Day Hike - Saddle Mountain (Oregon)

Please read leader notes and be aware of meeting/travel time prior to registering.

Participants should be experienced hikers having completed recent Mountaineers moderate hikes of similar or greater distance and elevation gain.  

Be comfortable hiking as a group at relaxed naturalist pace on gentle graded trails as well as ascending some moderately steep grades (some slopes sections will have chicken wire coverage and/or elevated cables) for botanical/ID steps for up to 5 miles RT with 1700’ gain including summit, or if group prefers, approx 4 miles RT including saddle with 1400’ gain.  

Hikers preferring faster-paced hike should choose a different hike.

Be prepared for safe travel on gentle to moderately steep grades along the trail with sturdy hiking shoes or light hiking boots, trekking pole(s) recommended, light rain gear.  Bring lunch or snacks and water (no water available).  Camera or cell camera encouraged.  

Oregon Wildflower Search app recommended.

In 2024, last half of May  was better than early/mid-June for viewing more abundant lower elevation forest flowers, checker lilies, kittentails, pink fawn lilies, shooting stars.  First half /mid-June was better for viewing more abundant blooms for larkspur, checker mallow, iris, and several May blooms were either not present or  past peak.   Monkeyflowers bloomed during  at least mid-May to mid-June.

Oregon Flora Plant list (352 species) for Saddle Mountain and identification photos/details:  https://oregonflora.org/checklists/checklist-php?cl=6&pid=1

From Oregon Flora abstract:  “Saddle Mountain is a basalt monolith that rises in sheer cliffs above the surrounding Coast Range forest and is buffeted by Pacific storms.  Saddle Mountain’s natural rock garden is reminiscent of traditional Chinese landscape paintings depicting mountains  and pines.  The flora is showy and diverse and includes a number of endemics and northern disjuncts.  Endemic or noteworthy species here include the Saddle Mountain bittercresses, frigid shooting star, copperbush, fringed kittentails, and Saddle Mountain saxifrage.”

Link to interesting research paper on “The Summit Vegetation of Saddle Mountain, Oregon Coast Range” from PDX Scholar:  https://search.app/YDDfA2tMqejJaohg7

Another helpful resource is an iNaturalist species checklist for Saddle Mountain.

Toilets available at trailhead.

Currently, Oregon State Park Day Use parking pass is not required at Saddle Mountain State Natural Area.

Camping accommodations available at Henry Rierson Spruce Run campground (non-reservable Clatsop State Forest camp) or Stub Stewart State Park (reservable).

Alternate day hike opportunities at Saddle Mountain available on May 23 (Fri) and June 14 (Sat) led by Linda for Native Plant Society of Oregon.  Contact leader for NPSO hike info/signup.

Hiking guidebooks:  100 Hikes / Travel Guide Oregon Coast & Coast Range (William Sullivan), 200 Classic Hikes in Oregon (Douglas Lorain), Hiking Oregon’s Geology (Ellen Morris Bishop).

9:00 am Saddle Mountain trailhead

Be aware of approximate travel time/distance to Saddle Mountain trailhead:  

From Seattle:  298 miles, 3 hrs 24 min.  Via Longview to OR-30, OR-47, US-26 west.

From Olympia:  136 miles, 2 hrs 31 min.  Via Longview, OR-30, OR-47, US-26 west.

From Portland:  64 miles, 68 minutes.  Via US 26 west.