Sunday, June 19, 2011

Bagby Hot Springs

Hot Springs Fork, Collawash 

New tub open air area in bathhouse
Anyone who has explored the natural bounty of Western Oregon has heard of or visited Bagby Hot Springs. Located just to the north of the Bull of the Woods Wilderness and 40 miles out of Estacada, Bagby is a good day trip from Portland. From the parking lot it is a well maintained 1.5 miles to the hot springs. The hot springs has a bathhouse with some semi-private tubs and a lower deck with 4 open air tubs which were rebuilt last winter. There is also a tub a little further downstream on its own. It is a great place to go and enjoy the waters. 
Open air area with new tubs 
Private area in bathhouse with old tub

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Hamilton Mountain

Hardy Falls from trail 
Rodney Falls

Hamilton Mt. from trail
Ok, so Hamilton Mountain is on the Washington side of the Gorge but it is a good hike anyway. The mountain sits just to the north Beacon Rock near the Bonneville Dam. Beacon Rock is a 848 ft monolith which has a trail to the top. Hamilton Mount is 2450 ft at the summit and there are two paths to the top. The trails are labelled "difficult" and "more difficult." There are also a couple of waterfalls on the lower half of the hike. The more difficult route is shorter but much steeper and the whole hike gains about 2100 ft in elevation. 
View from summit looking east.

View near summit looking west.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Maxwell Butte

Mt. View Trail

Three Finger Jack 
Mt. Washington and the Three Sisters
 The Maxwell Butte Sno-Park is on the Western side of Santiam Pass in the Willamette National Forest. It has extensive trails for snowshoeing and x-country skiing. From the Sno-Park you can travel to Mt. View Shelter which on a clear day has views of the tip of Mt. Jefferson, Three Finger Jack, Mt. Washington, and the Three Sisters. 
Mt. View Shelter