Marys Peak
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Hikes to this location:
- Marys Peak East Ridge Loop Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Marys Peak Meadow Edge Loop Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Marys Peak Summit Loop Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Marys Peak North Ridge Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
- Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
- Latitude, Longitude: 44.50444, -123.55262
- Elevation: 4,097 feet
Description
Marys Peak is a familiar landmark in the central Willamette Valley. At 4,097 feet, it is the highest peak in the Coast Range, and its distinctive summit dominates the western horizon from Corvallis. From the summit meadow, there are 360-degree views up and down the Coast Range, west to the Pacific Ocean, and east across the Willamette Valley to Mount Jefferson and the Three Sisters. Mount Hood, Mount Saint Helens, and Mount Rainier are visible to the north, and you may be able to see as far south as Diamond Peak. Although there is a relay station here with antennae, the meadows make a perfect spot for a picnic on a warm dry day. Phlox, larkspur, paintbrush, and desert-parsley bloom here in the spring.
This mountain is considered a sky island. During the last glaciation period, while the valley floor and much of the coast range were sequentially flooded and covered in ice, the summit of Marys Peak was the last refuge. Many plant species retreated to the upper portions of the mountain. Don't expect basalt cliffs and jagged rocks up here. The summit meadows are broad open grassy slopes ringed by blue tinged noble firs (rare in the Coast Range). Some historians believe Marys Peak is the sacred place known as Chateemanwi (frequently anglicized to Chintimini) by the original human inhabitants of the area, the Kalapuya, who are now members of the Confederated Tribes of Grande Ronde.
More Links
- Marys Peak (USFS)
- Marys Peak (Summit Post)
- Marys Peak: A Bird’s Eye View of Western Oregon’s Geologic History (Wondering Around Oregon)
- Marys Peak (OregonWildflowers.org)
- The Case of the Missing Apostrophe (Gazette-Times)
Contributors
- chubbyfm (creator)