13.5 miles of hiking • 3000' elevation gain • 1 night
Had a great trip in the vicinity of Clarno. I first went to the Hanock Field Station and did a loop hike in the Clarno Unit backcountry. Saw fossils, a petrified tree, and visited the Red Hill and Whitecapped Knoll. 4.5 miles, 750 ft gain.
I then drove down nearby Clarno Road to the Spring Basin Wilderness trailheads. Was going to car camp there and get an early start, but the camping sites were bleak compared to the gorgeous bluffs above the river, so I packed up my gear and an extra gallon of water and hiked up the nearest canyon to find a perfect spot. Lovely warm evening! Next day, I hiked a big loop through Spring Basin and up and over Horse Mountain. Marvelous ridgetop rambling, with views and wildflowers galore.
