Hike 2: Rooster Rock

 Distance: 10.8 miles out and back

Elevation Gain: 3,700 feet

Trailhead elevation: 1,261 feet

Trail high point: 4,559 feet

Season: May - November

Best: June - July

Map: Opal Creek Wilderness (Imus)

Directions:

• From the junction of OR 213 and OR 211 on the western edge of Molalla, drive 2.1 miles through town to a junction with South Mathias Road. Veer right on South Mathias Road here.

• Drive this road for 1 mile south to a junction with S Feyrer Park Road, and veer left.

• Continue on this road for 1.6 miles until you cross the Molalla River and meet South Dickey Prairie Road.

• Turn right on Dickey Prairie Road and drive 5.4 miles to a sign on your right marking the Molalla River Recreation area.

• Turn right and cross the Molalla River. Here the road curves to the left immediately and becomes the Molalla River Road.

• Continue on this road for 11 miles to a junction with the Horse Creek Road on your right.

• Continue straight (ignoring the road veering downhill to the right) and drive another 1.7 miles to a junction with the road to Table Rock.

• Ignore the fork to the left signed for Table Rock, and turn right on Rooster Rock Road.

• Cross the Table Rock Fork of the Molalla River and immediately turn into the Old State Trailhead on the left.

Hike: It’s a long way up to Rooster Rock, but when you get there you won’t regret making the trek. The pinnacle stands above fields of wildflowers, while you have outstanding views out to Mount Jefferson and the rest of the central Cascades. Even on a hot day, a gentle breeze cools you off while you relax for lunch up on this scenic ridgetop. Though there are other, easier hikes in the Table Rock Wilderness, this one is the closest to Portland, the easiest to find and perhaps the least crowded.

Begin on the High Ridge Trail, a well-maintained path that climbs uphill above the Table Rock Fork of the Molalla River. Bright orange Tiger lilies and pink rhododendrons add color to this lower section of the trail in June and July. Continue uphill on a long series of switchbacks in second-growth forest until the trail opens up in a series of south-facing meadows with spectacular wildflower displays. The flower show here is fascinating, with an unusual mix of flowers that generally tend to grow in far drier climates. Look for little yellow sunflowers, blue-eyed Mary, red paintbrush and rosy plectritis, a pinkish poofball flower that grows in great profusion here. Re-enter the forest and soon reach a crossing of a wide trail that was once a road. Continue straight on the High Ridge Trail.

You will steeply switchback uphill from here until you reach the bottom of a long series of rock outcrops, which you parallel as the trail begins to level out. The High Ridge Trail then follows this ridgecrest through a forest of second-growth lodgepole pine. Along the way, you’ll pass a series of gigantic anthills – don’t rile the millions within! At a little less than 5 miles from the Old Bridge Trailhead, the trail emerges into the huge summit meadows below Rooster Rock. In June and July, these meadows feature one of the most impressive wildflower displays in this part of the Cascades. Look for masses of yellow sunflowers, red paintbrush, blue and purple larkspur, lupine, fuzzy cat’s ears, and in favorable years, huge white stalks of beargrass. The High Cascades spread out to the south, with views out to the peaks of the Bull of the Woods Wilderness and south to the Three Sisters.

Reach a junction with the Saddle Trail and turn left. Head up to the top of the ridge below Rooster Rock, where you reach another junction. Turn left and hike this short trail up to a rocky viewpoint known as Chicken Rock. Here the view is considerably better than the meadow below, with views north to Mounts Hood, Saint Helens, Adams and Rainier and views south to the Three Sisters. A better lunch spot would be hard to find in this area.

When you are done, return the way you came or arrange a car shuttle to one of the other trailheads in the area.

EXTENDING YOUR TRIP:

If you have the time and energy, consider extending your trip to check out historic Pechuck Lookout. The views aren’t as good as at Rooster Rock but it’s mostly level all the way to Pechuck. In winter people have been known to snowshoe to the lookout this way - even in winter, expect company (and mice) at the lookout. For more information, see Hike 3.