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Pansy Lake
On a hot and sunny day in late August I drove to the Pansy Lake Trailhead on the north side of the Bull of the Woods Wilderness. This is a little-used area but very scenic.
Pansy Lake was my first destination and did not disappoint. As I enjoyed the beauty of the setting, a bald eagle flew low nearby. I’m guessing it was trying to scare one of the ducks on the Lake into flying.
After leaving the Lake, I continued to ascend until reaching the ridge top where the forest became mainly mountain hemlocks and sub-alpine firs. The huckleberry bushes were loaded with tasty berries.
In a couple of miles I turned north, reaching the Bull of the Woods Lookout after a steep ascent. The Lookout remains but is no longer manned. The views were extraordinary, extending from Mt. Hood in the north, to Big Slide Mountain in the east, to Ollalie Butte and Mt. Jefferson to the southeast, and to the Three Sisters and Three-fingered Jack to the south.
After spending some time enjoying a snack and talking to a family backpacking through the area (the only other people seen on the hike), I began the loop back to the Trailhead. After descending about one mile to the north, I took a rough trail back down to the Pansy Basin.
It had been a long time since the blowdowns had been cleared from the trail. I spent a seemingly endless amount of time crawling over, under and around trail obstructions. About half way down I took a break at small and brushy Dickey Lake.
After reaching the main trail to Pansy Lake again, it was an easy but hot one mile hike to the car. By the time I returned to the Trailhead it was 87 degrees in the shade. Too hot to be hiking!
The final approach to the lookout
Pansy Lake
Ripe Huckleberries (Black Bear Heaven)
Mt. Hood from the Lookout
It’s way too early for Vine Maple to be picking up its autumn colors
Mt. Jefferson from the Lookout site
Dickey Lake
Lots of recent wildfire damage on the ridge tops
Into the Wilderness
Pleasant stretch of trail below the Lookout
John, I love the picture of the Vine Maple with its autumn colors – very bright and beautiful and what a contrast to the landscape around it. When do they normally start getting their autumn colors? The pictures of the Mt Hood and Mt. Jefferson are particularly breathtaking. Thanks for sharing!
Vine maple and huckleberry leaves start turning colors at the higher elevations first. But when I start seeing the bright reds, oranges and yellows in late summer in the sub-alpine areas, it makes me yearn for a few weeks more of summer weather and wildflowers.
Another stunning PNW hike, thanks so much John for bringing us along. I admire your intrepid hiking and the glorious surroundings.
Thanks Jet. We seemingly have endless pocket wilderness areas to explore.