Description

Hart Mountain is a long fault-block mountain rising steeply on the west, about 3600 feet above the Warner Valley, to achieve a height of 8,065 feet at Warner Peak. The eastern slopes are gentler, although the last 1000 feet also rise steeply. This area is largely grassland or a mixture of sagebrush and bitterbrush. Aspen trees line the creeks, one small band of Ponderosa Pine surround the headwaters of Guano Creek at Big Sky, and Mountain Mahogany may be found on the western slopes or on eastern ridgetops. The refuge is managed for Pronghorn Antelope, of which there are several large herds. It is also home to a large number of animal and plant species which may be found in the Great Basin of Oregon and neighboring Nevada.

Hart Mountain is located about 25 miles northeast of Plush, OR, or about 65 miles northeast of Lakeview, OR. The primary route into Hart Mountains leads from Lakeview, but one could also travel US-395 south from Wagontire, OR and take one of the gravel county roads south east which leaves the highway just south of Hogback Summit (I don't recollect the county road number, so travel this way at your risk. Another popular, although very rough route into Hart Mountain arrives from the east via Frenchglen, OR (about 49 miles).

Head east of Plush on Lake County Rd 3-12. This road is paved for about the first 10 miles, and runs through good birding country (Warner Wetlands). The road eventually becomes a gravel road, of fairly good quality, although it can become somewhat wash-boarded, which eventually climbs steeply to the refuge headquarters. Visit the visitor room, which is open 24 hours a day for backpacking permits, to pick up simple maps, and several brochures about the refuge, its wildlife, and its plants. The only car camping is allowed at Hot Springs Campground, about 8 miles south of the refuge headquarters. This campground is usually full during weekends during the summer months, and again during hunting season. The closest loding is 49 miles away in Frenchglen, or 65 miles away in Lakeview.

The closest lodging is 49 miles away in Frenchglen, or 65 miles away in Lakeview. Plush offers gas, phone service, water at a small park, a small restaurant, and a small convenience store.

This area is pretty desolate. The roads from Plush to the refuge headquarters, the road to Frenchglen, and the roads to Hot Springs C.G. and Blue Sky are passable by reliable passenger vehicles. All other roads should only be attempted via 4 wheel drives! Be aware that recent rain storms may make most roads very slippery, and perhaps impassable! Dry weather usually means bumpy, very dusty roads. Be sure to fill your gas tank before coming to these areas, and include a full spare tire, and other car repair gear as precautionary measures.

