33. Tire Mountain

Summary

Length – 3 ½ miles one way from either end

Difficulty – Moderate

Season – Summer to autumn

Elevation range –2,700 feet – 4,325 feet

Human imprint – Moderate (managed landscape, mountain bikers)

Information - Willamette National Forest, Middle Fork Ranger District

Primary old growth features

Quiet patch of chunky Douglas-fir old growth; ridgeline patches of older forest interspersed with meadows.

Description

The Tire Mountain Trail (3485), hikable from either the western or eastern trailheads, stretches along the ridge above the upper part of Lookout Point Lake for an excellent early-season hike. The trail also doubles as a section of the Eugene to Crest hiking route, an ambitious attempt to link Eugene with the Pacific Crest Trail. A spur trail to Tire Mountain, site of an early tree-platform lookout, lies midway between the western and eastern trailheads. Although there are views of the western Cascades and Diamond Peak along the southeastern end of the trail, views from Tire Mountain itself are now quite limited due to forest regrowth.

The largest patch of old growth is most readily accessible from the western trailhead. The trail contours along the shady north slope before ascending a series of switchbacks to the ridge just before the junction with the side trail to Tire Mountain. Several age classes of Douglas-fir can be seen from the trail reflecting the fire history of the area. The patches of forest get progressively older and more impressive heading east and upslope, with the oldest fire-scorched trees providing clear evidence of prior fires that led to regeneration of younger Douglas-fir. Occasional large western hemlock and western redcedar help form the dominant canopy layer.

The eastern trailhead offers a more diverse and sunny approach with forest patches of various ages interspersed with dry meadows and rock gardens. Large trees are scattered throughout, some of distinctive form showing a more open-grown history. A well-timed late spring hike is a flower-filled delight. The first opening about ¾ mile in provides the best views of Diamond Peak and the hills around Oakridge.

25 years of change

Mature forest patches have become noticeably more old-growthy along the eastern approach; mountain bike use common now.

How to get there

West trailhead – Turn left (north) towards Lowell off of State Route 58 at the covered bridge, 20 miles southeast of Eugene. In Lowell, turn right on Main St. and head towards Lookout Point Dam on the North Shore Road. Turn left onto FR 5824, 13 miles from Lowell. Turn right onto FR 124 after 4 ½ miles. Note that this intersection is not completely obvious since FR 124 becomes the main road at the junction with FR 5824. Parking is on the left in ½ mile.

East trailhead - Turn left onto the Westfir Highway off of Highway 58, 37 miles southeast of Eugene. Turn left onto the Westfir-Oakridge Road after ½ mile. Continue straight through the Westfir junction becoming FR 19 where it enters the national forest. Turn left onto FR 1912 about 4 ½ miles from the Westfir junction. Continue on FR 1912, bearing left on FR 1910 in 6 ½ miles at the intersection with FR 1802 and FR 1910. Stay right on FR 1911 in a ¼ mile and the trailhead is a little over ¼ mile later off of FR 1911.