Coffin Mountain Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Coffin Mountain Trailhead
- End point: Coffin Mountain Lookout
- Hike type: Out and back
- Distance: 2.8 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 1040 feet
- High point: 5,770 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Seasons: June through October
- Family Friendly: Yes, for older kids
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: No
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Hike Description
Although the views of Mount Jefferson aren't as good here as they are from nearby Bachelor Mountain, this hike has the bonus of wildflower meadows and a neat lookout at the summit. The trail is steep, but the effort is worth it. This hike is especially rewarding from approximately mid-June to mid-July when the wildflowers are blooming.
The trail climbs steeply up an old rocky jeep track for the first 0.1 mile. Then watch for the trail heading off to your left. The path climbs through forest and meadows with intermittent views of Three Fingered Jack to your right. Wildflowers include paintbrush, larkspur, and penstemon.
After 0.6 miles, you will emerge into a huge expansive beargrass meadow, part of an old burn. Beargrass blooms in cycles, so some years the meadow is full of blooms and other years there are just a few. Even if it's not a banner year for beargrass, the views from this meadow are spectacular. On clear days you can see Mount Jefferson peeking up behind Bachelor Mountain to the east, a view which improves with every step up the trail. You can also see Three Fingered Jack, Mount Washington, and the Three Sisters.
After a steep climb up through the meadows, the trail reenters the trees at 1.2 miles. Emerging from the forest on the other side, you'll get your first glimpse of the Coffin Mountain Lookout. Once you reach the lookout, be respectful of the person working there, and remember that the lookout is their home and workplace. Only enter if you are invited to do so. The sweeping 360-degree views can be admired from numerous spots on the summit. No camping is allowed on Coffin Mountain.
Return the way you came. The Bachelor Mountain Hike is nearby, and you can consider doing both outings on the same day.
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- Camping not allowed on Coffin Mountain
- No bathroom, water, or garbage service available at the lookout
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
- Green Trails Maps: Detroit, OR #556
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Willamette National Forest: Detroit Ranger District
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Willamette National Forest
- Pacific Northwest Recreation Map Series: Willamette Cascades
- National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: Mount Jefferson, Mount Washington
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Coffin Mountain
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Coffin Mountain
- Coffin Mountain beargrass bonanza
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- 100 Hikes: Central Oregon Cascades by William L. Sullivan
- Extraordinary Oregon! by Matt Reeder
- 101 Hikes in the Majestic Mount Jefferson Region by Matt Reeder
- Best Short Hikes in Northwest Oregon by Rhonda & George Ostertag
- Hiking Oregon's Central Cascades by Bruce Grubbs
- 60 Hiking Trails: Central Oregon Cascades by Don & Roberta Lowe
- Oregon Hiking by Sean Patrick Hill
- Pacific Northwest Hiking by Scott Leonard & Sean Patrick Hill
- Fire Lookouts of Oregon by Cheryl Hill
More Links
- Coffin Lookout Trail #3392 (USFS)
- Coffin Mountain Fire Lookout (Life Under Five Two)
- Coffin Mountain (Just Peachy)
- Coffin Mountain, Bachelor Mountain, and Bugaboo Ridge (wanderingyuncks)
- Coffin Mountain (Hike Oregon)
- Hike to Coffin Mountain Fire Lookout (The Outbound)
- Coffin Lookout Trail (Outdoor Project)
- Coffin Mountain and Bachelor Mountain (Idaho Alpine Zone)
- Coffin Mountain (OregonWildflowers.org)
- Coffin Mountain (Northwest Wildflowers)
- "At Coffin Mountain Lookout, Ann Amundsen spends 29th year watching for wildfire" (Statesman Journal)
- Coffin Mountain (Summit Post)
- Coffin Mountain Lookout (USFS)
Contributors
- justpeachy (creator)