Oregon Hikers

They aren't as showy as domestic rhododendrons, but they are still very lovely in early summer. This is from the RRSNF in 2014.

On highway 58 towards Crater Lake, I stumbled upon an extraordinary area of wild rhododendrons on 6/30/2019. The blossoms were light pink and of great abundance -- perhaps a super bloom on account of the wet conditions this past winter. Also it seemed late in the season for such a show, but there they were again maybe because of the large snowpack from the previous winter.

Sadly I didn't stop driving as I incorrectly assumed there would be more rhododendrons ahead, but that was it. I'm not from the area so I didn't realize how unique of a spectacle it was.

If anyone sees this post and has seen what I'm talking about please give a more accurate description of the location. It was perhaps at 3,000 - 4,000 feet in elevation again on highway 58 in the Willamette National Forest maybe 60-90 minutes from Eugene.

There are a lot of rhododendrons in the general area of Salt Creek Falls. The plants along the road get more sun than the ones in the woods so they bloom more profusely. I have a pacific rhododendron in my back yard which was planted before I moved in which was more than 40 years ago. It is in dense shade and doesn't bloom much.
On my last ever backpacking trip on West Zigzag Mountain, I came across a wild rhododendron that looked like a hybrid--compact with lots of blooms. I assume that it was because of the sunny location.