, right off the highway. The trail leaves the
back of the parking area on the left. There are markers when the
trail is under maintenance. In winter, the markers are frequently
pushed over by snow removal equipment.
Length: 3.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Topographical Map: Echo Mountain
Elevation: 4,130 - 5,000 feet
A gentle grade leads you through the shade of a forest onto open
hillsides bursting with flowers in the spring and summer. Upper
portions of this trail offer extensive views of the surrounding Old
Cascades. At the junction with Iron Mountain Trail, you have the
option of returning the way you came or climbing another 0.75 mile to
the top of Iron Mountain. For a loop trail, combine the
Santiam Wagon Road , Iron Mountain, and
Cone Peak Trails with Tombstone Pass Trails.
How to get there:
From Sweet Home, travel east on Highway 20 for 34.6 miles to Tombstone
Pass. Travel halfway down Tombstone Prairie Trail to where Cone Peak
Trail connects on the left. Hikers should park at Tombstone Pass
SnoPark rather than on the highway.
Length: 2 mile loop
Difficulty: Moderate
Topographical Map: Echo Mountain
Elevation: 4,200 - 4,800 feet
The feature of this hike is the old-growth Alaska yellow cedar
scattered along the trail --- probably the largest trees of the
species concentrated in this area.
After leaving the cedars, you break out into a natural amphitheater formed by an open wet meadow surrounded by basin headwalls. Late spring visitors will witness a colorful array of wildflowers. NOTE: This meadow trail is slated to be improved in the summer of 1998 with wooden walkways across the muddiest areas .
How to get there:
From Sweet Home, travel east on Highway 20 approximately 37 miles to
Forest Road 055 and turn left. Travel 2.1 miles to the trailhead. The
road is rough.
Length: 3.7 miles
Difficulty: Moderate/Difficult
Topographical Map: Echo Mountain
Elevation: 4,160 - 5,200 feet
Passing through old-growth forest, alpine meadows, and mature true fir
forests, this rugged hike treats you to views of Mount Jefferson,
Mount Washington, and Three Sisters. Look for the short side trail
leading toward Heart Lake. This unmaintained trail ends on a ridge
above the lake. Anglers will need to find their own way down to the
lake.
How to get there:
From Sweet Home, travel east on Highway 20 for 34 miles to Forest Road
15 (Deer Creek). Travel 2.5 miles and turn left on spur road 080 and
follow for 0.5 mile to the trailhead. For the eastern approach, follow
the directions for Gate Creek Trail (below).
Length: 3.1 miles
Difficulty: Moderate/Difficult
Topographical Map: Echo Mountain
Elevation: 3,600 - 4,850 feet
Ancient old-growth forests, younger true fir forests, and sweeping
alpine meadows on the ramparts of Browder Ridge delight your senses as
you travel this trail to access Browder Ridge. A little less
strenuous than the western access, the gradual climb along shady,
forested switchbacks puts you on a plateau with views of Mount
Jefferson, Mount Washington, and Three Sisters. Adventurous types can
follow an unmarked side trail to a ridge overlooking pristine Heart
Lake (see Browder Ridge Trail description).
How to get there:
From Sweet Home, travel east on Highway 20 for 39.8 miles to Forest
Road 2672 (Hackleman Creek Road) and turn right. Travel 1.8 miles to Forest
Road 1598 (Browder Cr Rd). Travel 2.8 miles to the trailhead at Gate Creek.
Length: 0.8 mile loop
Difficulty: Easy
Topographical Map: Echo Mountain
Elevation: 3,500 feet
Two short loop trails take you through a classic old-growth stand of
Douglas fir, western red cedar, and mountain hemlock. You may feel
dwarfed by some trees --- some are more than 500 years old, and have
survived floods, fire and wind storms. One loop winds along Hackleman
Creek, home to the Hackleman trout, a subspecies of cutthroat trout.
The other loop is designed for people with disabilities. Wheelchair
access is considered difficult due to the grade. An
interpretive brochure, available at the trailhead, challenges you
to think about the complexity of old-growth forests. If no brochure is
available, think about it anyway...
How to get there:
From Sweet Home, travel east on Highway 20 for 37 miles. Parking and
trailhead are on the right.
HELP: If you have personal knowledge of any of these trails and find
any
information here to be wrong, inadequate, or inaccurate, please email
me so that I may correct it. Please include location, date of observation,
and general trail condition. Thanks!
DISCLAIMER: I would not bet my life on the accuracy of this information,
even though I did try to make it as accurate as possible. So, I'd appreciate
it if you would drop me a note about any excesses, errors, or omissions. Thanks!
Pagetender
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