Tire Mountain
Painterly swaths of pink, yellow, and blue color the sloping meadows of Tire Mountain each June. The relatively easy trail cuts across a number of these meadows before eventually switchbacking up to the viewless summit (most people who come for the flowers skip this part). Since most of the trail lies a little below 4000′, there is an interesting mix of subalpine plants and low elevations annuals. After a wet spring, it is these annuals that put on a spectacular show and make this one of the best wildflower hikes in the Western Cascades.
Details
Trail: 4.2 miles round trip to a large meadow, 7.6 miles round trip to summit (3720–4329′)
Location: eastern Lane County; Willamette National Forest, Middle Fork Ranger District
USGS Map: Westfir West, Westfir East; T20S.R3E.S18
Habitats: meadow, forest, rock, seep
Bloom: May to July
Directions
From I-5, take exit 188a, and drive east on Hwy 58 a little ways past the milepost 31 marker. Take the left into Westfir onto Road 19, the Aufderheide, across from the Middle Fork Ranger Station. Drive 0.5 mile, take a left after crossing the bridge, and continue into Westfir. From the stop sign by the covered bridge in Westfir, continue straight on Hwy 19 for 4.6 miles until you get to the second bridge crossing the river. Turn left here onto Road 1912. Drive up 1912 for 6.6 miles till you reach an intersection of several roads. Stay straight on what is now Road 1910. Drive for 0.5 mile, staying to the right when 1910 and another road branch off to the left (you’ll now be on road 1911). You will see parking areas on either side of the road. The trail is on the left heading uphill to the west. It is also possible to take Road 1910 all the way up from Road 19 before the final stretch on 1911.
Plant Lists
based on 50 trips
plant list by genus • plant list by family
Blog Entries
https://westerncascades.com/tag/tire-mountain
Map
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