Wildflower Bloom Reports for Central & Eastern Oregon: 2008

Wildflower Bloom in Central & Eastern Oregon: June 28, 2008

Hells Canyon Rim Road: From the Hells Canyon Overlook to PO Saddle

Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

a view west from PO Saddle at the end of the Hells Canyon Rim Road, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area............June 28, 2008.

The photo above shows a view west from PO Saddle at the end of the Hells Canyon Rim Road, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area............June 28, 2008.

Hells Canyon Overlook is reached from Joseph, OR by heading east on Oregon 350. When the Wallowa Mt. Loop Road (FS Road 39) is reached, turn right and proceed uphill past Lick Creek Campground before descending gradually to the Imnaha River. Then turn right to keep on the Wallowa Mt. Loop Road (still FS Road 39) and proceed again uphill several miles past Blackhorse and Ollokot Campgrounds. Turn left (east) onto paved FS Road 3965 to reach Hells Canyon Overlook (Rest rooms, picnic area and interpretive signs plus a great view down into Hells Canyon and over to the Seven Devils Mts.). One can continue north along the Hells Canyon Rim on the now dirt (easily accessible by most passenger cars) road heading to PO Saddle where the road is closed to vehicles.

This study lists plants seen along this the Hells Canyon Rim Road to the north of the Hells Canyon Overlook.

* indicates flowers currently in bloom

* Cusick's Camas: Camassia cusickii -

* Glacier Lily: Erythronium grandiflorum -

* Douglas' Buckwheat: Eriogonum douglasii var. douglasii -

* Poke Knotweed: Aconogonon phytolaccifolium var. phytolaccifolium -

* Lance-leaf Spring Beauty: Claytonia lanceolata -

* Nevada Lewisia: Lewisia pygmaea var. nevadensis -

* Three-leaf Lewisia: Lewisia triphylla -

* Holboell's Rockcress: Arabis holboellii var. retrofracta -

* Daggerpod: Phoenicaulis cheiranthoides -

* Mountain Pennycress: Thlaspi montanum var. montanum -

* Gooseberryleaved Alumroot: Heuchera grossulariifolia var. grossulariifolia -

* Cusick's Serviceberry: Amelanchier alnifolia var. cusickii -

* Sticky Cinquefoil: Potentilla glandulosa var. intermedia -

* Bighead Clover: Trifolium macrocephalum -

* Stream Violet: Viola glabella -

* Goosefoot Violet: Viola purpurea -

* Sticky Phlox: Phlox viscida -

* Showy Jacob's Ladder: Polemonium californicum -

* Blue Stickseed: Hackelia micrantha -

* Harsh Paintbrush: Castilleja hispida -

* Shrubby Penstemon: Penstemon fruticosus var. serratus -

* Payette Penstemon: Penstemon payettensis -

* Wilcox's Penstemon: Penstemon wilcoxii -

* Hybrid Balsamroot: Balsamorhiza hirsuta x sagittata -

* Western Groundsel: Senecio integerrimus var. exaltatus -

* Woolly Goldenweed: Stenotus languinosus var. languinosus -

* White Mule's Ears: Wyethia helianthoides -

a view west towards the eastern slopes of the Wallowa Mts from the Hells Canyon Rim Road, about one mile north of the Hells Canyon Overlook, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.........June 28, 2008 - a view of the Seven Devils Mountains as seen from across Hells Canyon at Buck Point along the Hells Canyon Rim Road, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area..............June 28, 2008.

The photo at left shows a view west towards the eastern slopes of the Wallowa Mts from the Hells Canyon Rim Road, about one mile north of the Hells Canyon Overlook, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. The photo at right shows a view of the Seven Devils Mountains as seen from across Hells Canyon at Buck Point along the Hells Canyon Rim Road, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area..............June 28, 2008.
Paul Slichter