Camping Trip to Coffin and Bachelor Mountains
July 8–10, 2011
Coffin and Bachelor Mountains stand right next to each other just west of Mt. Jefferson in Linn County. Loren Russell first introduced them to me about 8 years ago. They are both wonderful places to look at wildflowers although each has a slightly different character. Coffin Mountain is the site of an active fire lookout, and both mountains have a fabulous view of Mt. Jefferson and much of the Cascades.
The giant cliffs and huge meadows of Coffin Mountain can be seen from the ridge on Bachelor Mountain
Each trail is only about 3 miles or so round trip and about 1000’ of elevation gain. It is quite possible to do both in the same day. I’ve done them the same day several times as a day trip from Lane County, but it will be much more relaxing since we’ll be camping nearby. If some people aren’t up to doing both, they can just do one. It will also be possible for people (from the Eugene and Corvallis areas anyway) to join us for a day hike if they leave early or meet us for the second hike.
Helianthella uniflora, Penstemon procerus, and Gilia capitata on Coffin Mt. 6/29/04
Both hikes are mostly open with only a few patches of woods. The trail at Coffin passes through huge sloping meadows largely filled with beargrass on its way up to the lookout. Large swathes of small-flowered penstemon (Penstemon procerus) should be peaking at the end of June. Little sunflower (Helianthella uniflora), the gorgeous bright yellow composite so common east across the Great Basin into the Rockies but quite rare on the west side of the Cascades grows in abundance on both mountains.The ridge is quite rocky and a great place to see rock plants like cliff penstemon (Penstemon rupicola) and sulphur buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum). Near the lookout, lingering snow patches may hold some of the last snowmelt species like steer’s head (Dicentra uniflora) and turkey peas (Orogenia fusiformis). On the humongous cliffs of Coffin grow Cliff paintbrush (Castilleja rupicola) and Douglasia laevigata, although they may be out of reach for closeup photography.
The trailhead at Bachelor is only a mile or so farther down the road. It begins in the woods but quickly opens up to reveal an even more stunning view of Mt. Jefferson. A large population of skyrocket (Ipomopsis aggregata) is the scene of frenzied territorial disputes among the local hummingbirds. As the trail reaches the ascending ridge, the landscape becomes more like a moonscape. This is home to wonderful patches of Phlox diffusa and more buckwheats. Beyond this is a relict forest of bleached trees from an old fire. The trail splits and goes up to the rocky summit to the left. To the right, with no more elevation gain, another trail crosses a floriferous south-facing slope on the east flank of the mountain. This is a wonderful place to watch butterflies.
Drosera anglica (or hybrids) grow en masse at Parrish Lake Bog
For Sunday, we will check out some entirely different scenery. A little farther south is Parrish Lake Bog. Along the edge of this pretty lake is an amazing floating bog covered with both species of sundews (Drosera rotundifolia and D. anglica) and numerous other rare bog and aquatic plants. The trail is only a half mile down the hill to the lake, so it might be worth bringing rubber boots if you want to get a close look. Otherwise it is possible to walk carefully around the edges. A short ways away is Daly Lake, another small lake with a mile-long loop trail. If we’re lucky, we may get a nice show of rhododendrons and bunchberry, both abundant here.
If anyone thinks they might show up early on Friday, I will be exploring the area around Park Creek (lots of wonderful flowers along a beautiful creek), just a couple of miles off of Hwy 22 even farther south but still north of Santiam Junction. Then I’ll meet everyone at the Marion Forks Campground at the Fish Hatchery. There are two sections to the campground. I actually prefer the sites on the left just as you enter, as it is right on the creek. There are more sites beyond the Fish Hatchery if these are taken, however.
Anyone interested in coming for either the whole camping trip or just a day hike, please contact me at 541-937-1401 or president@nargsemerald.org, so we’ll know who to expect. Bring food, water, good shoes, sunscreen, and so on.
Plant Lists
Downloadable plant lists for all these sites can be found at my personal website Mountain Plants of the Western Cascades.
Penstemon rupicola on Coffin Mountain, with Bachelor and Mt. Jefferson beyond
Schedule
Friday afternoon:
Optional botanizing at Park Creek
Meet at Marion Forks Campground
Saturday morning:
Leave the campground by 9am to drive to Coffin Mountain. We’ll spend the first half of the day up there and then head over to Bachelor between 1 and 2 pm. People can go as far as they like on the second hike. There is plenty to see all along the trail. We’ll return to the campground for dinner and relaxing when we feel like it.
Sunday morning:
Pack up and leave the campground 9am (or so) and head south to Parrish Lake Bog and Daly Lake. Head home whenever you like. It’s probably about 2 hours back to Eugene from here.
Directions
To Marion Forks Campground: Travel on Hwy 22 to Marion Forks (15.1 miles north of Santiam Junction). Look for the signs for the Fish Hatchery on the east side of the road. It’s just south of the restaurant on the west side of the road.
To Coffin Mountain: Travel on Hwy 22 to Rd 11, Straight Creek Rd (12.4 miles north of Santiam Junction or 2.7 miles south of Marion Forks campground, between mileposts 69 and 70). Go 4.1 miles, then turn right at second junction of Rd 1168 (sign can be hard to read). After 3.8 miles look for small spur road 450 to the left. The parking pulloff and trailhead is just past this intersection.
From Coffin to Bachelor: Get back on Rd 1168 and continue another .7 mile. Turn left onto Road 430. In .5 mile the road deadends at the trailhead.
To Parrish Lake: Drive 7.6 miles south of Marion Forks (7.5 miles north of Santiam Junction) on Hwy 22 . Turn west onto Parrish Lake Rd 2266. Follow this for 3.3 paved miles and then at the intersection of 2047, continue straight for 1.9 gravel miles to a trailhead and pullout on the left (south) side of the road. For Daly Lake, head back on 2266 for 1/4 mile to the intersection of Rd 450. Follow this north for .4 mile to the trailhead on the right.