Iron Mountain
​Hike details:
Mileage: 6.6 mile loop w/ 1,960 ft. elevation gain
Approximate hike time: 2 hours 52 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.3 mph
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail usage: Medium to heavy (heavy usage during wildflower season weekends)
High point: 5,400 ft. Low point: 4,090 ft.
General location: 36 miles east of Sweet Home - Willamette National Forest
Accessible: May through early December
(Best time to go is mid to late June to mid-July when all of the wildflowers are blooming, and September and October when the summer crowds have died down).
Permits required: Northwest Forest pass for parking
Pit toilet at trailhead: Yes at Tombstone Pass
Trail allows: Dogs on leash
Possible dangers: Steep drop offs at the top
Approximate hike time: 2 hours 52 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.3 mph
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail usage: Medium to heavy (heavy usage during wildflower season weekends)
High point: 5,400 ft. Low point: 4,090 ft.
General location: 36 miles east of Sweet Home - Willamette National Forest
Accessible: May through early December
(Best time to go is mid to late June to mid-July when all of the wildflowers are blooming, and September and October when the summer crowds have died down).
Permits required: Northwest Forest pass for parking
Pit toilet at trailhead: Yes at Tombstone Pass
Trail allows: Dogs on leash
Possible dangers: Steep drop offs at the top
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Description:Iron Mountain is a very popular hike especially during the peak wildflower season, which is typically from mid-June to mid-July, with some flowers starting as early as the end of May. This hike’s close proximity to Bend, Salem and Eugene, makes it a mecca for lots of people to come and view the wildflowers and the epic views.
There are two places that you can start the Iron Mountain loop hike from. The first one is off of Rd. 15 which is off of US-20. This is the official Iron Mountain trailhead. It is easy to miss, and the parking lot is not very large, making it not as convenient as just parking at Tombstone Pass. There is a large place to park (room for about 15 cars) at Tombstone Pass which you can’t miss right off the side of US-20. This area does not get very much sun, so early in the season, there could still be snow at 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)
Because this is a loop, you can do this hike clockwise or counter-clockwise. It really depends if you want to get the steep part out of the way and if you would like to get to the view first (you’d go clockwise). If you want to warm up for a few miles as well as see the top of Iron Mountain and where you’re going and have the view be the crowning jewel of your hike, you will go counter-clockwise. Counter-clockwise is how the hike is described in this write-up.
(Iron Mountain)
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After parking your car at Tombstone Pass, you will head down the Tombstone Nature Trail #3420 towards the Cone Peak trail. After 0.5 miles, you will have to cross US-20. This marks the start of the Cone Peak Trail #3408. The next 1.3 miles trend uphill pretty steeply. 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 and early July (depending on the snow that year, sometimes also at the end of May), such as yellow stonecrop, pink penstemon and purple larkspur. From this large meadow you can see Iron Mountain to the left and Cone Peak straight ahead.
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.
Continue 0.5 miles over the meadow until the trail crosses a small watershed and heads west entering a thick forest where the trail travels along the side of the hill. It is almost always shady on the north side of the hill, so be careful as there can be some lingering snow here early in the season. From the moss lines on the trees, you can tell how high the snow generally gets during an average year. As you come around the northwest side of Iron Mountain, you will see a trail split. If you want to head up to the summit of Iron Mountain, you will take trail #3389 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 safe 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 flat top lookout was built 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 Mt. Washington, North, Middle and South Sister, as well as the Husband, and behind the Three Sisters is 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 after 0.8 miles you will cross US-20 again. Continue on Santiam Wagon Road to your left another 0.6 miles back to the trailhead at Tombstone Pass. This last section of the trail is easy with no elevation gain, just straight through the forest on an old wagon road.
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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 official Iron Mountain trailhead and only go up Iron Mountain which makes it a 2.4 mile round trip 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 here, this is a great place for photographers to explore, especially in the early summer time when the flowers are in full bloom.
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Directions:
From Sweet Home
- Drive on US-20 E for a total of 36 miles. Near milepost 64 you will see Tombstone Pass and a large parking area on your right. (Total of 36 miles)
- Drive US-97 N for 2 miles, then merge left onto US-20 W towards Sisters for 19.9 miles. At the traffic circle in Sisters, take the 2nd exit and stay on US-20 W continue on US-20 for another 25.1 miles. At a Y junction, keep left to stay on US-20 W for 11.1 miles until you see Tombstone Pass and the parking area on your left. (Total of 59.4 miles)
- Total of 80.4 miles via Sweet Home.
- Total of 87.8 miles via Sweet Home.
- 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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