Posts in category 'Places To See In Central Oregon'
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Maiden Peak: A Challenging Climb to One of Central Oregon's Best Views
Maiden Peak: A Challenging Climb to One of Central Oregon's Best Views
There are hikes where the difficulty is obvious almost from the beginning, and there are others that save nearly everything for the end. Our August 1, 2026 hike to the summit of Maiden Peak definitely fell into the second category.
Starting from the Maiden Peak Trailhead off Gold Lake Road near Willamette Pass, our GPS recorded 11.41 miles round trip with 2,828 feet of elevation gain. Those numbers are consistent with published descriptions of this western route, which generally put the hike at roughly 11 to 12 miles round trip with about 2,800 to 2,900 feet of climbing. What those numbers don't convey particularly well, however, is how the hike actually feels. Much of the early trail is surprisingly moderate. Then, during roughly the final mile to mile and a half approaching th...
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Beyond the Burn: A Different Way to Reach Golden Lake and Broken Top's Hidden Tarns
Beyond the Burn: A Different Way to Reach Golden Lake and Broken Top's Hidden Tarns
There are two ways to reach Golden Lake in Oregon's Three Sisters Wilderness. The route most hikers know begins at the Green Lakes Trailhead. It's spectacular, climbing steadily toward Green Lakes before crossing the divide into the secluded basin below Broken Top. Unfortunately, it's also one of the most sought-after trailheads in the Central Cascades permit system. Unless you reserve months in advance—or get lucky with a last-minute cancellation—there's a good chance you won't be hiking
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Black Crater: A Summit Reclaimed by Fire
Black Crater: A Summit Reclaimed by Fire
One of Central Oregon's Best Views — and One of Its Quietest Trails
Trail Statistics
- Distance: 7.0 miles round trip
- Elevation Gain: 2,300+ feet
- Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
- Time: Approximately 4 hours (including photo and water breaks)
- Forest Pa...
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Hiking Grizzly Peak from Pamelia Lake: Rhododendrons, Mt. Jefferson Views, and the Legacy of the 2006 Milk Creek Landslide
Hiking Grizzly Peak from Pamelia Lake: Rhododendrons, Mt. Jefferson Views, and the Legacy of the 2006 Milk Creek Landslide
Few hikes in Oregon deliver as much variety in a single day as the journey from Pamelia Lake to Grizzly Peak in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness. This hike begins in a lush old-growth forest, passes crystal-clear mountain streams, wanders through blooming rhododendron groves, and finishes with some of the most spectacular views of Mt. Jefferson you'll find anywhere in the Cascades. On a recent outing, we covered just over 10 miles round trip with approximately 2,700 feet of elevation gain. While the climb to Grizzly Peak requires some effort, the reward is a front-row seat to Oregon's second-highest mountain and a unique perspective on the power of...
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