Grant County High Point Trip Report
Strawberry Mountain (9,040+ ft)
Date: July 3, 2003
Author: Dean Molen
Four hours after I left home, I arrived at the road's end trail head. I found that almost all of the road was
paved except for the last 8.8 miles. It was a nice day for this hike as it wasn't too warm or cold and the bug
problem was non-existent.
The first mile follows an old road and is mainly downhill and you lose probably 350 feet of elevation before
you come to the trail that leads to Strawberry Mountain. The first full view impacted me a little bit as it
looked bigger than I thought it would be. The trail side-hills for about a mile, gaining a little elevation and
then losing it before you finally start the real work of going uphill. The forest fire of a couple years ago left
its mark as burned trees are all around you in this section of the trail. The trail makes a couple switchbacks
up and intersects with the trail that comes from Strawberry Lake. I encountered a little snow but the trail
across the face of the mountain had none which is very good. I feel that July is the best time to come visit
this mountain. The trail crosses the cliff face on the eastern side of the mountain and then levels a bit in
some stunted trees. Picking my way through some snow, it was obvious as to where the trail should go and
I found a path leading up the northern slope of the mountain to an absolutely perfect summit area.
Great views were enjoyed in all directions and I found a small flag that someone must have recently put up
there in anticipation for the 4th of July celebration. I placed the flag in its rocky enclosure and took a few
pics of it. I had a quick lunch, took a GPS reading, some photos and hoofed it back down the trail as I had
many more miles to travel today.
It took me 1 hour 40 minutes up and 1 hour and 15 minutes down. The worst part was the final mile that
sloped uphill most of the way. Elevation gain, thanks to the ups and down was probably around 1,400-1,500 feet.
A great hike in an unknown part of Oregon. One of the nicer county highpoints I had visited recently.
Photos from this hike are in my
fototime Oregon album.