Difference between revisions of "Cedar Butte Hike"
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The short Cedar Butte Trail takes hikers to a former lookout site in the western Coast Range. Views are restricted as trees have grown up since the lookout was dismantled in the early 1950s. You’ll be following a segment of the historic trail that serviced the lookout since the end of the 19th century. The forested landscape has been logged in sections and also burned over, but the area shelters mobile herds of elk and you will catch glimpses of the rugged ridges above the fork of the Kilchis River. | The short Cedar Butte Trail takes hikers to a former lookout site in the western Coast Range. Views are restricted as trees have grown up since the lookout was dismantled in the early 1950s. You’ll be following a segment of the historic trail that serviced the lookout since the end of the 19th century. The forested landscape has been logged in sections and also burned over, but the area shelters mobile herds of elk and you will catch glimpses of the rugged ridges above the fork of the Kilchis River. | ||
| − | From the parking area, hike up the road about 40 yards to the Y-junction. Go left and continue 80 yards until you come to a large information sign that signals the beginning of the Cedar Butte Trail. A pole fence here is designed to prevent ATV entry. Hike into a regenerating clearcut populated by young Douglas-fir, noble fir, and red-cedar. Partial views to the east include Wolf Point and [[ | + | From the parking area, hike up the road about 40 yards to the Y-junction. Go left and continue 80 yards until you come to a large information sign that signals the beginning of the Cedar Butte Trail. A pole fence here is designed to prevent ATV entry. Hike into a regenerating clearcut populated by young Douglas-fir, noble fir, and red-cedar. Partial views to the east include Wolf Point and [[Kings Mountain]]. The trail enters an older slope forest with a salal and sword fern understory. As you hike up the ridge, reenter the clearcut for a short spell and then head back into the woods. |
You’ll make eight short switchbacks up in an Oregon grape/sword fern carpet and then wind steeply up the ridge. Switchback, traverse up, and then make two more short switchbacks below a rocky knob. The trail dips a little and then switchbacks to the ridgecrest. A user trail leads left through the Oregon grape to a mossy viewpoint over the drainage of the South Fork Kilchis River extending to Mutt Peak, Sawtooth Ridge, and Tillamook Bay. You will also get an impression of the rugged western ridges of [[Cedar Butte]]. Back on the main trail, wind steeply up and dip into a small saddle. The rises rises past an eastward-looking viewpoint and traverses the steep slope before switchbacking up past a campsite to reach the summit area of [[Cedar Butte]]. Here, at the former lookout site, there are two benches offering views west over the South Fork Kilchis valley all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Shards of glass from the demolished lookout cabin litter the site. A small meadow, often a bedding ground for elk, tumbles down the slope below the summit. | You’ll make eight short switchbacks up in an Oregon grape/sword fern carpet and then wind steeply up the ridge. Switchback, traverse up, and then make two more short switchbacks below a rocky knob. The trail dips a little and then switchbacks to the ridgecrest. A user trail leads left through the Oregon grape to a mossy viewpoint over the drainage of the South Fork Kilchis River extending to Mutt Peak, Sawtooth Ridge, and Tillamook Bay. You will also get an impression of the rugged western ridges of [[Cedar Butte]]. Back on the main trail, wind steeply up and dip into a small saddle. The rises rises past an eastward-looking viewpoint and traverses the steep slope before switchbacking up past a campsite to reach the summit area of [[Cedar Butte]]. Here, at the former lookout site, there are two benches offering views west over the South Fork Kilchis valley all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Shards of glass from the demolished lookout cabin litter the site. A small meadow, often a bedding ground for elk, tumbles down the slope below the summit. | ||
Revision as of 22:10, 29 December 2017
- Start point: Cedar Butte Trailhead
- End Point: Cedar Butte
- Trail Log:
- Hike Type: Out and Back
- Distance: 1.6 miles round-trip
- Elevation gain: 780 feet
- High Point: 2,907 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Seasons: Spring through fall
- Family Friendly: Yes
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: No
Contents |
Description
The short Cedar Butte Trail takes hikers to a former lookout site in the western Coast Range. Views are restricted as trees have grown up since the lookout was dismantled in the early 1950s. You’ll be following a segment of the historic trail that serviced the lookout since the end of the 19th century. The forested landscape has been logged in sections and also burned over, but the area shelters mobile herds of elk and you will catch glimpses of the rugged ridges above the fork of the Kilchis River.
From the parking area, hike up the road about 40 yards to the Y-junction. Go left and continue 80 yards until you come to a large information sign that signals the beginning of the Cedar Butte Trail. A pole fence here is designed to prevent ATV entry. Hike into a regenerating clearcut populated by young Douglas-fir, noble fir, and red-cedar. Partial views to the east include Wolf Point and Kings Mountain. The trail enters an older slope forest with a salal and sword fern understory. As you hike up the ridge, reenter the clearcut for a short spell and then head back into the woods.
You’ll make eight short switchbacks up in an Oregon grape/sword fern carpet and then wind steeply up the ridge. Switchback, traverse up, and then make two more short switchbacks below a rocky knob. The trail dips a little and then switchbacks to the ridgecrest. A user trail leads left through the Oregon grape to a mossy viewpoint over the drainage of the South Fork Kilchis River extending to Mutt Peak, Sawtooth Ridge, and Tillamook Bay. You will also get an impression of the rugged western ridges of Cedar Butte. Back on the main trail, wind steeply up and dip into a small saddle. The rises rises past an eastward-looking viewpoint and traverses the steep slope before switchbacking up past a campsite to reach the summit area of Cedar Butte. Here, at the former lookout site, there are two benches offering views west over the South Fork Kilchis valley all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Shards of glass from the demolished lookout cabin litter the site. A small meadow, often a bedding ground for elk, tumbles down the slope below the summit.
If you want to extend the day, you can bushwhack along the narrow ridgecrest for another mile or more, scrambling up and down various prominences. Do this on a clear dry day so you can enjoy the views and avoid getting drenched by damp vegetation.
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- none
Maps
- Cedar Butte Trail (Tillamook State Forest)
- Oregon Department of Forestry: Tillamook State Forest
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Cedar Butte Hike
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Cedar Butte Hike
Guidebooks that cover this destination
- Afoot & Afield: Portland/Vancouver by Douglas Lorain
- 50 Hikes in the Tillamook State Forest by the Tillamook State Forest Committee, Columbia Group Sierra Club
More Links
- Cedar Butte Trail (Tillamook State Forest)
- Cedar Butte Trail (Trail Dad)
- Cedar Butte (Hiking Oregon)
- Cedar Butte (Outdoor Project)
- Cedar Butte Trail (Portland Monthly)
- Cedar Butte (Summit Post)
Page Contributors
- justpeachy (creator)
- bobcat