Malheur N. F.
July 6, 2002
The Monument Rock Wilderness may be found at the southeastern corner to the Blue Mountains of Oregon. It is approximately 42 miles southeast of John Day, OR. The last 10 miles to the wilderness area are on unimproved roadway, much of which is very rough. Take care if you visit in a low slung passenger car!
The monument is centered around several basalt bluffs or outcrops with outstanding views of the eastern Blue Mountains as well as the eastern Oregon high "desert". Except for hunting season, it is rarely visited (only 4 persons enjoying the wilderness on a Fourth of July weekend during this visit!).
Most people drive to the manned lookout tower to enjoy the views. The last switchback below the lookout provides parking space for several vehicles for those wishing to explore the area on foot or on horseback. An old road traverses the wilderness and allows one to get a good sense of its wildness. Cross-country explorations are also possible here, but remember that distances are deceiving here, as one must negotiate the sagebrush dominated landscape, which usually means hiking several steps to the side for every step forward. For those interested in scenery, allow several hours of hiking time. For those who are more adventurous, plan on spending5-6 hours to more thoroughly explore the land, and to visit the 3 main peaks in the wilderness. Several small, spring fed creeks flow downhill to the west and provide water, especially early in the season. I've seen one spring here which provides a small amount of water in early September.
Wildflowers should be in bloom here by early June, with a peak from late June into mid July. I If you wish to visit this wilderness early in the season, check with the Malheur National Forest for road conditions, as snow may cover the road into early June.
Rock Sword Fern: Polystichum (scopulinum?)
Grand Fir: Abies grandis
Subalpine Fir: Abies lasiocarpa
Western Larch: Larix occidentalis
Lodgepole Pine: Pinus contorta var. latifolia
Ponderosa Pine: Pinus ponderosa var. ponderosa
*Tolmie's Onion: Allium tolmiei
Swamp Onion: Allium validum (In bud)
Chocolate Lily: Fritillaria atropurpurea (past bloom)
*Panicled Death-camas: Toxicoscordion paniculatum
*Western Blue Flag: Iris missouriensis
*Piper's Golden Buckwheat: Eriogonum flavum var. piperi
*Wyeth Buckwheat: Eriogonum heracleoides var. heracleoides
*American Bistort: Bistorta bistortoides
*Alpine Fleeceflower: Aconogonon phytolaccifolium (var. ?)
*Nevada Lewisia: Lewisia nevadensis
*Pussypaws: Calyptridium umbellatum
*Stinging Nettles: Urtica dioica
*Prickly Sandwort: Eremogone aculeata
*Oregon Silene: Silene oregana
*Dwarf Larkspur: Delphinium depauperatum
*Straightbeak Buttercup: Ranunculus orthorhynchus var. platyphyllus
*Little Buttercup: Ranunculus uncinatus
*Holboell's Rock Cress: Arabis holboellii (var. ?)
*Mountain Tansymustard: Descurainea incisa ssp. incisa
Dagger Pod: Phoenicaulis cheiranthoides (In fruit)
*Brown's Peony: Paeonia brownii
Creeping Oregon Grape: Berberis repens
*Lance-leaf Stonecrop: Sedum lanceolatum var. lanceolatum
*Roundleaf Alumroot: Heuchera cylindrica var. alpina
*Smooth Prairie Star: Lithophragma glabrum
Wax Current: Ribes cereum var. cereum
Prickly Currant: Ribes lacustre
Serviceberry: Amelanchier alnifolia (var. ?)
*Broadpetal Strawberry: Fragaria virginana var. platypetala
*Large-leaved Avens: Geum macrophyllum var. perincisum
*Prairie Smoke: Geum triflorum var. ciliatum
*Sticky Cinquefoil: Potentilla glandulosa (var. ?)
*Graceful Cinquefoil: Potentilla gracilis var. elmeri
*Sibbaldia: Sibbaldia procumbens
Woolly Pod Milkvetch: Astragalus purshii (in fruit)
*Spurred Lupine: Lupinus arbustus (L. laxiflorus var. calcaratus)
*Long-stalked Clover: Trifolium longipes (var. ?)
*Goosefoot Violet: Viola purpurea ssp. venosa
Fireweed: Chamerion angustifolium
*Groundsmoke: Gayophytum species
*Gray's Lovage: Ligusticum grayi
*Mountain Sweet Cicely: Osmorhiza berteroi
*Western Sweet Cicely: Osmorhiza occidentalis
*Gairdner's Yampah: Perideridia gairdneri
*Sierra Snake Root: Sanicula graveolens
*Narrow-leaved Collomia: Collomia linearis
*Midget Phlox: Microsteris gracilis
*Brewer's Navarettia: Navarettia breweri
*Hood's Phlox: Phlox hoodii ?
*Skunk-leaved Polemonium: Polemonium californicum
*Ballhead Waterleaf: Hydrophyllum capitatum var. capitatum
*Silverleaf Phacelia: Phacelia hastata var. hastata
*Silky Phacelia: Phacelia sericea var. ciliosa
*Blue Stickseed: Hackelia micrantha
*Sagebrush Blue Bells: Mertensia oblongifolia
*Wavyleaf Paintbrush: Castilleja applegatei (var. pinetorum ?)
*Common Paintbrush: Castilleja miniata var. miniata
*Small-flowered Blue-eyed Mary: Collinsia parviflora
*Dwarf Monkeyflower: Mimulus nanus var. nanus
*Elephant's Head: Pedicularis groenlandica
*Taper-leaved Penstemon: Penstemon attenuatus var. palustris
*Shrubby Penstemon: Penstemon fruticosus var. fruticosus
*Speedwell: Veronica wormskjoldii ?
*Red Elderberry: Sambucus racemosa var. melanocarpa
*Mountain Snow Berry: Symphoricarpos oreophilus
*Yarrow: Achillea millefolium
*Orange Agoseris: Agoseris aurantiaca
Mountain Agoseris: Agoseris monticola ?
*Rosy Pussytoes: Antennaria rosea
*Hairy Arnica: Arnica mollis
Mountain Big Sagebrush: Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana (flower buds forming)
*Long-leaved Hawksbeard: Crepis acuminata
Green Rabbitbrush: Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus
*Cutleaf Daisy: Erigeron compositus var. discoidea
*Eaton's Shaggy Fleabane: Erigeron eatonii var. villosus
*Bloomer's Daisy: Erigeron bloomeri var. bloomeri
*Subalpine Daisy: Erigeron glacialis
*Woolly Sunflower: Eriophyllum lanatum var. integrifolium
Hawkweed: Hieracium species
*Nodding Microseris: Microseris nutans ?
*Woolly Groundsel: Packera cana
*Western Groundsel: Senecio integerrimus var. exaltatus
Arrowleaf Groundsel: Senecio triangularis
*Common Dandelion: Taraxacum officinale (Found primarily along the old road through the wilderness.)
Snowshoe Hare
Mountain Bluebirds & nest
Allen's Hummingbirds ?
Numerous Grasshoppers
A frenzy of mating butterflies