[Wildflower Bloom in Central and Eastern Oregon: 2022]

Wildflowers Along the Fremont National Recreation Trail #160

from the Swale Trailhead south to the southeast corner of Crook Peak

Fremont-Winema National Forest

July 17, 2022

A view uphill to the south along the Fremont National Recreation Trail #160 on the east side of Crook Peak, Fremont-Winema National Forest...........July 17, 2022.

A view uphill to the south along the Fremont National Recreation Trail #160 on the east side of Crook Peak, Fremont-Winema National Forest...........July 17, 2022. Both Goose Lake strict buckwheat (Eriogonum stricum var. anserinum) and Oregon sunshine (Eriophyllum lanatum var. achilleoides) are abundant in this photo.

Directions to the Viewpoint:

From Lakeview, OR, drive east on Oregon Highway 140 headed towards Adel, OR. Pass the Warner Ski Area and cross over the crest of Warner Pass. Continue downhill for several miles and at the first 4-way paved road junction, turn left onto paved FS Road 3615. Drive uphill north into the forest, past the Walker Trailhead, past Bull Prairie and Mud Creek Forest Camp (potable water). Continue north, passing the trailhead for Crooked Creek. Turn right (north) onto gravel FS Rd 3720 and descend gradually through forest to the trailhead (unsigned) which is 1-1.5 miles east of Can Forest Camp. You'll note red, white and blue National Recreation Trail markers on the trees where the trail crosses the road. Turn left onto a spur road for about 200 yards to large turn around, large enough for horse trailers. There is no water or vault toilet at the trailhead.

The portion of the Fremont National Recreation Trail that descends north towards Honey Creek before climbing to Vee Lake leaves from the NW corner of the turnaround.

For the south bound portion of the trail follow the spur road south and cross FS Rd 3720. The faint trail descends through riparian meadows and aspens (follow ribbons hung in 2018) before veering left and following the east side of Swale Creek for about one quarter mile. Easily cross the creek (flows year round...filter it) and the trail begins climbing the northeastern slopes of Crook Peak, passing through several old clearcuts and areas thinned several years ago. The trail generally is fairly easy to follow, but gets light use so watch for the National Recreation Trail markers or ribbons on trees, or the slight depression of the trail itself.

The trail climbs at a fairly comfortable grade and switchbacks up the northeast slopes of Crook Peak before climbing the eastern slopes which afford nice views east over the Warner Valley towards Hart Mt. At the SE corner of Crook Peak, there's a snow patch that lingers into early to mid-July and can be dangerous to cross due to steepness. We carefully hiked down around it. The trail descends the south slopes of Crook Peak (the only area we passed with weedy grasses) to a forested pass between Crook and McDowell Peaks. We then switchbacked up the NW corner of McDowell Pk, left the forest, and climbed through open meadows of flowers to the SW where we turned around. McDowell is proably the easier of the peaks along this route to climb.

Generally, the route is fairly easy to follow, but especially inexperienced hikers will want to pay attention in places the trail is hard to distinguish from the surrounding terrain or where it passes across roads or thinned forest areas. We always carry a GPS so we can retrace our steps if we lose the trail. Note: The map on our GPS showed the old route around the west side of Crook Peak, which has not been in use for many years.

Weather: Temperatures in the mid 60s with light winds in the morning gaining to very gusty winds in the afternoon and mostly clear skies, low 80s.


* indicates the wildflower is currently in bloom.

Brown-eyed Wolf Lichen: Letharia columbiana

California White Fir: Abies concolor x Abies grandis

Western Juniper: Juniperus occidentalis

Western White Pine: Pinus monticola

Ponderosa Pine: Pinus ponderosa var. ponderosa

Quaking Aspen: Populus tremuloides

* Quackgrass: Agropyron repens

* Lemmon's Needlegrass: Eriocoma lemmonii var. lemmonii

* Smooth Brome: Bromus inermis

* Mountain Brome: Bromus sitchensis var. marginatus

* Cheatgrass: Bromus tectorum

* Bottlebrush Squirreltail: Elymus elymoides

Blue Wildrye: Elymus glaucus ssp. glaucus

* Idaho Fescue: Festuca idahoensis

* Bulbous Bluegrass: Poa bulbosa

Nevada Bluegrass: Poa secunda var. juncifolia

Sandberg's Bluegrass: Poa secunda var. secunda

Duckweed: Lemna sp.

