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S4 - Hike #14 - Fort Hoskins Historical Park

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Fort Hoskins Historical Park   Trail Info Starting Location: Fort Hoskins parking lot (across from bathrooms) Point of Interest  :   views, and local history. Length of hike:  1.8 mile loop Level :  Easy/Moderate - well kept trails Bathrooms :  Yes, nice and clean flush toilets Parking : yes, with overflow for RVs and trailers EV Chargers:   No Fort Hoskins is pretty close to where we live in Dallas, and none of us had ever been here. Only about 45 minutes away. There are historical buildings and informational signs to explain the importance of Fort Hoskins in monitoring the coastal Indian Reservation in 1856. Notice the nice view and weather.  The buildings are in good shape, but not open to the public. There is a reservable picnic shelter that is pretty large, with water and electricity. Although the buildings are locked, you can peek in the windows to get an idea of the layout. This part of the trail we took just went from the parking lot, to the buildings, and then took the trail
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S4 Hike #13 - Mary's Peak

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Mary's Peak Trail map Starting Location:    Parking lot at top. There are trailheads on the way up. Point of Interest  :   Amazing views of the Coast and Cascade range, Willamette Valley Length of hike:  Summit Loop, 1.5 miles up and back Level :  Easy/Moderate Bathrooms :  Yes, at parking lot Parking : Very large paved lot near the peak. EV Chargers: No We visited Mary's Peak because the weather was so nice, and the coming week was not looking good, and this was a close place to go before the rain. It was a bit hazy, but you can still see the Cascades and the Coast Range. The valley stretches out between, and the views are amazing. There were a decent amount of people here. A few groups of people getting pictures taken, a painter, 2 people in wheelchairs trying to make the summit. There is a gravel road all the way to the top (no vehicles) but it was uneven. Walking was fine. There are hiking trails that start farther down the mountain, and other trails available, but we staye
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S4 Kayak #7 - Olalla Reservoir

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  Olalla Reservoir Starting Location:  Boat Ramp at Olalla Lake Point of Interest :  lake with wildlife, trail around lake (partial) Bathrooms:  Yes (porta potty) Parking : gravel lot, good size.  EV Chargers : No Rentals: No This was our second time at Olalla Reservoir. Our first time was during the 4th of July weekend, and it had been packed. Today, we were meeting friends, and bringing someone new to kayaking. We had planned to meet after 10am, but learned that the gate to the reservoir was locked, and that a ranger was supposed to unlock it by 11. I was expecting a long line of people waiting, but when we finally got to the gate, there were only 6 cars waiting, and the ranger showed up 10 minutes later, so we didn't wait long. The water level was much lower than in July, and I've heard that it usually gets closed in the fall at some point when the water level is low. However, we were able to get on the lake quickly.  We had borrowed a kayak for our friend new to kayaking, a
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S4 Hike #11 Umbrella and Sahalie Falls Trail (Mt. Hood)

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  Sahalie Falls and Umbrella Falls Trail Starting Location:   Trailhead at Mt. Hood Meadows parking lot, SE corner Point of Interest  :  Mt. Hood, Sahalie Falls, Umbrella Falls, wildflowers Length of hike:  4.4 Mile loop (can be shorter out and back. Level :  Moderate Bathrooms :  Yes, at Mt. Hood Meadows, and at Elk Meadows trailhead (on the loop) Parking :  Huge parking lot at Mt. Hood Meadows, smaller gravel lot at Elk Meadows ($5 fee or NW Forest Pass) EV Chargers : Yes, at Mt. Hood Meadows We parked near the Ski Lodge at Mt. Hood Meadows to use the restroom, and then walked across the parking lot to the trailhead. Wildflowers greeted us here, and gave a preview of views to come. Umbrella Falls is very close to the parking lot, maybe 1/2 mile at most. A nice wooded bridge crosses the creek, with lots of places for photos. The trail is in good shape, even after some rain. We can't see the mountain today due to clouds and the trees. Sahalie Falls is about a mile away, or a bit mo
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S4 Kayak #6 - Elk Lake

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  Elk Lake Starting Location:   Little Fawn CG Point of Interest :  Elk Lake Bathrooms:  Yes Parking : gravel, lots of room EV Chargers : No Even though we were camping at Elk Lake Resort, we decided to go to Little Fawn campground across the lake to put our boats in. We walked through Little Fawn on the Elk Creek Trail earlier in the day, and it seemed a nice, quieter place to put in, since the resort was hosting a music concert, which would have made their boat ramp very congested. Little Fawn has a small inlet, or bay, so the water is calm, and the wind is minimal. Once we got onto the lake proper, the wind picked up and the waves got a bit choppy, but not bad. There was some haze from fires, but we could still see Mt. Bachelor and the 3 Sisters. The lake is nice and big, with forest coming up to the edge in places, and lots of places you can put ashore to rest or swim. I got out and took a nice swim. The water was clear and the temperature very comfortable.  The only real issue we
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S4. Hike #10 Elk Lake Trail

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  Elk Lake Trail Starting Location:   Beach Day use Area (hard to find) or Little Fawn CG Point of Interest  :  Elk Lake, forest scenery Length of hike:  Just under 5 miles out and back Level :  Moderate Bathrooms :  yes, at campground, day use areas Parking : gravel lots at Beach Day Use, Little Fawn CG EV Chargers : No We went to the Beach Day use area just south of Elk Lake Resort to start this trail. It is a bit hard to find, with no signage at all. There is a lone picnic table on the south side, on a small rise with the forest behind it. This is where the trail begins. It wanders through the forest, but mostly keeps the lake in sight. You will also pass through the Point CG, with a swimming area, easy to find the trail again. In less than a mile, there was a small creek, a few inches deep that we had to cross. We used these small logs to help keep from getting our feet wet. This is just at the edge of Little Fawn CG. There is a bathroom here (although the latch was broken.) The be
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S4 Hike #9 Benson - Tenas Lakes (Scott Lake)

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 Benson -Tenas Lake Trail trail map Starting Location:  parking lot of Scott Lake Campground  (end of road) Point of Interest  :  forest, and smallish lakes Length of hike: 5 miles roundtrip Level :  Moderate. Trail in good condition Bathrooms :  at main parking lot in campground Parking :  Decent gravel parking EV Chargers :  No We were camping at Scott Lake, so this hike made sense. The trailhead starts at the campground parking lot. However, you need a Central Cascade Wilderness Permit ($1), and the rangers were out and checking. The Trailhead is easy to find, with pit toilet nearby. The trail is well maintained, and mostly dirt with the occasional tree root. Not very steep, but gently inclines most of the way.  The trail is well marked and easy to follow. We did not see much in the way of wildlife, but it's a pretty hike, and the huckleberries were ripe. Mosquitoes were around, but with our spray, and steady pace, they weren't really an issue. There are a few small lakes o
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