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Difference between revisions of "Grassy Knoll Hike"

From Oregon Hikers Field Guide

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[[Category:Southwest Washington]]
 
[[Category:Southwest Washington]]
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[[Category:Gifford Pinchot National Forest]]
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[[Category:Wildflower Hikes]]
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[[Category:Viewpoint Hikes]]
 
[[Category:Moderate Hikes]]
 
[[Category:Moderate Hikes]]
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[[Category:Hikes]]
  
 
[[Image:Sample.jpg|thumb|400px|Describe destination image here]]
 
[[Image:Sample.jpg|thumb|400px|Describe destination image here]]
  
 
{{Start point|Grassy Knoll Trailhead}}
 
{{Start point|Grassy Knoll Trailhead}}
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* End point: [[Grassy Knoll]], [[Cold Springs Camp]], or [[Huckleberry Mountain]]
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* End point: [[Grassy Knoll]]
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* Hike Type: Out and Back or Shuttle
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* Hike Type: In and out
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{{Distance|IN MILES}}  
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{{Distance|4.2 miles}}  
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{{Elevation gain|IN FEET}}  
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{{Elevation gain|1280 feet}}  
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* High Point: 3,648 feet
 
{{Difficulty|Moderate}}
 
{{Difficulty|Moderate}}
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* Seasons: June-November
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* Seasons: Summer into Fall
 
* Family Friendly: Yes
 
* Family Friendly: Yes
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* Backpackable:Yes
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* Backpackable:No
 
* Crowded: No
 
* Crowded: No
  
 
=== Hike Description ===
 
=== Hike Description ===
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Hike description goes here
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Following the comer route of the Pacific Crest Trail, the Grassy Knoll Trail takes you to a wildflower bonanza complemented by expansive views. The meadow at the trailhead is a good starting point for inspecting blooms. The trail then affords excellent vistas over the [[Big Lava Bed]] and proceeds through a series of meadows to the most stunning meadow of all, at the summit of [[Grassy Knoll]], site of an old lookout. You can hike on if you want and the only downside of this experience is the rather potholed and narrow approach by road.
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 +
The trail begins at the sign for the Grassy Knoll Trail #146 and heads up a wonderful flower meadow. Pause if you're a botanizer: there are 40+ species blooming here in July! Enter the woods, drop a little, and then head up through a thimbleberry thicket and Douglas-fir/western hemlock forest with an understory of vine maple. Pass through a clearing and then an opening with views east to [[Mount Adams]] through the trees. Silver firs enter the conifer mix. Rise through a clearing and then the path drops. At a rocky clifftop viewpoint, there are views over the [[Big Lava Bed]] to [[Little Huckleberry Mountain]], Indian Heaven, and [[Mount Adams]]. There’s one more rock outcrop viewpoint a little higher. Bright pink rock penstemon blooms here in early summer.
 +
 
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Drop down a forested ridge and then up through meadows before dropping again in silver fir/noble fir woods. Pass across a xeric, moss-covered, mariposa lily and onion-spangled meadow and then descend through clearings and meadows to get a first view of [[Grassy Knoll]]. Pass the remains of a wood structure, perhaps connected with the 1953 lookout rebuilding, and head up into shady woods. Reach the slope of [[Grassy Knoll]] and get a view south to [[Mount Hood]]. The trail switchbacks on the open, flowered slope and then heads briefly into the woods, giving an clear view across to [[Mount Adams]]. Balsamroot, lupine, and paintbrush are the signature blooms among many others. Back on the grassy expanse, a spur left leads to the remains of the old lookout. The lookout was first established in 1934. It was demolished by winds in 1952 and materials were flown in to replace it in June, 1953.
 +
 
 +
To continue hiking through along ridge top meadows and coniferous forest, see the [[Big Huckleberry Mountain Hike]].
  
 
=== Maps ===
 
=== Maps ===
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{{Hikemaps|latitude=ENTER LATITUDE HERE|longitude=ENTER LONGITUDE HERE}}
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* Green Trails Maps: ''Wind River, WA #397'' 
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* Green Trails Maps: ''Willard, WA #398''
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* U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: ''Mt. Adams Ranger District''
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* U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: ''Gifford Pinchot National Forest''
  
 
{{TripReports|Grassy Knoll}}
 
{{TripReports|Grassy Knoll}}
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=== Guidebooks that cover this hike ===
 
=== Guidebooks that cover this hike ===
 
* ''100 Hikes in NW Oregon and SW Washington'' by William L. Sullivan  
 
* ''100 Hikes in NW Oregon and SW Washington'' by William L. Sullivan  
 +
* ''Day Hiking: Columbia River Gorge'' by Craig Romano
  
