Twitter
Sugarloaf/Grayback Mountain hike
Parked at the O’Brien Creek upper trail head, made it with my Forester but would recommend parking at the lower trail head. That last mile is sketchy for a car. Even a Forester
It’s 8:21 AM, a little late but gorgeous creek hiking up the first switchbacks through Doug-fir, mid 50s temperature.
Quite a few hazelnut trees come with nuts, on the trail, a little green but tasty. Very steep rocky trail at places, OK (not eroded) because it seems to get very little use.
Halfway up starting the switchbacks. Very lush woods, huge Incense Cedars, and lots of new wildflowers.
Very curious, took the path to the left and went to a cabin. With a sign to another cabin in a quarter of a mile.
This side hike took me to lush, wet meadows and is incredibly gorgeous. I’ll have to research what the cabin was used for.
Finally back to the trail, and it’s getting dry towards the top last switch back. Most of the trees are fir, and a lot of blowdown probably from gusty winds from above.
A nice ground creeping fire came up through here sometime ago. Scorching the bottoms of the fir trunks but not killing too many of them at all.
At the top of the switch backs meeting with Boundary Trail it’s clear that the fire actually came down the hill with the high side of the trunk scorched. I took Boundary Trail south fora but through a very wet meadow with many many more flowers
Turning around back north, I made it up to Windy Pass and then on up to Sugarloaf Mountain without too much trouble. Had a little rest, drank some water, and enjoyed the amazing view of Mountains to the South into California like Prescott Peak and The Marbles, even Mount Eddy. Why was this a nice part of the hike? Because there’s a Trail!! Next I thought I would try my luck at bushwhacking Grayback. Not a lot of fun, made it to the first and second false peaks, got a good look at Grayback itself and decided that at 1 PM, I was done and should start heading back.
There’s so much blow down of fir on the Boundary Trail that I am thinking about heading overland down to the switchbacks to avoid it. Decided not too—good choice, and made my way back down to the trail head. Curious assault-looking warrior van in the lot, but no one around. I wonder where they went?!
★
★
★
★
Killer! Paid better attention. Splitrock Trailhead to Wagner Gap goes up 450ish’ and down 750ish’ meaning it’s harder coming out.
Took the Wagner Glade Trail down the road 2060! Steep but well-planned trail. Coming out was tough, but I didn’t really start feeling it till climbing the two hills to the trailhead.
Wagner Glade trail is beautiful! Starts in heavy woods and then drops into a pretty wet bear habitat kind of draw and then back into very old growth woods at road 2060. Huge pines and firs at the road. Saw one biker on the road and a runner on Splitrock
Flat tire at the trailhead—writing this at Les Schwab and hoping they can fix it
Passed up a through-hiker at Callahan’s but couldn’t pick him up :(
★
★
★
★
Fun hike with great views. Eventually sharing trail with bikers around Four Corners. Huge pines at the top of the trail and a bear near my car at the end. Logging operation where the trail comes back to the road at the top of the Epstein Property. Don Hamman running the claw
★
★
★
★
Cool hike, a little snow persists at the top of the Corral Creek draw. Clear at the top—visibility to Mt Bailey to Mt Eddy.
Lots of flowers!
★
★
★
★
I forgot how hard this hike is—even Brent and Christopher had trouble negotiating trail down
★
★
★
Unable to reach Crater Lake, we skied along this hiking trail. Really pretty, and wonderful snow.
★
★
★
★
Absolutely beautiful! I brought crampons, a trekking pole, mountaineering axe, plenty of water, an emergency shelter and lots of layers. Def MUST use gps like Gaia to keep on the trail with this much snow. It was only about 6 inches to start but by mile 2 it was solidly a foot of powdery not stompable snow…and then by mile 3 it was ridiculously to my knees of fluffiness, not post holing at all as nothing tamped down. Bring snow shoes! It’s a great alpine mountaineering route finding trail for those with experience! Please either know what you’re doing and have an emergency gps device in case needed OR come with people experienced for these alpine climbs. It was absolutely joyous if you love this kind of thing! And no one at all around for miles!
★
★
★
★
★
The loop is a classic, that’s why it’s an FKT too. You can be super quick on their surface. Some volcanic sections exposed but that go back into tree tree line. Shade. Solid ups and down and some sprint stuff along the final three miles on bike path..
★
★
★
★
Not too many people above Panther Peak on the No Candies Trail or Horn Gap Trail. So close to the Wagner Glade Trail!!
Still quite a few flowers including some higher elevation flowers. Spoke to a Douglas Squirrel and got a lecture from a Mountain Quail about boundaries.
