Cone Peak Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Tombstone Pass Trailhead
- End point: Cone Peak
- Trail Log: Trail Log
- Hike Type: Out and back
- Distance: 4.8 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 820 feet
- High point: 4,940 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Seasons: Summer, fall
- Family Friendly: Yes
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: Yes, during summer weekends
Contents |
Hike Description
Cone Peak is located near Tombstone Pass along Highway 20 east of Sweet Home, Oregon. It is a veritable wildflower cornucopia with over 300 species, along with some 17 tree species. The best time to visit is the first half of July, but the views are gorgeous on any clear day.
From the trailhead walk south on the dirt road just past the informational signs. Drop off to the left of the road on an unsigned single track trail that can be hidden in grass late in the summer. This first turnoff has been missed by more than one group. It's just scant feet from the lot.
The first half mile is a gradual descent below Highway 20. There's a junction with the Tombstone Pass Nature Trail at mile 0.3 and another at mile 0.4. Turn right and walk the quarter mile loop, if you like. It passes through an interesting meadow filled with flowers in July. Either path will bring you to the same second trail junction. From there, head up the hill to a highway crossing. Cross the highway, and walk 50 feet to the left to pick up the main trail, which heads up into the forest.
The trail is well graded with numerous switchbacks, passing by several species of tree. At the sixth switchback, you will catch your first glimpse of the wildflower meadows. Keep going and your patience shall be amply rewarded! After several more switchbacks, you will find yourself in open meadows littered with penstemon, larkspur, paintbrush, and stonecrop. Cone Peak will be directly ahead of you, with Iron Mountain to the west (left) and Echo Mountain to the right. The trail crosses a shoulder of Cone Peak and doesn't actually reach the summit. For this hike, enjoy the Cone Peak meadows and return the way you came.
If you have time and energy, this trail can easily be extended into a loop that includes Iron Mountain. This hike is listed as the Cone Peak Loop Hike.
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Sweet Home 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
- Adventure Maps: McKenzie River, Oregon, Trail Map
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- Northwest Forest Pass (or America the Beautiful Pass) required at Tombstone Pass parking area.
- Leash recommended for dogs
- Pit toilet and picnic tables at the trailhead
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Cone Peak
- Cone Peak meadows /Iron Mt/ Echo Basin 6/12
- Cone Peak loop 6/11/16
- July 4'13 Cone Peak Meadow-Iron Mountain Loop
- cone peak snowshoe
- Cone Peak / Iron Mountain Loop. Wildflowers!
- Canyon Creek Meadows & Iron Mtn/Cone Peak 6/21/10
- Cone Peak & Iron Mountain 7-25-09
- Cone Peak - 7/26/08
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Cone Peak
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- Oregon's Best Wildflower Hikes: Northwest Region by George Wuerthner
- 100 Hikes/Travel Guide: Central Oregon Cascades by William L. Sullivan
- 100 Classic Hikes in Oregon by Douglas Lorain
- A Handful of Trails: Willamette National Forest by the U.S. Forest Service
More Links
- Cone Peak Trail #3408 (USFS)
- Cone Peak Trail (Bend Trails)
- Cone Peak (Trails NW)
- Cone Peak Trail #3408 (Hiking Project)
- Cone Peak Bliss (Central Oregon Nordic Club)
- "Wildflowers abound in Cone Peak Meadows" (The Nugget Newspaper)
- Cone Peak (Summit Post)
- Cone Peak (OregonWildflowers.org)
Contributors
- Greglief (Greg Lief) (primary)