* Tapertip Onion: Allium accuminatum - Beginning to bloom at Swale Trailhead.

* Sierra Onion: Allium campanulatum

Sagebrush Mariposa: Calochortus macrocarpus ssp. macrocarpus

Mission Bells: Fritillaria atropurpurea - Fruits forming.

False Solomon Seal: Maianthemum racemosum ssp. amplexicaule

Panicled Deathcamas: Toxicoscordion paniculatum - Fruits forming.

California False Hellebore: Veratrum californicum (var. californicum ?)

* Mat Buckwheat: Eriogonum cespitosum - Fading out of bloom.

* Tall Buckwheat: Eriogonum elatum

* Parsnipflower Buckwheat: Eriogonum heracleoides

* Goose Lake Wild Buckwheat: Eriogonum strictum var. anserinum

* Warner Mountains Sulphur Flower Buckwheat: Eriogonum umbellatum var. glaberrimum - Creamy-white flowers.

* Modoc Sulfur Flower Buckwheat: Eriogonum umbellatum var. modocense

* Douglas' Knotweed: Polygonum douglasii

* Prickly Sandwort: Eremogone aculeata

* Slender Mountain Sandwort: Eremogone capillaris var. americana

* Sticky Starwort: Pseudostellaria jamesiana

* Upland Larkspur: Delphinium nuttallianum

Little Buttercup: Ranunculus uncinatus

Creeping Oregon Grape: Berberis repens

Brown's Peony: Paeonia brownii

* Spearleaf Stonecrop: Sedum lanceolatum var. lanceolatum

Desert Alyssum: Alyssum desertorum - Fruits forming.

Hairystem Rockcress: Boechera pauciflora ?

* Secund Rockcress: Boechera retrofracta

Sicklepod Rockcress: Boechera sparsiflora

Daggerpods: Phoenicaulis cheiranthoides - Fruits forming.

Wax Currant: Ribes cereum var. cereum

Mountain Currant: Ribes montigenum

Sticky Gooseberry: Ribes viscosissimum

Mountain Mahogany: Cercocarpus ledifolius var. intermontanus - Past bloom.

* Nevada Cinquefoil: Drymocallis lactea var. lactea

Prairie Smoke: Geum triflorum var. ciliatum - Plumed fruits forming.

* Slender Cinquefoil: Potentilla gracilis var. fastigiata - Swale Creek

Bittercherry: Prunus emarginatus var. emarginatus

Antelope Bitterbrush: Purshia tridentata

* Threadstalk Milkvetch: Astragalus filipes

Woollypod Milkvetch: Astragalus purshii var. purshii - Fruits forming.

* Lanszwert's Pea: Lathyrus lanszwertii var. lanszwertii

* Kellogg's Spurred Lupine: Lupinus argenteus var. heteranthus

* Goosefoot Violet: Viola purpurea ssp. venosa

* Snowbrush: Ceanothus velutinus var. velutinus - Fading out of bloom.

* Oregon Checkermallow: Sidalcea oregana

* Sticky Geranium: Geranium viscosissimum var. incisum

Fireweed: Chamaenerion angustifolium

* Diamond Clarkia: Clarkia rhomboidea

Tall Annual Eveningprimrose: Epilobium brachycarpum

* Spreading Groundsmoke: Gayophytum diffusum

* Nineleaf Biscuitroot: Lomatium brevifolium-triternatum

Barestem Desert Parsley: Lomatium nudicaule

Common Sweet Cicely: Osmorhiza berteroi

* Western Sweet Cicely: Osmorhiza occidentalis

* Large-flowered Collomia: Collomia grandiflora

* Narrowleaved Collomia: Collomia linearis

* Yellow-staining Collomia: Collomia tinctoria - In bloom at the Swale Trailhead.

* Scarlet Gilia: Ipomopsis aggregata ssp. aggregata -

Ballhead Gilia: Ipomopsis congesta var. palmifrons - Past bloom.

