Grizzly Peak Loop Trail

June 24, 2016

The Grizzly Peak Loop is one of our favorite trails and we typically hike it each year.  So we drove to Ashland and took advantage of some beautiful weather for another opportunity to hike at Grizzly Peak.

It's a sign that it's hiking time!

As we arrived at the trailhead parking lot, there were only two other cars.  As we got out of our car and prepared to start hiking, three more cars arrived.  Later when we finished our hike, there were over a dozen cars.  This is a very popular and beautiful hike!

View of Mt McLoughlin 

The trail leading to the summit loop is a slow and easy climb with long stretches between switchbacks.  Along the way you are treated to views of Mt McLoughlin and the trail is lined with various plants and wildflowers.  One such bloom that we have never seen while hiking is Wild Ginger.  But alas, we finally found and photographed Wild Ginger!!!!!!  As we did so, some other hikers came along and wondered what we had found, so we proudly exclaimed that we had finally found the elusive Wild Ginger bloom. Needless to say, they began photographing Wild Ginger too.

Finally, we found and photographed Wild Ginger!!!!

Columbia Windflower

We think this is Blue Stickweed

After hiking slightly over a mile, we arrived at the summit loop.  Our preference, and the direction we took today, was clockwise around the summit.

The summit loop begins......

This loop takes you through woods & meadows, open & rocky areas, old growth woods, and provides some amazing viewpoints of the surrounding mountains and valleys.  Yup, it has a little bit of everything - one reason we hike this trail so much.

Rosy Indian Paintbrush?

Sulphur Flower

Coyote Mint

Trail through one of the meadows between forested segments

Nettleleaf Horsemint

After making our way through some woods and meadows, we took a break at one of the viewpoints.  It was in this rocky area that we discovered a Pitcairn cairn that was probably left here millions of years ago by our ancestors.  So we decided to build one of own for future generations to enjoy.

The Pitcairn cairn built by our ancestors millions of years ago.

Our modern miniature Pitcairn cairn.

Even though we had already seen lots of flowers and varieties, we continued on to the meadows created by the East Antelope fire.  Here the wildflowers seemed to never stop.  Everywhere we looked there were wildflowers and bees.  It was beautiful and amazing. We had to stop numerous times just to take pictures so we could try to identify those we didn't know.  Since Katie doesn't like to stop on the trail, the meadows were probably her least favorite part of the hike.

Paintbrush

Salsify

Shortspur Sea Blush

Oregon Geranium

Eastwood Daisy?

Trail through the East Antelope Fire area

White Brodiaea (Fools Onion)

Narrowleaf Mule's Ear??

Having been out in the sun through most of the loop, the old growth section gave us a shade break.  It also had that great woods smell.  We passed a few large meadows and were treated to one more wildflower that we had not seen yet --- the Scarlet Gilia. Before finishing the loop, we also passed the actual Grizzly Peak summit.

View of large meadow from the Old Growth section of the loop

Scarlet Gilia

 Having completed the 3.4 mile loop, we descended down the trail back to the trailhead.  Along the way we were treated to numerous butterflies who had finally woke up and were now making their rounds to the all the wildflowers along the trail.

One of many butterflies along the trail

Even though we hike this trail almost yearly, it seems to always surprise us with something different and today was no exception.  We saw so many wildflower varieties for the first time, including the elusive Wild Ginger. Guess that is part of what makes hiking fun and exciting for us!

Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol