Juniper Group Hikes

Hikes for 2011

Hiking the Cascades
photo by Larry PenningtonOur Schedule

Below is our schedule of hikes for 2011. The schedule is a work in progress, and will be amended as the year progresses, so keep checking back for new hikes and schedule changes. We're excited about this new dimension to the Juniper Group. The schedule is based on training several new hike leaders, and we have even more new leaders who took the Outdoor Leadership Training in February. As these new leaders become available, we plan to add new hikes to the schedule.

Is the Hike Appropriate for You?

It is important that you evaluate whether this outing is appropriate for you. While most of these hikes are day hikes and fall in the easy to moderate category, that's our evaluation of the hike as experienced hikers, and the evaluation of hiking guide books listed at the bottom. If your hiking experience is limited, several miles and several hundred feet of elevation gain may be more of a challenge than you expect. Any medical conditions should be discussed with the Leader.  If you are thinking of bringing children, please inform the hike leader and have a discussion about the appropriateness of the hike for your children. Also note that some hikes are open to trail experienced dogs and others are not. If you would like to bring a dog on a hike marked "Dogs OK", contact the trip leader.

Contact the Leader

You must contact the Leader by email or phone to confirm your attendance and meeting location prior to the hike. Leader contact information is available on our Contacts page. Group hikes in the Three Sisters and Waldo Wilderness Areas are limited to 12 persons by Forest Service rules. Hikes in the Oregon Badlands Wilderness are limited to 20 persons. And, given the uncertainty of the weather in Central Oregon and the Cascades, plans may change at the last minute, so we need to be able to get in touch with you. We will meet at a designated time and location to car pool to the trailhead. Plan to reimburse your driver $3 to $5 for gas, depending on length of the drive. Also, if you are time constrained for the day, discuss this with the trip leader when you sign-up to ensure you are not unduly constraining the other hikers. On some hikes there are options to extend the hike or take side trips, and we usually stop on the way home for refreshments and some social time. Wear comfortable boots (a must) and several clothing layers to accommodate changing weather conditions. And before we depart the trailhead, we will need you to sign the Sierra Club Sign-in Sheet and Liability Waiver.