* Harkness' Flaxflower: Leptosiphon harknessii

* Granite Phlox: Linanthus pungens

* Mountain Navarretia: Navarretia divaricata

* Spreading Phlox: Phlox diffusa- Fading out of bloom except at swales where snow stayed late into eary summer. ?????????

* Moss Phlox: Phlox muscoides - Fading out of bloom.

Austin's Small-flowered Nemophila: Nemophila parviflora var. austiniae

* Purple Phacelia: Phacelia hastata var. alpina

* Cryptanth: Cryptantha affinis or C. torreyana - Small flowers. Smooth, ovate nutlets.

* Blue Stickseed: Hackelia micrantha

Puccoon: Lithospermum ruderale - Past bloom.

Toiyabe Bluebells: Mertensia cuscickii

Leafy Bluebells: Mertensia oblongifolia

* Nettleleaf Horsemint: Agastache uricifolia var. urticifolia

Western Mountain Balm: Monardella odoratissima

* Wavy-leaf Paintbrush: Castilleja applegatei var. pinetorum

* Narrow-leaved Paintbrush: Castilleja linariifolia

* Hairy Paintbrush: Castilleja pilosa var. pilosa

Yakima Birdbeak: Cordylanthus capitatus ? - In bud.

* Common Monkeyflower: Erythranthe guttata

* Copeland's Owlclover: Orthocarpus cuspidatus var. copelandii

* Hidden-flowered Owlclover: Orthocarpus cuspidatus ssp. cryptanthus

* American Brooklime: Veronica americana - Swale Creek

* Kelloggia: Kelloggia galioides

* Blue Elderberry: Sambucus mexicana ssp. cerulea

* Mountain Snowberry: Symphoricarpos rotundifolius var. rotundifolius

* Yarrow: Achillea millefolium

* Orange Agoseris: Agoseris aurantiaca var. aurantiaca

* Glaucous Agoseris: Agoseris glauca var. glauca

* Annual Agoseris: Agoseris heterophylla

* Rosy Pussytoes: Antennaria rosea

* Heartleaf Arnica: Arnica cordifolia - Fading out of bloom.

Low Sagebrush: Artemisia arbuscula ssp. arbuscula

Western Wormwood: Artemisia ludoviciana (var. incompta ?)

Lemon Sagewort: Artemisia michauxiana ?

Big Sagebrush: Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata

* Arrowleaf Balsamroot: Balsamorhiza sagittata - Fading out of bloom.

* Hoary False Yarrow: Chaenactis douglasii var. douglasii

Green Rabbitbrush: Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus var. - Curled leaves. In bud.

Canada Thistle: Cirsium arvense - Near Swale Creek.

* Peregrine Thistle: Cirsium cymosum var. cymosum - Beginning to bloom at Swale Trailhead

Bull Thistle: Cirsium vulgare - Near trailhead.

* Tapertip Hawksbeard: Crepis acuminata

Modoc Hawksbeard: Crepis modocensis

Gray Rabbitbrush: Ericameria nauseosa (var. ?)

* Threadleaf Fleabane: Erigeron filifolius var. filifolius

California Rayless Daisy: Erigeron inornatus var. inornatus - In bud.

* Yellow Desert Daisy: Erigeron linearis - Fading out of bloom.

* Yarrow-leaved Oregon Sunshine: Eriophyllum lanatum var. achilleoides

Rough-leaved Aster: Eurybia radulina

* White-flowered Hawkweed: Hieracium albiflorum - Beginning to bloom.

* Scouler's Hawkweed: Hieracium scouleri

* Crag Aster: Ionactis alpina - Fading out of bloom.

* Woolly Groundsel: Packera cana

Spiny Skeletonweed: Pleiacanthus spinosus

Western Groundsel: Senecio integerrimus var. exaltatus - Past bloom.

Common Dandelion: Taraxacum officinale

Salsify: Tragopogon dubius - Past bloom.


Animals Observed During This Hike:

Mule Deer

Sierra Nevada Golden-mantled Ground Squirrels

Cattle - Most seem to be staying in riparian meadows around Swale Creek, but a few seem to make their way up to near the summit of Crook Peak.


Paul Slichter