Imaginative Oregon Staycations: Table Rock Wilderness

Looking East from our farm, when the Cascades are not obscured by clouds or haze, I always look for Table Rock. My kids grew up hearing me sigh:

"this would have been a perfect day to hike Table Rock".

They got sick of hearing me say that.

Now I catch them eyeing that place in the skyline and sighing too.

Near the top of Table Rock, Mt. Hood comes into view

The first mile or so of the trail was added after a landslide took out part of the access road. You will notice that the trail cuts up into the forest to get around the slide.

I love the young hemlocks growing there.

Then the trail re-connects with the old access road until you reach the original trailhead. This part is mostly flat.

Alders form long green tunnels reaching over the road for much of this distance.

And there are wildflowers.

From the original trailhead the route climbs steadily up, winding around in long switchbacks with occasional views. Go in early summer before field burning, and the summer forest fires thicken the skies with muddy smoke. Wear good hiking shoes, bring plenty of water.

The trail scrambles over a rock slide, and then under these basalt columns. Listen for the pikas who live in the rocks.
Wildflowers love these exposed sunny spaces.