West Myrtle Butte Lookout

Malheur N.F.

June 27, 2000

Access to West Myrtle Butte Lookout is provided via forest road #37. The road to the lookout is about one mile in length and is rutted enough to prove a challenge to at least some low slung, wide-bodied passenger cars. The road was gated but if one backs up about 40 meters, there is a small place to turn around on and park at the switchback below the gate. The view from the top is not 360 degrees, as there are numerous trees atop the butte. However, one can see the Strawberry Mts. to the north, Snow Mt. to the west, and far on the horizon, the Steens Mt. to the south.

* Indicates flowers currently in bloom.

*False Solomon Plume: Smilacina racemosa

*Panicled Death Camas: Zigadenus paniculatus

*Bigleaf Sandwort: Arenaria macrophylla

Creeping Oregon Grape: Berberis repens

*Wax Currant: Ribes cereum

*Chokecherry: Prunus virginiana var. melanocarpa

*Tailcup Lupine: Lupinus argenteus var. heteranthus

Kinnikinnik: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

White-vein Pyrola: Pyrola picta (Not in bloom yet.)

*Silverleaf Phacelia: Phacelia hastata

*Harsh Paintbrush: Castilleja hispida

*Common Paintbrush: Castilleja miniata ?

*Mountain Snowberry: Symphoricarpos rotundifolius

*Yarrow: Achillea millefolium

*Heart-leaf Arnica: Arnica cordifolia

*Arrowleaf Balsamroot: Balsamorhiza sagittata

*Slender Hawksbeard: Crepis atrabarba

*Oregon Sunshine: Eriophyllum lanatum

Hawkweed: Hieracium species (Not in bloom yet.)

*Tall Western Groundsel: Senecio integerrimus var. exaltatus

*Yellow Salsify: Tragopogon dubius

Northern Mule's-ears: Wyethia amplexicaulis (Almost in bloom.)