Stacker Butte & Oak Spring

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Solofemalehiker35
Posts: 62
Joined: November 10th, 2019, 10:14 pm

Stacker Butte & Oak Spring

Post by Solofemalehiker35 » April 15th, 2021, 3:44 am

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First light on MT. Hood
Stacker Butte
NO DOGS ALLOWED at this TH to protect the plants and flowers. Saw one Dog on trail. Visited Monday 4/12/21. This parking area is small 5+ vehicles, no handicap parking and not wheelchair accessible. Great for small children as you are following a dirt road to the top. You need a discover pass to park here ($35/yr or $11.50/day no fee box here, but there is one at Dalles Mountain Ranch trailhead, you can purchase there and drive up). Drive in is a bit steep, dirt/gravel and narrow at times, but good for all vehicles except those with super low clearance. Wildflowers are really popping right now, please remember not to trample, disturb or pick flowers as you can damage their regrowth for years to come. Remember pack it in, pack it out, leave no trace and leave the trails better than you found them. Beautiful sunrise on the way to the summit. Beautiful mountain views to the north and south. Little to no wind, but very cold on the day we went (26 degrees or below I believe, not including wind chill). Several trail options here and even in the busy season (now) you can find solitude in areas of this park. Saw 10 people on this trail and over 20 in the area. This is an easy to moderate hike.
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Mt. Adams
We started at Dalles Mountain Ranch TH and did another trail as well, 10.55 miles w/ 2467ft EG.
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Interesting trees on trail
Oak Spring
Visited Monday 4/12/21, saw no one on this portion of trail systems. There are two roads that go over to Oak Spring via Stacker Butte road (the lower trail is much more steep, the upper trail flat). The side trail to Oak Spring doesn't look like it gets a lot of use, the trail is relatively short (1 mile +) and dead ends with a half view of MT. Adams, Rainier and Goat Rocks wilderness. The trail is moderate with a steady decline and incline. Oak Spring looks like at one point it was used for farming horses or cattle. Beautiful and interesting trees in the area as well as flowers. No dogs allowed here, great for young children, not wheelchair accessible. Fee is required.
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Interesting trees on trail
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Interesting trees on trail
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Interesting trees on trail
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Interesting trees on trail
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Jefferson and Sisters to the South
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Saw over 10 wild Turkeys

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naturallog
Posts: 52
Joined: February 2nd, 2016, 9:07 pm
Location: Portland, OR

Re: Stacker Butte & Oak Spring

Post by naturallog » April 15th, 2021, 10:00 am

Cool turkey encounter and also had no idea you could see Jefferson and the Sisters from this area. Looking forward to visiting the Dalles Mountain TH and trails tomorrow for the flower show!

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dirtman
Posts: 62
Joined: August 8th, 2014, 9:14 am

Re: Stacker Butte & Oak Spring

Post by dirtman » April 16th, 2021, 1:17 pm

I was up there last May right before a huge damaging wind storm came through. There were sheep huddled over by the two headed dragon geocache...
stacker butte sheep.jpg

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Chip Down
Posts: 3037
Joined: November 8th, 2014, 8:41 pm

Re: Stacker Butte & Oak Spring

Post by Chip Down » April 16th, 2021, 5:42 pm

I've seen turkeys on my last two hikes. Weird.

Solofemalehiker35
Posts: 62
Joined: November 10th, 2019, 10:14 pm

Re: Stacker Butte & Oak Spring

Post by Solofemalehiker35 » April 17th, 2021, 11:45 am

dirtman wrote:
April 16th, 2021, 1:17 pm
I was up there last May right before a huge damaging wind storm came through. There were sheep huddled over by the two headed dragon geocache...

stacker butte sheep.jpg
Super cool 💖

Solofemalehiker35
Posts: 62
Joined: November 10th, 2019, 10:14 pm

Re: Stacker Butte & Oak Spring

Post by Solofemalehiker35 » April 17th, 2021, 11:46 am

Chip Down wrote:
April 16th, 2021, 5:42 pm
I've seen turkeys on my last two hikes. Weird.
I've only seen them whilst driving before this. But I did hear them the day after this hike.

Solofemalehiker35
Posts: 62
Joined: November 10th, 2019, 10:14 pm

Re: Stacker Butte & Oak Spring

Post by Solofemalehiker35 » April 17th, 2021, 11:47 am

naturallog wrote:
April 15th, 2021, 10:00 am
Cool turkey encounter and also had no idea you could see Jefferson and the Sisters from this area. Looking forward to visiting the Dalles Mountain TH and trails tomorrow for the flower show!
Great views from stacker on a beautiful sunny clear day.

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