2011 Juniper Group Hikes

Date	Hike	Location	Description	Difficulty	Dist.	Elev.	Leader
3/19	Flat Iron Rock	Badlands	From trailhead MP 16 on Hwy 20 hike into Flatiron Rock through Juniper and lava uplifts. Limit of 20. Dogs OK, contact leader. (Larry) Click here for Flatiron Rock Hike Photos.	Easy	6	0	Larry Pennington
4/09	Horse Ridge	Hwy 20 East	From Horse Ridge Trailhead off old HWY 20, we'll do a steep climb up Sand Canyon mountain bike trail to the ridge. Turn west at the ridge top and hike across to a wonderful viewpoint of Newberry and the Cascades. Dogs OK, contact leader. (David) Click here for Horse Ridge Hike Photos.	Moderate	8	1300	David Stowe
4/16	Chimney Rock	Prineville	In one of the crookedest parts of the Crooked River's cliff-rimmed canyon, an easy trail climbs a dry side gulch to a viewpoint beside the thumb shaped knob of Chimney Rock. Along the way enjoy views of Crooked River Canyon and the Cascade Mountains. No dogs. (Best Easy Day Hikes, pg 104) Click here for Chimney Rock Hike Photos.	Easy	3	500	Alison Hamway
4/30	Scout Camp	Crooked River Ranch	Hike down into Deschutes River Canyon along the cliff to the intersection of the Deschutes and Whychus Creek, then back up another way for a loop. No dogs. (Larry) Click here for Scout Camp Hike Photos.	Easy	3	600	Larry Pennington
5/08	Steelhead Falls	Crooked River Ranch	Deschutes River plunges to a churning pool in this scenic rimrock canyon. We'll hike upstream to an unofficial trail up a side canyon to tall rock tower, then hike cross country across a rimrock plateau and down another side canyon to our lunch spot on the river. No dogs. (Alison) Click here for Steelhead Falls Hike Photos.	Moderate	5	650	Alison Hamway
5/21	Metolius River	Camp Sherman	Sullivan starts hike at Lower Canyon Creek and hikes down to fish hatchery, passing numerous springs and falls. Other options are to start at hatchery and hike upstream (easier access), or hike downstream from hatchery and return. Dogs OK, contact leader. (Sullivan CO 100, pg 76) Click here for Metolius River Hike Photos.	Easy	5.4	100	David Stowe
6/04	Pine Mountain	Hwy 20 East	Hike 2.8 miles along the open crest of a rolling ridgeline, discovering rock formations, ponderosa pine groves, wildflowers, and views across Eastern Oregon. No dogs. (Sullivan CO 100, 2nd Ed.) Click here for Pine Mountain Hike Photos.	Moderate	5.6	1060	Alison Hamway
6/18	Whychus Creek Falls	Sisters	Hike to the Lower and Upper Falls on scenic Whychus Creek. No dogs. (Sullivan CO 100, pg 125) Click here for Whychus Falls Hike Photos.	Easy	3.4	600	Gretchen Valido
7/16	Lookout Mountain	Ochoco NF	East of Prineville near Ochoco Ranger Station. Trail winds through forest and meadows to the open summit. You pass the abandoned Independent Mine and a rustic warming shelter near the summit. Go for the flowers! Lots of flowers! Dogs OK, contact leader. (Bishop Geology, pg 213) Click here for Lookout Mountain Hike Photos	Moderate	5	1100	Larry Pennington
7/30	Horse Lake	Cascade Lakes Hwy	A loop through forest to Horse Lake and Sunset Lake with great views of South Sister. Followed by a “cold one” at Elk Lake Lodge. Limit of 12. Dogs OK, contact leader. (Sullivan CO 100, pg 140)	Moderate	8.8	600	Larry Pennington
7/30	Matthieu Lakes	McKenzie Hwy	A loop through forest and lava flows to the North and South Matthieu Lakes. Along the way are great views of the Sisters, Washington, and Jefferson. Much of the loop is on the Pacific Crest Trail. Limit of 12. Dogs OK, contact leader. (Sullivan CO 100, pg 118) Click here for Matthieu Lakes Hike Photos.	Moderate	6	800	Larry Pennington
8/12-14	Waldo Car Camp	Waldo Lake	Car camp Friday and Saturday night at a Waldo Lake campground. There will be a long hike on Saturday followed by short hike Sunday so people can head home. This will be a joint activity with Many Rivers and maybe Mary’s Peak groups. Dogs OK, contact leader. Click here for Waldo Weekend Photos.	Moderate	TBD	TBD	David Stowe
8/19	Green Lakes	Cascade Lakes Hwy	We will start at the Cascade Lakes Highway Fall Creek trailhead across from Sparks Lake. The trail climbs through forest alongside Fall Creek for 1.5 miles of tumbling sparkling waterfall extravaganza. This is followed by meadows and flowers, more forest hiking, and then a climb alongside a massive lava wall. The final treat is the Green Lakes basin with Broken Top and South Sister towering around you. Limit of 12. No dogs. (Sullivan CO 100, pg 134) Click here for Green Lakes Hike Photos.	Moderate	8.4	1100	Deb Brewer
8/27	Four-In-One Cone	McKenzie Hwy	Starting at the Scott Lake Trailhead, climb through lodgepole pine and beargrass into mountain hemlock forest, then across lava flows to the Four-in-One Cone. Along the way are many great views of the Sisters, Mt. Jefferson, Three-Fingered Jack, and Mt. Washington. Limit of 12. No dogs. (Sullivan CO 100, pg 110)	Moderate	9	1500	Alison Hamway
8/27	Canyon Creek Meadows	Hwy 20 near Santiam Pass	A short loop loop (4.3 miles) plus the side trip to Wasco Lake (1.4 mil) total 5.7 miles easy. Views of mountains, 2 lakes, great wildflower meadows, and we'll pass through a burn area on our loop return. Limit of 12. No dogs. (Sullivan CO 100, pg 72) Click here for Canyon Creek Hike Photos.	Easy	5.7	400	Alison Hamway
Sept.			Two Field Trips to the Waldo Preservation Area will be conducted in September. For more information, go to our Field Trips page. Click here for Waldo Campout Photos.				David Stowe
9/24	Benson Lake / Scott Mtn	McKenzie Hwy	Hike 4.1 miles to Scott Mountain, passing Benson Lake along the way. Then, the group will decide if they want to return the same way or add the 1.5 miles to return via Hand Lake. Limit of 12. No dogs. (Sullivan CO 100, pg. 112)	Moderate	8.2/9.7	1300	Deb Brewer
10/1	Tumalo Falls	Skyliner Road	Start at Tumalo Falls, and hike up the Bridge Creek trail through old growth forest to a beautiful spring and meadow, then an easy off trail hike next to a stream and through large meadows where we will break for lunch and some casual exploration of the meadows and the riparian area next to the stream. We’ll then continue down slope to the upper falls on Tumalo Creek, and take the trail back to Tumalo falls. No dogs. (David) Click here for Bridge and Tumalo Creek Hike Photos.	Difficult	10.5	1100	David Stowe
10/1	Bobby Lake	Waldo Lake	Trailhead is just south of Waldo Lake. Hike into Bobby lake and loop around lake and return. Dogs OK, contact leader. (David)	Easy	6	0	David Stowe
10/15	Tum Lake	Cascade Lake Hwy	Start vicinity Green Lakes trailhead near Todd Lake and head east toward the north side of Tumalo Mountain. This Hike passes through Lost Valley, mountain meadows and streams, and ends at Tum Lake. Dogs OK, contact leader. (David)	Easy	4	300	David Stowe
Source Books:
Sullivan CO 100:			“100 Hikes in the Central Oregon Cascades”, Third Edition, 2005, William L. Sullivan, Navillus Press
Best Easy Day Hikes:			“Best Easy Day Hikes Bend and Central Oregon”, 2004, Lizann Dunegan, Falcon Guides
Exploring Oregon:			“Exploring Oregon’s Wild Areas”, Third Edition, 2002, William L. Sullivan, The Mountaineers Books
Bishop Geology:			“Hiking Oregon’s Geology”, Second Edition, 2004, Ellen Morris Bishop, The Mountaineers Books
Classic Hikes:			“100 Classic Hikes in Oregon”, 2004, Douglas Lorain, The Mountaineers Books