Iron Mountain
Hike Details:
Mileage: 6.6 mile loop w/ 1,960 ft. elevation gain
Approximate hike time: 3 hours 15 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.0 mph
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail usage: Medium to heavy (heavy usage during wildflower season weekends)
General location: 36 miles east of Sweet Home off of US-20 - Willamette National Forest
Suggested seasons: Late spring, summer, fall
(Best time to go is in late May and early June when all of the wildflowers are blooming, and September and October when all of the crowds have died down).
Permits required: Northwest Forest pass for parking
Pit toilet at trailhead: Yes at Tombstone Pass
Trail allows: Dogs on leash
Approximate hike time: 3 hours 15 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.0 mph
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail usage: Medium to heavy (heavy usage during wildflower season weekends)
General location: 36 miles east of Sweet Home off of US-20 - Willamette National Forest
Suggested seasons: Late spring, summer, fall
(Best time to go is in late May and early June when all of the wildflowers are blooming, and September and October when all of the crowds have died down).
Permits required: Northwest Forest pass for parking
Pit toilet at trailhead: Yes at Tombstone Pass
Trail allows: Dogs on leash
Description:
Iron Mountain is a very popular hike especially during the summer months. This hike’s close proximity to Bend, Portland, Salem and Eugene, makes it a mecca for lots of people to come and view the incredible wildflower display here in the months of late May, June and possibly even early July depending on the year.
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There are two places where you can start the Iron Mountain loop trail from. The first one is off of Rd. 15 which is off of Hwy. 20. This is the official Iron Mountain trailhead. It is easy to miss, and the parking lot is not very large, so the directions in this write-up are for starting the trail right at Tombstone Pass. There is a large place to park (room for about 15 cars) where Road NF-060 begins. This area does not get very much sun, so early in the season (April), there could still be snow at Tombstone Pass and the parking area, however that doesn’t necessarily mean there is still snow on Iron Mountain. Make sure to hang up your Northwest Forest Pass, as you will get ticketed for parking here without a permit. |
(Cone Peak)
To do the loop counter-clockwise, after parking your car, you will head down the Tombstone Nature trail towards Cone Peak trail. After 0.6 miles, you will have to cross Hwy. 20. This marks the start to Cone Peak trail #3408. The next 1.1 miles trend uphill. There are a total of 10 switchbacks in the forest that lead you up to beautiful meadows at the base of Cone Peak. There are many wildflowers here during the months of June (depending on the snow that year, sometimes also May and/or early July), such as yellow stonecrop, pink penstemon and purple larkspur.
(Iron Mountain)
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From this large meadow you can see Iron Mountain to the left. Continue 0.7 miles over the meadow until the trail crosses a small watershed and heads west and enters a thick side-hill forest. It is always shady here, so be careful of snow early in the season. It can be icy and this side hill is fairly steep. From the moss line on the trees, you can tell how high the snow generally gets during an average year.
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As you come around the west side of Iron Mountain, you will see a trail split. If you want to head up the mountain, you will take the trail to the left for 0.7 miles. From here it gets steep, with a total of 11 tight switchbacks over some rocky terrain. From the trail you will see Iron Mountain with its red rocks looming above you.
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(Panorama picture of the Iron Mountain summit lookout)
The view from the summit is absolutely epic! There is a great two level platform for your 360 degree viewing pleasure. In 1933 an L-4 ground house was built here but it blew away in a storm. In 1976 a new R-6 flattop lookout was build but due to vandalism issues, the Forest Service had to knock it down in 2007 and the beautiful new catwalk was built in its place.
To the east your view will contain the North, Middle and South Sister, as well as the Husband, and behind that, Mt. Bachelor. If you look to the west, you will see Mt. Jefferson, which feels so close!
To the east your view will contain the North, Middle and South Sister, as well as the Husband, and behind that, Mt. Bachelor. If you look to the west, you will see Mt. Jefferson, which feels so close!
(North Sister, Middle Sister, South Sister)
(Mt. Jefferson)
After heading back down to the trail junction, take a left and then cross Hwy. 20 again. Continue on Santiam Wagon Road to your left another mile back to Tombstone Pass, where you left your car. This last section of the trail is easy with no elevation gain, just straight through the trees on an old wagon road.
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Iron Mountain was named for its appearance of the rock of which it is composed. As you can see in the photo, all of the exposed areas have layers and layers of deep red and orange metallic rock. However, before it was called Iron Mountain, in the 1860's it was called Pleasanton Butte, apparently in compliment to well-known officer Alfred Pleasanton who was stationed in the Pacific Northwest.
The Iron Mountain/Cone Peak loop hike is a really neat hike, and it is highly recommended to everyone. If you don't want to do the entire 6.6 mile loop, you can choose to park at the first official Iron Mountain trailhead and only go up Iron Mountain which makes it a 2.4 mile roundtrip hike. This might be more palatable for some, especially if you are hiking with younger children and they just want to see the view. Due to the epic scenery and diversity of plants, this is a great place for photographers to explore, especially in the early summer time when the flowers are in bloom. |
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Directions:
From Eugene
- Drive I-5 north for 22.5 miles then take exit 216 for OR-228 toward Halsey/Brownsville. Turn right onto OR-228 E for 18.9 miles. In the town of Sweet Home, turn right onto US-20 east and stay on this road for 36.4 miles. At Tombstone Pass turn right onto NF-060. (Total of 80.5 miles)
- Drive I-5 south for 25.7 miles then take exit 216 for OR-228 toward Halsey/Brownsville. Turn right onto OR-228 E for 18.9 miles. In the town of Sweet Home, turn right onto US-20 east and stay on this road for 36.4 miles. At Tombstone Pass turn right onto NF-060. (Total of 87.8 miles)
- Drive US-97 north for 2.1 miles then take exit 135A to merge onto US-20 W toward Sisters Salem for 19.9 miles. In Sisters at the roundabout, take the 2nd exit and stay on US-20 Wand continue on for 25.1 miles. At a Y split keep left to stay on US-20 W for another 11.1 miles, then turn left onto NF-060. (Total of 59.4 miles)
- It is a total of 131 miles via Salem.
- It is a total of 244 miles via Eugene.
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To get a more in-depth and personal view of this hike, watch the YouTube video.
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*All pictures are taken by Franziska Weinheimer
*Disclaimer: the trail descriptions, mileage, GPS tracks and difficulty ratings depicted on this website are never 100% accurate. Always hike at your own risk, using your own knowledge, equipment and common sense. Franziska Weinheimer/Hike Oregon are not responsible if you or anyone in your party gets injured or lost while attempting one of these or any other hikes.
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