On the way to backpack the Middle Fork Willamette River National Recreation Trail, some serious elevation work seemed the right first day hiking. Hiking Hardesty Mountain from the Hwy 58 trailhead to Sawtooth Rock, and maybe June Mountain if conditions and conditioning right. Not only is Hardesty one of the oldest trails in this forest district, it’s one that I have the longest track history: last year, June 2021, 5-18-2021, 2020, June 2019. Hardesty can be mountain bike (mtb) abused after wet high traffic times, but past the summit, usually quiet, empty.
The Route (recorded track)
Weather was on the hot side for May 15 – high 70- mid 80s with possible thundershowers later in afternoon / evening. I started just before 07:00 with one other car at trailhead. From th, straight up to Hardesty summit, then around the cutoff trail to the ‘upper Hardesty trailhead’ at the end of a very, very poor forest road – empty. Then, back around to Sawtooth Rock and down to car. The trail is almost impossible to lose with eyes open.
Trail conditions were perfect. Very little mud, and only at the lower end, and the mtb folks had not yet dug any ruts. No snow between th and Sawtooth. There were maybe 6 step-over blow-downs, and 1 crawl over log going up that was cut when I came down. The entire day, I saw 1 hiker on the trail – we were both totally surprised to see another.
A ‘new’ Hardesty Summit
Reviewers often complain that Hardesty summit is a let down; after walking up a good elevation gain the summit is an old observation platform foundation within trees – no view. However, if one takes the cut-off trail rather than the summit trail and walks around Hardesty top, there is a great meadow to get views off to the S,SW – i declare this meadow the NEW Hardesty Summit – it adds less than 1/4 mile to the hike and adds a good view, with sunshine!
For those who can take the additional miles, Sawtooth also has pretty good meadow and views
The flowers
Hardesty can be great for wildflowers – especially the wild Rhodys (not quite ready). This trip was no exception. Bonus points to the person who finds both the spider and the fly!
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