 
=== More Links ===
 
=== More Links ===
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* [http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/giffordpinchot/recarea/?recid=31778  Trail #146 Grassy Knoll (USFS)]
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* [http://www.nwhiker.com/GPNFHike73.html  Grassy Knoll and Big Huckleberry Mountain Hike (Northwest Hiker)]
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* [http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/jul/20/wildflower-aplenty-grassy-knoll-trail/  "Wildflowers aplenty: Grassy Knoll trail" (The Columbian)]
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* [http://science.halleyhosting.com/nature/gorge/views/grassyknoll.htm  Grassy Knoll Trail #146 (Flora & Fauna Northwest)]
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* [http://photomomlinda.blogspot.com/2012/07/grassy-knoll.html  Grassy Knoll (Linda's Lens)]
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* [http://footprints-claudio.blogspot.com/2013/10/grassy-knoll-and-big-huckleberry.html  Grassy Knoll and Big Huckleberry Mountain, Jul 13th (Footprints)]
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* [http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip_report.2011-07-05.6649208850  Grassy Knoll (Washington Trails Association)]
 +
  
 
=== Contributors ===
 
=== Contributors ===
−
* [[User:ChubbyFM|ChubbyFM]] (creator)
+
* [[User:bobcat|bobcat]] (creator)

Revision as of 00:33, 2 April 2014

Describe destination image here
  • Start point: Grassy Knoll TrailheadRoad.JPG
  • End point: Grassy Knoll
  • Hike Type: In and out
  • Distance: 4.2 miles
  • Elevation gain: 1280 feet
  • High Point: 3,648 feet
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Seasons: Summer into Fall
  • Family Friendly: Yes
  • Backpackable:No
  • Crowded: No

Contents

Hike Description

Following the comer route of the Pacific Crest Trail, the Grassy Knoll Trail takes you to a wildflower bonanza complemented by expansive views. The meadow at the trailhead is a good starting point for inspecting blooms. The trail then affords excellent vistas over the Big Lava Bed and proceeds through a series of meadows to the most stunning meadow of all, at the summit of Grassy Knoll, site of an old lookout. You can hike on if you want and the only downside of this experience is the rather potholed and narrow approach by road.

The trail begins at the sign for the Grassy Knoll Trail #146 and heads up a wonderful flower meadow. Pause if you're a botanizer: there are 40+ species blooming here in July! Enter the woods, drop a little, and then head up through a thimbleberry thicket and Douglas-fir/western hemlock forest with an understory of vine maple. Pass through a clearing and then an opening with views east to Mount Adams through the trees. Silver firs enter the conifer mix. Rise through a clearing and then the path drops. At a rocky clifftop viewpoint, there are views over the Big Lava Bed to Little Huckleberry Mountain, Indian Heaven, and Mount Adams. There’s one more rock outcrop viewpoint a little higher. Bright pink rock penstemon blooms here in early summer.

Drop down a forested ridge and then up through meadows before dropping again in silver fir/noble fir woods. Pass across a xeric, moss-covered, mariposa lily and onion-spangled meadow and then descend through clearings and meadows to get a first view of Grassy Knoll. Pass the remains of a wood structure, perhaps connected with the 1953 lookout rebuilding, and head up into shady woods. Reach the slope of Grassy Knoll and get a view south to Mount Hood. The trail switchbacks on the open, flowered slope and then heads briefly into the woods, giving an clear view across to Mount Adams. Balsamroot, lupine, and paintbrush are the signature blooms among many others. Back on the grassy expanse, a spur left leads to the remains of the old lookout. The lookout was first established in 1934. It was demolished by winds in 1952 and materials were flown in to replace it in June, 1953.

To continue hiking through along ridge top meadows and coniferous forest, see the Big Huckleberry Mountain Hike.

Maps

  • Green Trails Maps: Wind River, WA #397
  • Green Trails Maps: Willard, WA #398
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Mt. Adams Ranger District
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Trip Reports

Related Discussions / Q&A

Guidebooks that cover this hike

  • 100 Hikes in NW Oregon and SW Washington by William L. Sullivan
  • Day Hiking: Columbia River Gorge by Craig Romano

More Links


Contributors

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Oregon Hikers Field Guide is built as a collaborative effort by its user community. While we make every effort to fact-check, information found here should be considered anecdotal. You should cross-check against other references before planning a hike. Trail routing and conditions are subject to change. Please contact us if you notice errors on this page.

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