★
★
★
★
Too early for the flower still, but lots of other late spring bloomers. By 2:00, most of the snow was gone. Drove four thru-hikers from Ski Ashland parking lot to the hostel. They were happy to see me and actually were waiting by my car at the trailhead before hiking to the lot
★
★
★
★
Beautiful hike to a remote alpine lake. Lake is not swimmable but very picturesque.
VERY steep grade, but worth the effort.
★
★
★
★
You’re going to posthole even with snowshoes. I’d recommend a start earlier than 6am or bring skis. I ended up losing my snowshoes and a hiking pole on this mountain! If anyone sees a black diamond hiking pole and a pair of highlander elite snowshoes (designed in the French Alps) let me know! Otherwise, the views are great! It’s worth the climb and the postholing.
★
★
★
★
Great 20mi MTB loop. Some challenging lava near Fish lake. Thanks to those who engineered those lava stretches. And the folks who maintain this trail… lots of sawdust
★
★
★
★
★
Rough Forest Service Road.
Rugged country. Better be driving a high clearance, 4WD rig.
★
★
★
★
Attempted to hike this on March 22. The gravel road to get to the trail was snowed in about 11 miles from the trail. But could be managed with a 4wheel drive vehicle. Be prepared for this if coming early. Made it to the trailhead and hiked in 5 miles before loosing the trail because of snow. It was my first time on this trail and was not looking to lose the trail and bushwhack. Also saw bear tracks in the snow about the size of two of my fists decided it was a good time to turn back. Also this early in the season the trail is covered in fallen trees. The two creeks crossings in the beginning miles were manageable if you are willing to jump from rock to rock and get in thigh deep water. Overall the first 5 miles seem very difficult not just difficult. We had one person from the group get a tick and I got poison oak.
★
★
★
★
★
Good hike to do once for the views. Hike is tough as its about 4K elevation gain. It took about 6 hours up and down. Trail is pretty easy to follow. There are a lot of reports of people getting lost. Don’t let this deter you. Just follow the white dots and stay on the ridge. The top section is probably too difficult for dogs. Bring enough water.
★
★
★
★
★
This route into Cliff Lake is steep and rocky. There are better options if Cliff Lake is your destination.
★
★
★
Amazing views from the top but difficult hike. Be comfortable with heights and steep hiking. Bring plenty of water, gps map, bug spray, trekking poles, sunscreen, and food for a 10 hr trek.
★
★
★
★
★
Long gravel road to the trailhead.
Gorgeous hike and views
Wildflowers thick as a carpet.
Complete loop from Seattle Bar to Carberry Creek was 36 miles of rugged Siskiyous.
★
★
★
★
Amazing views of Mt. Shasta and Mt. McLaughlin. Gorgeous alpine meadows and countless distant peaks. Hiked the PCT trail for part of the way.
★
★
★
★
New London Trail isn’t well maintained. This loop includes some road walking.
★
★
★
An awesome hike! Gaia has it rated as a difficult loop, but we found it fairly easy. Some nice climbing, but the trail is very well maintained and even. It has spectacular old growth forest with beautiful views. We went the first week of October and the fall colors were at peak, and we even found a patch of snow on the trail! The big tree is magnificent, but all of the trees are fabulous! Highly, highly recommend this hike! We will be returning for sure!!
★
★
★
★
★
Nice hike with good views. First 2-3 miles is the hardest. Gets easier at trail junction.
★
★
★
★
A few buddies and I hiked 40 miles along the rogue River Trail. We hiked from Graves Creek to Foster Bar. The trail winds along the river the whole way occasionally taking you into the forest and into beautiful open Meadows covered in wildflowers. Along the river the mountain has been carved out and you hike with Cliffside’s on your right and the river below you. If you are afraid of heights be aware the trail can be very narrow in some points and along high cliffs.
The weather was almost perfect with temperatures topping out in the upper 50s and reaching down to mid 40s in the evening. We occasionally had sprinkles of rain and on the second day it did downpour on us while we were setting up camp. Oregon weather in the month of May is very unpredictable. If we would have hiked the same trail a week prior it would’ve been in the 90s.
There was a lot of poison oak so if you plan on hiking this trail be prepared for that. There are also ticks, and bears so come prepared to deal with the wildlife and critters as well. We only saw one or two sites with bear boxes so come prepared to hang your food and consider bringing bear spray.
Many of the toilets along the way we're locked for us but I'm assuming they will be open starting on Memorial Day weekend. Parts of The trail were also not very well kept with downed trees we had to climb over or go off trail to traverse.
★
★
★
★