1. Yarrow: Achillea millefolium

2. Western Blue Flag: Iris missouriensis

3. Longstalk Starwort: Stellaria longipes var. altocaulis

4. Sagebrush: Artemisia tridentata- Plants forming flower buds, but not yet in bloom.

5. Pearhip Rose: Rosa woodsii var. ultramontana

6. Quaking Aspen: Populus tremuloides- Not currently in bloom.

7. Mountain Snowberry: Symphoricarpos oreophilus

8. Red Columbine: Aquilegia formosa

9. Little Buttercup: Ranunculus unciniatus var. unciniatus

10. Stinging Nettles: Urtica dioica

11. Large-leaved Avens: Geum macrophyllum

12. Desert Currant: Ribes velutinum

13. Nettleleaf Horsemint: Agastache urticifolia var. urticifolia

14. Serviceberry: Amelanchier alnifolia var. alnifolia

15. Brown's Paeony: Paeonia brownii- Past bloom.

16. Clasping-leaf Arnica: Arnica amplexicaulis

17. Sticky Cinquefoil: Potentilla glandulosa

18. Slender Cinquefoil: Potentilla gracilis

19. Woolly Butterweed: Senecio canus

20. Green Rabbitbrush: Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus

21. Prickly Phlox: Leptodactylon pungens

22. Rydberg's Arnica: Arnica rydbergii ??

23. Narrow-leaved Paintbrush, Wyoming Paintbrush: Castilleja linearifolia

24. Specklepod Milk-vetch: Astragalus lentiginosus var. platyphyllidius

25. Threadstalk Milk-vetch: Astragalus filipes

26. Silverleaf Phacelia: Phacelia hastata

27. Strict Buckwheat: Eriogonum strictum var. anserinum

28. Tansy-leaf Evening-primrose: Oenothera tanacetifolium

29. Hoary False-yarrow: Chaenactis douglasii

30. Kellogg's Spurred Lupine: Lupinus caudatus

31. Antelope Bitterbrush: Purshia tridentata

32. Yellow Desert Daisy: Erigeron linearis

33. Taper-tip Onion: Allium accuminatum

34. Puccoon: Lithospermum ruderale- past bloom.

35. Woolly-pod Milk-vetch: Astragalus purshii- woolly pods.

36. Holboell's Rockcress: Arabis holboellii- seed pods.

37. Oval-leaved Buckwheat: Eriogonum ovalifolium var. ovalifolium

38. Meadow Death-camas: Zigadenus venenosus

39. Rough Bedstraw: Galium asperrimum

40. Hood's Phlox: Phlox hoodii

41. Small-flowered Penstemon: Penstemon procerus

42. Clover: Trifolium sp.

43. Monkshood: Aconitum columbianum

1. Eriogonum chrysops?

2. Blue Flax: Linum perenne

3. Common Camas: Camassia quamash

4. Alpine Sorrel, Mt. Sorrel: Rumex pauciflorus

5. Agoseris: Agoseris elata

6. Yellow Salisify: Tragopogon dubius

7. Curvepod Milk-vetch: Astragalus curvicarpus

8. Hairy Paintbrush: Castilleja pilosa

9. Large-flowered Collomia: Collomia grandiflora

10. Gray Horse-brush: Tetradymia canescens

11. Whitetop: Cardaria pubescens

12. Clasping Pepperweed: Lepidium perfoliatum

13. Richardson's Tansymustard: Descurainia richardsonii var viscosa

14. Elk Thistle: Cirsium scariosum

15. Milk-vetch: Astragalus - puprle flowers

16. Wormwood, Mugwort, or Sagebrush: Artemisia sp.

17. Barestem Buckwheat: Eriogonum nudum

18. King's Sandwort: Arenaria kingii

19. Pestemon: Penstemon species

20. Brewer's Navarettia: Navarettia breweri

21. White-stemmed Frasera: Frasera albicaulis var. nitida

22. Arrowleaf Balsamroot: Balsamorhiza sagittata

23. Showy Penstemon: Penstemon speciosa

24. Sulphur-flower: Eriogonum umbellatum

25. Tall Buckwheat: Eriogonum elatum

26. Wyeth Buckwheat: Eriogonum heracloides

27. Navarretia: Navarettia squarosa

28. Sticky Geranium: Geranium viscosissimum

29. Applegate's Paintbrush: Castilleja applegatei

30. Threadleaf Phacelia: Phacelia linearis

31. Daggerpod: Phoenicaulis cheiranthoides- pods.

32. Prairie Smoke: Geum triflorum

33. California False Hellebore: Veratrum californicum var. californicum

34. Tumblemustard: Sisymbrium altissimum

35. Blue-eyed Grass: Sisyrinchium angustifolium

36. Clustered Broomrape: Orobanche fasciculata

37. Mountain Mahogany: Cerocarpus ledifolius

1. Oregon Checker-mallow: Sidalcea oregana

2. American Speedwell: Veronica americana

3. Chamisso's Montia: Montia chamissoi

4. Mountain Sweet-cicely: Osmorhiza chilensis

5. Menzies' Campion: Silene menziesii

6. Rosy Pussytoes: Antennaria rosea

7. Tawny Horkelia: Horkelia fusca

8. Star-flowered False Solomon Seal: Smilacina stellata- past bloom.

9. Woolly Sunshine: Eriophyllum lanatum

10. White Bog Orchid: Habenaria dilatata

11. Woodrush Pussytoes: Antennaria luzuloides

12. Western Meadow-rue: Thalictrum occidentale

13. Monkshood: Aconitum columbiana

14. Sweet-scented Bedstraw: Galium triflorum

15. Ballhead Waterleaf: Hydrophyllum capitatum var. capitatum

16. Alkali-marsh Butterweed: Senecio hydrophilus

17. Mountain Snowberry: Symphoricarpos oreophilus

18. Alpine Sorrel, Mountain Sorrel: Rumex pauciflorus

19. Common Monkey-flower: Mimulus guttatus

20. Pearhip Rose: Rosa woodsii

21. Quaking Aspen: Populus tremuloides

22. Large-leaf Avens: Geum macrophyllum

23. Ponderosa Pine: Pinus ponderosa

24. Western Juniper: Juniperus occidentalis

25. California False Hellebore: Veratrum californicum var. californicum

26. Red Columbine: Aquilegia formosa

27. Wavy-leaved Alder: Alnus sinuata

28. Small-flowered Prairie Star: Lithophragma parviflora

29. Spotted Coral Root: Corallorhiza maculata- many yellow and red forms!

30. Nuttall's Violet: Viola nuttalii - Leaves only.

31. Shaggy Fleabane: Erigeron pumilus

32. Applegate's Paintbrush: Castilleja applegatei

33. Narrow-leaved Paintbrush, Wyoming Paintbrush: Castilleja linearifolia

34. Taper-tip Onion: Allium accuminatum

35. Small-flowered Nemophila: Nemophila parviflora var. austinae

36. Goosefoot Violet: Viola purpurea

37. Miner's Lettuce: Montia perfoliata

38. Blue Flax: Linum perenne