SALMON BUTTE TRAIL

WHERE:      From Portland  drive east on highway 26 about 16 miles past Sandy to Zig Zag.  Roughly across from the Zig Zag general store is Salmon River Road which will be on your right as you are heading east.  Follow Salmon River Road about 6 miles to a bridge then continue for about two miles as the road turns to gravel.  Keep  looking for an opening in the foliage to the right side of the road.  It is about one-quarter of a mile from the roads terminus.

THE TRAIL:      Starts at a 2200 foot elevation and goes to over 4800 feet in roughly 4.5 miles, nearly all of which is within the Salmon Huckleberry Wilderness.  The reward is at the top on the treeless dome of Salmon Butte.  If you hike this before June you will likely have plenty of snow to deal with near the top but the view of the Cascades is tremendous.  You can see the central Oregon peaks south to the Three Sisters and the Washington peaks north to Mt. Rainier, not too mention a larger than life Mt. Hood.  The trees are very tall and thick on the steep slopes of the cascade interior.  There are also many openings on the way to the top and you can even continue on from the trail's summit to visit the south side of Salmon Huckleberry Wilderness.

PIZZA:      Don't forget to stop at the Zig Zag Inn for the best pizza in the world.  It is right next to the intersection of highway 26 and Salmon River Road.