Grassy Knoll

June 9, 2019

Today we returned to Grassy Knoll, a great early summer hike with views and wildflowers. A new sign has been installed at the trailhead:

Grassy Knoll Hike

There is a nice patch of wildflowers right at the trailhead:

Grassy Knoll Hike

Grassy Knoll Hike

There is a very nice viewpoint one mile in with Mt. Adams being the star of the show here:

Grassy Knoll Hike

Grassy Knoll Hike

Red Mountain Lookout:

Red Mountain Lookout

Gifford Peak:

Gifford Peak

Penstemon like to grow here:

Grassy Knoll Hike

We continued north, passing yet more wildflowers:

Grassy Knoll Hike

Grassy Knoll Hike

Grassy Knoll Hike

Then we had our first view of Grassy Knoll:

Grassy Knoll Hike

This is always such a lovely spot, where the trail emerges from the trees into a beautiful patch of wildflowers with a view of Mt. Hood:

Grassy Knoll Hike

Grassy Knoll Hike

Grassy Knoll Hike

More flowers as the trail continues:

Grassy Knoll Hike

Grassy Knoll Hike

Grassy Knoll Hike

We sat on the summit for awhile and enjoyed the view of Mt. Hood. We had the place all to ourselves:

Grassy Knoll Hike

Grassy Knoll Hike

Grassy Knoll Hike

There is a partial view of Mt. Adams up here:

Grassy Knoll Hike

Grassy Knoll Hike

View to the west:

Grassy Knoll Hike

Three Corner Rock:

Three Corner Rock

Cool clouds overhead:

Grassy Knoll Hike

We continued up the trail a bit to another nice patch of flowers before turning around:

Grassy Knoll Hike

Grassy Knoll Hike

We got back to the trailhead at 3pm, having only seen three people the entire day!

Before heading home we stopped to check out the Giant Trees of Lost Creek (articles here, here, and here) and the trail that Russ Jolly built there:

Big trees

Big trees

Big trees

Cedar and doug fir growing together:

A cedar and a fir

Notches had been cut out of fallen trees to create passage:

Notch

Natural log bridge over a creek:

Log trail

We didn’t have time to explore the whole loop, but we’ll be back. Very cool spot!