Grassy Knoll is an aptly named natural bald that once hosted a fire lookout and continues to offer incredible wildflower displays, wide-ranging views and solitude. This is one of the hikes I repeat every year. In a normal snow year, Father's Day weekend is the perfect time to visit; this year we delayed our visit by nearly two weeks. The best approach is from SR 14 through Carson on Wind River Highway for 4.2 miles, then turn right on Bear Creek Road. At the end of the pavement in 3.6 miles, it becomes gravel Forest Rd 6808 for 7.2 miles to Triangle Pass. Be aware that road number signs are missing and the road is periodically pockmarked with potholes. At unsigned Triangle Pass, veer left on unsigned Road 68 for 2.1 miles to the signed trailhead parking on the right. These last two miles are especially full of potholes so it is a slow drive, but the hike rewards make it worthwhile. This trail, once a section of the Pacific Crest Trail before it was relocated farther west, starts by climbing through a small meadow, another natural bald, filled with color. We spent some time botanizing and photographing the subalpine mariposa lily, field chickweed, upland larkspur, blue-eyed Mary, lupine, and scalloped onion flowers blooming there. The trail then enters the forest and begins an often steep ascent to a dramatic clifftop viewpoint at 1.2 miles. On a clear day, views include Mount Adams to the east, the peaks of Indian Heaven on the northern skyline, across the Big Lava Bed to Little Huckleberry, and on the far eastern horizon the Columbia Hills on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge. Flowers just starting to bloom here included rock penstemon and spreading phlox. In the nearby forest, we saw the first blooming beargrass of the season, as well as many other species of forest wildflowers. From the viewpoint, the trail descends to a saddle then switchbacks up an open slope to the old lookout site on Grassy Knoll in 2.2 miles. There are terrific views of the Columbia River, Mount Hood, Silver Star Mountain, Augspurger Mountain and the peaks on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge. Flowers blooming on Grassy Knoll included mountain kittentails, harsh paintbrush, nine-leaf desert parsley, turpentine wavewing (smells like turpentine), Puget balsamroot, alpine pennycress, bighead clover, spreading phlox and naked broomrape. Since Grassy Knoll is a relatively short destination, we continued north on the trail through rolling meadows full of more flowers. We found a spot on the east side of the ridge out of the wind for our lunch break. As we ascended, we went back in time: the mountain kittentails were just in bud and glacier lilies were wrapping up their bloom. Many trilliums still were fresh. We turned around when we encountered snow banks on the trail in about 3/4 mile. The meadows end shortly beyond our turnaround point and the trail continues on through forest to a junction with the PCT at 5.3 miles and a short uphill climb to the summit of Big Huckleberry Mountain. We headed back to the cars and a bumpy drive back down to pavement.

Wildflower meadows and views of the Columbia River, Mount Adams, and Mount Hood are the prime attractions of Grassy Knoll. To find the trailhead, drive through Carson on the Wind River Highway, cross over High Bridge, and, at 4.2 miles, turn right on Bear Creek Road. Follow the paved county road for 3.6 miles. Then it becomes gravel Road 6808 for an additional 7.2 miles to Triangle Pass. Go straight onto Road 68 for 2.1 miles to the trailhead parking area on the right. Northwest Forest Pass required. This former segment of the Pacific Crest Trail (before it was rerouted to the west), starts in a flower-filled meadow at 2830'. At the peak of bloom, botanists may never get past this point. On this day, the meadow was awash in cat's ear, aka Cascade mariposa lily, and scalloped onion. Paintbrush, larkspur, and stonecrop added color accents. The trail climbs steeply through Douglas-fir woods for 1.2 miles before leveling off near a cliff-top viewpoint looking towards Mount Adams and Big Lava Bed. On this day, the magenta of rock penstemmon brightened the cliff-face. The trail continues down across a saddle and then climbs Grassy Knoll, where balsamroot was in bloom. Foundation piers mark the site of the former fire lookout at 3648'. The view southwest is of the Columbia River Gorge and the town of Stevenson. Mount Hood rises to the south above Nick Eaton Ridge on the Oregon side of the river. Continue on for another mile, climbing along the rolling ridgecrest through more and more flower meadows. When the trail takes a sharp turn to the right and plunges into deep forest, you have reached the final meadow and viewpoint. This spot, at 3.2 miles, often is called Grassy Pass although it really is a shoulder of the Grassy Knoll ridge. This is the turn-around point for most hikers, although the strong can keep going for another 2.2 miles to the summit of Big Huckleberry Mountain.

Joan, Lori and I did the hike up Grassy Knoll. We had a beautiful day, blue sky and 80 degree temp. Great wildflowers and awesome views. We took FR 6808 to FR68 to reach the trailhead. The roads have a few deep potholes but are otherwise in good condition. I would still recomend not using a passenger car to get to the trailhead though. Great views of Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, the Gorge, and the Big Lava Bed. Awesome wildflowers all the way up the trail, especially at the top of Grassy Knoll.