Strawberry Mountain
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Hikes to this destination:
- Strawberry Mountain Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Strawberry Mountain from Roads End Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
- Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
- Latitude, Longitude: 44.3119, -118.7163
- Elevation: 9038 feet
Description
Strawberry Mountain is the centerpiece of the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness. According to Summit Post, it ranks #30 in Oregon and is the second-highest peak in the Blue Mountains after Rock Creek Butte. Like the other mountains in the area, the rock here is composed of seafloor volcanic flows from the Permian period that have been uplifted and extensively weathered.
The summit of Strawberry Mountain is treeless, but there are whitebark pine woodlands at the 8,500-foot level. Colorful wildflowers enjoy a brief bloom among the broken shales above the treeline. The cabin lookout here was partially blown away in a windstorm in the 1950s and was finally decommissioned in 1966.
As for views, to the west you can follow the John Day River valley and make out Sheep Rock, Canyon Mountain, and Baldy Mountain in the western part of the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness; to the east, see Slide Mountain and Ironside Mountain; to the south, you can make out Indian Spring Butte, the Rabbit Ears, and, on the far horizon, Steens Mountain. Also keep an eye out for the local mountain goats!
More Links
- Strawberry Mountain (Summit Post)
- Strawberry Mountain Lookout Site (Former Fire Lookout Sites Register)
- Plant List for Strawberry Mountain (Flora Northwest)
Contributors
- bobcat (creator)