STRAWBERRY MOUNTAIN

The trail follows an old logging road to the divide where the peak of Strawberry Mountain can be seen to the north.  Flowers on the route include Lewisa pygmaea, Mimulus lewisii, Aquilegia formosa and the ubiquitous Phlox hoodii.  From the end of the old logging road, the trail ( called the Onion Creek Trail on the map) initially traverses steep slopes and then climbs through open burnt woodland to the base of the south ridge of Strawberry Mountain.  As the trail crosses the screes on the southeast side of the peak, several beautiful rare plants can be found including Epilobium obcordatum, Claytonia megarhiza and blue Collomia debilis v debilis shown in the photo above.  The trail reaches the top of a cliff overlooking the John Day valley and it is worth exploring for plants in the loose cliff face.   The north east ridge is then followed to the top of Strawberry Mountain.  Penstemon procerus grows happily on the summit ridge.