Saddle Mountain

Area	Oregon Coast - Northern
Best time to visit	June and July
Blooming Now	Unknown
Elevation	1766-3266 feet
Trail Info	5 miles round-trip, 1500 feet elevation gain to summit
	PLANT LIST AVAILABLE
	WILDFLOWER SEARCH
	Hike information - Oregon Hikers Field Guide
Dogs	Allowed, but must be kept on leash AT ALL TIMES.

NOTE: The blue marker indicates the trailhead.

Description

Saddle Mountain is the most accessible peak in the Coast Range with high elevation wildflower meadows. These meadows are not formed by winter snowpack, as in the Olympics and Cascades alpine meadows, but by thin soils and dry summer conditions. Plant diversity is exceptionally high. The flowering season is long, lasting from March to August most years. You can hike this mountain every six weeks all season and see new species in flower with each visit. The trail begins in young alder and Douglas-fir forests, goes up into true fir stands, loose scree or talus, and then to rocky slopes and wildflower meadows.

On a clear day, in addition to the wildflowers you will be able to see many other Cascade peaks including Mount Hood, Mount Adams, Mount Saint Helens, Mount Rainier, and the Olympic Mountains. You will also be able to see various Coast Range peaks, as well as the ocean itself which is only a few air miles away.

For more information, please visit the Columbia Coast Plants web site, which is maintained by Kathleen Sayce.

Directions

Take Highway 26 east from Portland. After approximately 63 miles, turn right (north) onto Saddle Mountain Road at the signs for Saddle Mountain State Park.

Trip Reports

Date	Submitted by
Reports from previous years
05/13/2019	Greg Lief
07/08/2018	Sandeep Koratagere
04/23/2018	Greg Lief
06/15/2017	Greg Lief
06/07/2017	Greg Lief
06/02/2017	Greg Lief
05/29/2017	Greg Lief
06/06/2016	Greg Lief
05/23/2016	Greg Lief
05/01/2016	Greg Lief
04/28/2016	Greg Lief
05/28/2015	Jim Sellers
06/16/2013	Greg Lief
04/29/2013	Greg Lief
06/21/2012	Greg Lief
08/03/2011	Greg Lief
07/22/2011	Greg Lief
06/26/2010	Greg Lief
06/23/2009	Angie Moore

Switch to historical view of wildflower reports

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'Let us give Nature a chance; she knows her business better than we do.' -- Michel de Montaigne