Massed bloom of western groundsel (Senecio integerrimus var. exaltatus in bloom on the south side of Bald Butte, Fremont-Winema National Forest...........July 31, 2020.
Bald Butte is a scenic mountain located between Bly and Paisly in the Fremont-Winema National Forest. At 7536', it affords a 360 degree view of the south-central section of this forest with Campbell and Dead Horse Rims and Gearhart Mountain dominating the view to the south, Newberry Crater, Hager Mountain and Winter Rim the view to the north, Sycan Marsh to the northwest, the Cascades (from Mount Shasta to the Three Sisters) to the west, and to the east, Morgan Butte and Round Mountain with glimpses further east to the Abert Rim, Drakes Peak and Crane Mountain, with the South Warners visible in northern California too.
As much of the peak is non-forested, the flora is different than at nearby sites. It's thus a good stop for plant enthusiasts wishing to see plants of more open habitats. It is possible to drive FS Road 450 to the summit, though there's a significant ditch caused by erosion on one side of the road which could cause serious problems for smaller cars if the drivers are not paying attention to the road. There's also one rocky patch that vehicles must cross that could high center a low slung car. If one has the time, I'd recommend taking the day and parking the vehicle near the junction of FS Rd 450 and FS Rd 3411. There's a riparian area that parallels the road just to the west that is worth exploring, and in June, the slopes along the road are spectacular with flowering plants!
The Bald Butte lookout at the summit can be rented (paved walkways for wheelchair access), though it is currently closed due to COVID 19 restrictions (2020).
Directions to Trailhead: From La Pine, drive east on Oregon Highway 31. At Silver Lake, OR, turn right (south) onto paved FS Road 28 (East Bay Road). Drive south on FS Rd 28 to FS Rd 3411. Turn right onto grave FS Rd 3411 and drive about one and one-half miles to primitive FS Rd 450. The drive (or hike) to the summit is a little under 2 miles. Note that once you are driving up FS Rd 450, there are few places to pull over or turn around (in case you get psyched out by the road). Note also that much of FS Rd 28 is nicely paved, but there are long sections (especially the section between FS Roads 29 and 30) that have significant potholes or worse, places where only one-third of a lane of pavement remains. This means that you want to drive attentively, especially if you have a small to medium-sized passenger vehicle. Traffic is light once you are south of the exit for the East Bay Campground.
From Paisley, OR: From OR 31 in downtown Paisley, head west on County Road 2-08 for over a mile or so. Turn right onto FS Rd 3315 (Google Maps has this mislabeled as Rd 331). Follow FS Rd 3315 over the crest of the mountain range to paved FS Road 28. Turn left onto FS Rd 28 for less than half a mile and turn right onto FS Rd 3411 for about 1.5 miles to FS Rd 450. Note: FS Rd 3315 is windy, but if it's like other gravel roads on the forest, it should be in good condition for driving, especially in late Spring into Summer.
Weather: Temperatures in the mid 70s with mostly clear skies and a light wind.
* indicates the wildflower is currently in bloom.
California White Fir: Abies concolor x Abies grandis
Lodgepole Pine: Pinus contorta var. latifolia
Ponderosa Pine: Pinus ponderosa var. ponderosa
Quaking Aspen: Populus tremuloides
* Sandberg's Bluegrass: Poa secunda var. secunda
Sagebrush Mariposa: Calochortus macrocarpus var. macrocarpus
* Mission Bells: Fritillaria atropurpurea - Fading out of bloom.
California False Hellebore: Veratrum californicum var. californicum
* American Bistort: Bistorta bistortoides
* Modoc Sulfur Flower Buckwheat: Eriogonum umbellatum (var. modocense ?) - Beginning to bloom.
* Pussypaws: Calyptridium umbellatumi
Hornseed Buttercup: Ceratocephala testiculata - Spikey fruits are being spread.
* Upland Larkspur: Delphinium nuttallianum
* Secund Rockcress: Boechera retrofracta
* Sicklepod Rockcress: Boechera sparsiflora
* Flixweed: Descurainia sophia
* Spring Whitlow-grass: Draba verna - Fading out of bloom.
* Daggerpods: Phoenicaulis cheiranthoides - Blooming next to snow patches on the north side of the peak. Plants with numerous fruits forming at the summit.
* Small-flowered Prairie Star: Lithophragma parviflorum
* Wax Currant: Ribes cereum var. cereum
Saskatoon Serviceberry: Amelanchier alnifolia (var. alnifolia ?)
* Nevada Cinquefoil: Drymocallis lactea var. lactea
* Prairie Smoke: Geum triflorum ssp. ciliatum
* Balloon Milkvetch: Astragalus whitneyi var. confusus
* Spurred Lupine: Lupinus arbustus or Silver Lupine: Lupinus argenteus var. heteranthus - Beginning to bloom.
* Upland Yellow Violet: Viola praemorsa ssp. linguifolia
* Goosefoot Violet: Viola purpurea ssp. venosa
* Rydberg's Geranium: Geranium viscosissimum var. incisum
* Hairstem Groundsmoke: Gayophytum ramosissimum
Nevada Desert Parsley: Lomatium nevadense - Fruits forming.
* Barestem Desert Parsley: Lomatium nudicaule
* Nine-leaf Desert Parsley: Lomatium triternatum var. triternatum
* Western Sweet Cicely: Osmorhiza occidentalis
False Mermaid: Floerkea proserpinacoides
* Narrow-leaved Collomia: Collomia linearis
* Scarlet Gilia: Ipomopsis aggregata ssp. aggregata - Beginning to bloom.
* Midget Phlox: Microsteris gracilis - Fading out of bloom.
Ballhead Waterleaf: Hydrophyllum capitatum var. alpinum
* Variedleaf Phacelia: Phacelia heterophylla ssp. virgata
* Silky Phacelia: Phacelia sericea var. ciliosa
* Leafy Bluebell: Mertensia foliosa (M. oblongifolia)
* Wavy-leaf Paintbrush: Castilleja applegatei var. pinetorum
* Green-tinged Paintbrush: Castilleja chlorotica
* Small-flowered Blue-eyed Mary: Collinsia parviflora
Blue Elderberry: Sambucus cerulea
* Mountain Snowberry: Symphoricarpos oreophilus
* California Valerian: Valeriana californica ?
* Yarrow: Achillea millefolium
Mountain Agoseris: Agoseris monticola
* Low Pussytoes: Antennaria dimorpha
* Rosy Pussytoes: Antennaria pulvinata
Low Sagebrush: Artemisia arbuscula ssp. arbuscula
Mountain Big Sagebrush: Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana
* Northwest Balsamroot: Balsamorhiza deltoidea - Past peak bloom.
Yellow Rabbitbrush: Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus ssp. viscidiflorus
* Elk Thistle: Cirsium scariosum
* Baker's Hawksbeard: Crepis bakeri
Western Hawksbeard: Crepis occidentalis - In bud.
Gray Rabbitbrush: Ericamaeria nauseosa (var. speciosus ?)
* Plantain-leaved Daisy: Erigeron eatonii(var. plantagineus ?
Yarrow-leaved Eriophyllum: Eriophyllum lanatum var. achilleoides - In bud.
Scouler's Hawkweed: Hieracium scouleri
* Nodding Microseris: Microseris nutans
* Western Groundsel: Senecio integerrimus var. exaltatus
Mule Deer
Turkey Vultures
Northern Flicker
American Robins
Mountain Bluebirds
Lazuli Bunting
Pine Siskin
Anise Swallowtail
Boisduval's Blue
Milbert's Tortoiseshells