Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: Three hikes (Saturday 3.0 miles total, Sunday 4.0 miles total)
Elevation Gain: Three hikes (Saturday 700 feet and 500 feet, Sunday 1,000 feet)
Leader: Wendell Wood
Location: Willamette National Forest

Explore Iron Mountain, one of the most wildflower rich and botanically diverse area of the Oregon Cascades with Oregon Wild naturalist Wendell Wood on Saturday morning. Then check out an outstanding old-growth grove of Alaska Yellow Cedar and more wildflower meadows in the Echo Mountain Basin in the afternoon. On Sunday, we will hike the Cone Peak Trail's shaded forests and open hillsides bursting with wildflowers as we take in outstanding views of the snow-capped Cascade peaks. Plant species list provided.

The Old Cascades' remarkable botanic diversity is best enjoyed in early summer on the Echo Mountain/Iron Mountain ridge which boasts over 300 species of flowering plants.  A study of this site found 60 plant species that are rare or unusual in the Western Cascades, including spectacular Penstemons and other wildflowers. Only in the Klamath/Siskiyous are there more varieties of conifers in such a compact area. Here there are 17 conifer species, from water-loving red cedar to drought-tolerant dwarf juniper.

Space is limited for this one-of-a-kind trip. Oregon Wild members ($20) and non-members ($40) can register here. All proceeds support Oregon Wild’s campaigns to protect wildlands across the state.

RSVP for the hikes and campout here.