We stopped in the National Forest Information Center in the small town of Sweet Home. Even sounds like a welcome spot! After an ice cream cone we headed up the road and picked a campsite along the Santiam River -- our site was well off the highway and next to the creek. Just what we like: nature at our back door and quiet nights!
We walked a bit of the Santiam Wagon Trail -- the original road across the Central Cascades from the 1800s. Not exactly what I would call a road or even a trail! The 102 mile road took a man on horseback 4 days to travel. I haven't a clue how long it took them to run cattle and livestock over the mountains!
The Ranger had recommended that we hike the Iron Mountain Trail -- a short, steep trail that in just under 2 miles cover enough habitat diversity (rainy forest to exposed volcanic rock) that more than 300 species of wildflowers bloom along the trail!!!! Even though the peak bloom is in early July, we were amazed at the range of color, size, and shape of all the flowers. No, we did not see anywhere close to 300 species. But there were enough for us newbie botanists! And best of all: at the top of the trail, there is a large view platform and one can see for miles: from Mt Adams in the north to Diamond Peak in the south; the Sisters to the east and the Williamette Valley to the west. The peaks are rugged and snow covered: what a contrast to the delicate wildflowers and zooming hummingbirds of the trail.
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| View from the campsite |
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| Yup -- that's the Wagon Road |
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| A water fall along the trail |
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| Hike of the WildFlowers |
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| Lilies |
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| Snow Covered Peaks |
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| Riot of color and shape |
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| Color on the trail |
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