Originally, we had planned to do the Rowena Plateau but after getting a late start, and deciding to take Maggie, we decided to do this little trail and boy, am I glad we did! Incredible display of wildflowers on this trail, and spectacular views. We may have to put this on our 'must see' each spring. There are usually so many people on the wildflower hikes at this time of year that to only see 10 people or so was a very pleasant surprise. This hike featured at least 25 wildflower varieties, at least 4 different species of butterflies and moths and various birds and a turkey vulture.
The trail climbs from the bridge in Mosier up to the Pioneer Graveyard and then to Pocket Park and Mosier Creek Falls. Then, the switchbacks bring you up to the Plateau. The trail's terminus is on a bluff but there is a communication tower a bit higher up. I climbed up that way and saw a ton of butterflies and slightly better views of the Catherine Creek area and east toward what I believe was Rowena Plateau. There are some old cherry orchards behind the tower, too, and some more wonderful displays of balsamroot.
This hike is listed at 3.5 miles and about 600 feet of elevation. I will have to add additional pics below, as the system won't allow me to attach anymore now.
Mosier Plateau 4.20.14
- sprengers4jc
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Mosier Plateau 4.20.14
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- BrianEdwards
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Re: Mosier Plateau 4.20.14
Cool view of Mosier Creek Falls. Spring is awesome out at Mosier
Clackamas River Waterfall Project - 95 Documented, 18 to go.
- sprengers4jc
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Re: Mosier Plateau 4.20.14
Please feel free to correct any and all mistakes, as I may have missed the IDs on some of these flowers.
Additional Pics:
Additional Pics:
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Last edited by sprengers4jc on April 21st, 2014, 4:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
'We travel not to escape life but for life to not escape us.'
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- sprengers4jc
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Re: Mosier Plateau 4.20.14
Thanks, Brian. It's a great little waterfall!
'We travel not to escape life but for life to not escape us.'
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Re: Mosier Plateau 4.20.14
Thanks for this! You've filled in a few holes in my own tragic naming abilities. I was across the river in the Catherine Creek-Coyote Wall area Saturday. Believe it or not, there just weren't very many people there! All I can figure is everyone assumed, as you did, that it'd be a madhouse. Probably crossed paths with fewer than one other party per hour, on average.
Karl
Back on the trail, again...
Back on the trail, again...
- sprengers4jc
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Re: Mosier Plateau 4.20.14
Thanks, kepPNW! Glad to be of assistance in the naming process . One of these days, I will hike Coyote Wall. We were at Tracy Hill last week and had a great hike there, and saw Shooting Stars, Monkeyflowers, Camas, Death Camas, Ballhead Waterleaf and many other awesome varieties. Lots of wildflowers blooming all over this part of the Gorge. Such a spectacular corner of the world that we get to call home .
'We travel not to escape life but for life to not escape us.'
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Re: Mosier Plateau 4.20.14
A sample of what I saw over there on Saturday. I just sort of wandered aimlessly, for probably more than eight hours. Incredible day! (I think I know the names of probably 2/3 of them, now!)sprengers4jc wrote:Thanks, kepPNW! Glad to be of assistance in the naming process . One of these days, I will hike Coyote Wall. We were at Tracy Hill last week and had a great hike there, and saw Shooting Stars, Monkeyflowers, Camas, Death Camas, Ballhead Waterleaf and many other awesome varieties. Lots of wildflowers blooming all over this part of the Gorge. Such a spectacular corner of the world that we get to call home .
Karl
Back on the trail, again...
Back on the trail, again...
- sprengers4jc
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Re: Mosier Plateau 4.20.14
Wow, what an amazing hike! Some of the others I see that haven't already been identified are #15 Pacific Hound's Tongue, #16 Woodland Strawberry, #18 Groundsel (a very pretty invasive species), #19 Chocolate Lily, #20 Columbia Desert Parsley, #21 Oregon Grape, #22 Larkspur, #24 Lupine not yet bloomed, #51 Milkvetch, and #52 Ballhead Waterleaf. Very beautiful collection of photos you have there!kepPNW wrote:A sample of what I saw over there on Saturday. I just sort of wandered aimlessly, for probably more than eight hours. Incredible day! (I think I know the names of probably 2/3 of them, now!)sprengers4jc wrote:Thanks, kepPNW! Glad to be of assistance in the naming process . One of these days, I will hike Coyote Wall. We were at Tracy Hill last week and had a great hike there, and saw Shooting Stars, Monkeyflowers, Camas, Death Camas, Ballhead Waterleaf and many other awesome varieties. Lots of wildflowers blooming all over this part of the Gorge. Such a spectacular corner of the world that we get to call home .
'We travel not to escape life but for life to not escape us.'
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- chiefWright
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Re: Mosier Plateau 4.20.14
Floralfantastica! You sure hit the flower jackpot on this trip, and it's zoomed up to the top of my next visit East of Hood River. Looks like Maggie had a good time, too.
I assume this is a "new" Friends of the Gorge trail? Do you have a map reference for this trail, or is it pretty obvious (unlike Catherine, where tracks go every which way)?
I assume this is a "new" Friends of the Gorge trail? Do you have a map reference for this trail, or is it pretty obvious (unlike Catherine, where tracks go every which way)?
Re: Mosier Plateau 4.20.14
Oh boy, you're gonna make me count! I knew some of those, but you've definitely filled in a few (more!) IDs for me. Thanks so much!sprengers4jc wrote:Wow, what an amazing hike! Some of the others I see that haven't already been identified are #15 Pacific Hound's Tongue, #16 Woodland Strawberry, #18 Groundsel (a very pretty invasive species), #19 Chocolate Lily, #20 Columbia Desert Parsley, #21 Oregon Grape, #22 Larkspur, #24 Lupine not yet bloomed, #51 Milkvetch, and #52 Ballhead Waterleaf. Very beautiful collection of photos you have there!kepPNW wrote:A sample of what I saw over there on Saturday. I just sort of wandered aimlessly, for probably more than eight hours. Incredible day! (I think I know the names of probably 2/3 of them, now!)
Karl
Back on the trail, again...
Back on the trail, again...