Mt. June
Mt. June. Is surprisingly close to Eugene, and is the perfect hike to go on if you want to see some great views of the Cascade mountains! Even though the majority of the trail is steep, the view was worth all the effort.
The gravel pull-out parking area is on the right hand side of the road but to get to the trailhead you do have to cross the street and you'll take the trail on the right that very apparently goes up hill. There is another trail there as well but it goes down the other way towards Eagle's Rest (unfortunately there are no signs here). The entire trail has an uphill gradient but this first 1.9 miles is fairly steep with multiple switchbacks.
(as you can see here, the trees are very large)
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After the switchbacks the trail goes through a very dry section of forest where you can see lots of fallen and split trees from wind damage. This section is following a valley with a tiny stream bed (Lost Creek), going up to a ridge. After this section of the trail (2 miles) you come to the ridge where the trail splits. The signage here is really clear and you will take a right to go to Mt. June. From here you are hiking along a ridgeline where there is a lot more low greenery such as Rhododendrons and other bushes, and the trail levels out for just a bit. |
(a huge fallen old growth tree)
(the trail along the ridge)
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(the view of the Valley right before the summit)
After this .7 miles along the ridge, the trail does get very steep for about .5 miles as you are climbing up to the rocky summit of Mt. June. Here you started seeing beautiful views into the Willamette Valley. This last jaunt towards the top was quite brutal because we were very tired, hot and definitely ready for lunch. When you get to a lookout where you can see views to the Northwest, it is only 1/4 of a mile to the very top.
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(a view into the Willamette Valley)
The views from the summit of Mt. June are absolutely spectacular! You are able to see Mt. Bachelor, the Three Sisters, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Hood, and even the Calapooya Mountains in the South. It is really breathtaking! At the top you can see concrete remains of an old fire lookout on this very rocky hilltop.
*When doing out and back hikes, keep in mind that you will tend to be slower during the first part regardless of whether the trail has altitude gain or not, just because everything is new and you will be stopping frequently to take pictures of beautiful views, look at neat plants, and the ever enchanting Oregon forest.
*When doing out and back hikes, keep in mind that you will tend to be slower during the first part regardless of whether the trail has altitude gain or not, just because everything is new and you will be stopping frequently to take pictures of beautiful views, look at neat plants, and the ever enchanting Oregon forest.
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This is one of the most beautiful hikes in the Cascade foothills, and it is highly recommended to everyone! If you do not want to do the steep 7.3 mile hike, you can do a shorter 2.4 round-trip version and get the same views. You will park farther up the road and meet the trail at the end of the ridge section. Unless you have bad knees (not good if the trail is steep) anyone can do this hike! It is tough but the trail is so well maintained that it makes the terrain easy to walk on, and you can pay attention to the beauty around you rather than navigating a rough trail.
Hiking guide William Sullivan doesn't recommend doing this hike after December until about April due to snow, however you can always check snow levels in your area, and depending on the snow that year, you might be able to do this hike in the early winter or early spring. Just keep in mind that the summit of Mt. June is at an elevation of 4,618 ft.
Hiking guide William Sullivan doesn't recommend doing this hike after December until about April due to snow, however you can always check snow levels in your area, and depending on the snow that year, you might be able to do this hike in the early winter or early spring. Just keep in mind that the summit of Mt. June is at an elevation of 4,618 ft.
(view of the Three Sisters and Broken Top)
Approximate hike time: 3 hours 35 minutes (for the 7.3 mile hike)
Suggested seasons: Late spring, summer, fall
(Best time to go is July, August, September, October and early November. Depending on the snow year, there will likely be mosquitoes in June, so if you're not there to see all of the Rhododendrons bloom, it is probably best to avoid that month).
Trail usage: Light to moderate (from the upper trailhead the trail gets heavy use)
Directions: Take Interstate 5 south, take exit 188A towards Oakridge. Stay on Willamette Hwy 58 east for 11.4 miles to Dexter Dam and then turn right at the sign for Lost Creek. After 3.7 miles turn left across a semi-hidden bridge onto signed Eagles Rest Rd. After about 7.8 miles on this windy road you will come to a fork in the road. A hiker symbol marks the road to the left Road 20-1-14. After about a mile you will see a gravel parking outcrop on the right hand side of the road. If you want to do the shorter hike you will keep going for another 1.5 miles of pavement and another 3.5 miles of gravel. At the far end of a fenced tree farm, turn left onto Road 1721 and almost immediately onto Road 941. After .4 miles you will see the trail head sign on the right.
Suggested seasons: Late spring, summer, fall
(Best time to go is July, August, September, October and early November. Depending on the snow year, there will likely be mosquitoes in June, so if you're not there to see all of the Rhododendrons bloom, it is probably best to avoid that month).
Trail usage: Light to moderate (from the upper trailhead the trail gets heavy use)
Directions: Take Interstate 5 south, take exit 188A towards Oakridge. Stay on Willamette Hwy 58 east for 11.4 miles to Dexter Dam and then turn right at the sign for Lost Creek. After 3.7 miles turn left across a semi-hidden bridge onto signed Eagles Rest Rd. After about 7.8 miles on this windy road you will come to a fork in the road. A hiker symbol marks the road to the left Road 20-1-14. After about a mile you will see a gravel parking outcrop on the right hand side of the road. If you want to do the shorter hike you will keep going for another 1.5 miles of pavement and another 3.5 miles of gravel. At the far end of a fenced tree farm, turn left onto Road 1721 and almost immediately onto Road 941. After .4 miles you will see the trail head sign on the right.
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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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