For the longer Gumjuwac trail, take Hwy 35 south about 3 miles past the 44 Rd junction to a bridge crossing over the East Fork Hood River. Stay uphill for about 5 miles, turn left at a T-intersection, and park at the trailhead. Follow this road almost 4 miles, and turn right onto High Prairie road 4410. Hood and turn onto the paved Forest Road 44, with signs to Dufur. There may still be patches of snow along both trails.ĭirections: To High Prairie, drive Hwy 35 east around Mt. Bring layers of clothing to prepare for the cool shade in the trees and wind which may blow at the top. The High Prairie trail is easier, but be sure to carry sufficient water. Safety first: The trail up Gumjuwac Saddle may be strenuous, and hot. It is exposed and dry, but these tough and beautiful perennials flourish. ), arrowleaf balsamroot ( Balsamorhiza sagittata), yarrow ( Achillea millefolium), buckwheats ( Eriogonum spp.), scarlet gilia ( Ipomopsis aggregata), glaucous penstemon and rock penstemon ( Penstemon fruticosus) bloom.
In mid-summer the summit of Lookout Mountain is dotted with brilliant colors as Indian paintbrush ( Castilleja spp. The shade of conifer trees shelter plumes of beargrass ( Xerophyllum tenax), delicate twinflower ( Linnaea borealis) and starflower ( Trientalis latifolia) among others. There are also large, nettleleaf horsemint plants ( Agastache urticifolia) which attract hummingbirds and bees, and fragrant white sage ( Artemisia ludoviciana). They were introduced to the US and are persistent competitors with these meadow flowers. The showy white oxeye daisies ( Leucanthemum vulgare) are not natives. Look for the tiny flowers of pink pinwheels ( Horkelia fusca), in the grasses and sedges. Viewing: On the trail up through High Prairie, you pass through meadows dotted with colorful asters ( Aster spp.), glaucous penstemon ( Penstemon euglaucous) and Western bistort ( Polygonum bistortoides). The shorter High Prairie trail (2.5 mile loop) begins on an old road, and you can follow a horse trail through meadows and shaded forests. The longer Gumjuwac Saddle trail (10 miles roundtrip) travels through cool forests of hemlock ( Tsuga spp.), Douglas fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii) and fir ( Abies spp.), with open, exposed meadows of wildflowers and views into the Badger Creek Wilderness. There are two trails which wind steadily uphill, through open meadows and dense, shaded conifer forests to reach an old fire lookout site atop Lookout Mountain (6,525 ft. Hood and on a clear day, you can see several other Cascade peaks that create this rain shadow effect. Lookout Mountainĭescription: The forests east of the Cascades are dryer, but boast diversity equal to the rainforests of the west side. Glaucous pentemon and white sage blooming in a dry meadow along the Gumjuwac trail with Mt. Shrubs and stunted trees hang on to this ridge along with perennial wildflowers and pinemat manzanita ( Arctostphylos nevadensis). Mount Hood from the west side of Lookout Mountain.
View into Badger Creek Wilderness from Lookout Mountain, showing splashes of color from hardy perennial wildflowers.
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