July 24, 2015 Greg Hill

Wild Mountain Flowers

Mt Hood Wildflowers Timberline Trail

2015 is going to be a dry summer on Mt. Hood. Higher elevation trails melted out early this year, and the snowfields that usually cover the meadows are already gone. As a result, much of the sub-alpine wildflower show is ahead of schedule this year.

As with any year, there will be a progression and a series of color peaks as different flowers bloom, but it may not last as long as most years, so get out to the mountains to see the wildflowers now!

I got up at the end of June to scout out conditions. I hiked back and forth along the Timberline Trail on Mt. Hood's west side, between Wy'East Basin and Timberline Lodge. I accessed the trail from the Top Spur Trail, and wildflowers on Bald Mountain set the stage for the show to come.

Mt Hood Wildflowers cat ear lily Mt Hood Wildflowers yellow composite flower Mt Hood Wildflowers penstemon
All of the usual suspects were out, including hairy white Cat's Ear Lily, sunny yellow Arnica, and blue Penstemon.

Mt Hood Wildflowers yarrow flowers Mt Hood Wildflowers red paintbrush Mt Hood Wildflowers lupine
Dainty white Yarrow, vibrant red Paintbrush, and and deep blue Lupine were also out.

Mt Hood Wildflowers lark spur Mt Hood Wildflowers yellow buckwheat flowers Mt Hood Wildflowers bear grass lily
Lark Spur, White and Yellow Buckwheats and Bear Grass lined the trails.

Mt Hood Wildflowers avalanche lily
Avalanche Lilies were out in abundance as we climbed the ridge toward McNeil Point.

Mt Hood Wildflowers shooting star flowers Mt Hood Wildflowers monkey flower Mt Hood Wildflowers elephant head lousewort
Shooting Stars, Monkey Flowers and Elephant Heads bloomed in wet stream-side meadows.

Mt Hood Wildflowers paradise park
There were many more flowers blooming. Not pictured, but also seen: Aster-daisies, Columbine, Rhododendron, Pipsissewa, Mountain Ash, Pussy Paws, Pink Heather, Bistort, Sitka Valerian, Partridge Food, Senecio, and more!