Wilderness Overlook Hike
Hike Rating: Easy
Hike Length: 5.0 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 300’
Trailhead Elevation: 5,800’
Best Season: July through September
Driving Access: High-clearance vehicle,
once
access road is snow-free
Plus
Points
• A scenic hike along the
canyon edge of the North Fork John Day watershed
• The entire route is within the wilderness area —
unroaded, unlogged and ungrazed
• Wonderful, panoramic vistas over an unspoiled landscape
• Old-growth stands of ponderosa pine and douglas fir along
the trail
• Wildflowers are abundant at Moon Meadow into late summer
• Trail is generally well-built on a good grade, with water
bars and trimmed brush
Minus
Points
• Equestrians are common around
Moon Meadow, so solitude is not guaranteed here
• Trail is not cleared every year, so expect to climb over
a few downed trees
Download
(PDF, 847 KB): Photos of Wilderness Overlook
Hike
Download
(PDF, 696 KB): Topo Map for Wilderness Overlook
Hike
Download
(PDF, 1 KB): GPS Points for Wilderness Overlook
Hike
Download
(PDF, 727 KB): Road Map for Wilderness Overlook
Hike
Trail
Notes
The unsigned
trailhead (for Trail #3042) is at Moon Meadow, in a pullout
west of Road 5225. Look for a simple log footbridge over
the creek that runs north though the meadow. It may be
difficult at first to pick up the trail running west
through the trees along the north edge of the meadow (GPS
Point 1), but if you keep along the forest edge, you'll
find it. Once on the trail, the route goes west along an
arm of Moon Meadow through lush grass and wildflowers.
The trail then climbs 200' up over a small ridge, before
descending to a creek in a green pocket meadow at 0.9
miles. The trail then climbs again, up through a lodgepole
pine forest, to an unsigned trail junction at 1.2 miles.
One continues right (west) here on Trail #3019 as it
gradually descends into the watershed of the North Fork
John Day. Soon, old-growth ponderosas and douglas fir
appear along the trail, as well as the first long views
west over the wilderness.
For the next
half mile, the trail contours along the edge of the canyon,
gradually rising and falling, with more views over the deep
canyon to the west. On the skyline, one can see Greenhorn
Ridge and the Indian Rock-Vinegar Hill Scenic Area to the
west. In this section, look for pure stands of western
larch, Oregon's only deciduous conifer. At 2.5 miles, the
trail rounds a ridge with big firs (GPS Point 2) that makes
a good lunch and hike destination. Beyond this point, the
trail dives steeply downhill into Ryder Creek and one loses
the good wilderness views.
Road to Trailhead
From paved
Hwy 52, turn south onto Forest Road 5225 and follow it for
7.5 miles to the unsigned trailhead at Moon Meadow, at a
pullout on the west side of the road.
The first 5.0 miles (to Martin Creek crossing) are graveled
and graded, though mostly a single lane road with turnouts.
The last 2.5 miles to Moon Meadow is less well maintained,
with occasional ruts and protruding rocks. A high clearance
vehicle is recommended in this section, though a passenger
car might negotiate it with great care.
Camping Options
The nearest developed camping
area is the Big Creek Meadows Campground, just off Road
5225 near Hwy 52, about 8 miles from the trailhead. This is
a small, rustic campground in lodgepole thickets along Big
Creek that is popular with OHV enthusiasts. There are 4
free campsites with picnic tables,
plus a vault
toilet, but no drinking water or trash pickup.
For those with their own water and sanitation, dispersed
campsites are available along Road 5225 on the way to the
trailhead. A few of these are small, tent camping sites in
pocket meadows along the road, but others are larger sites
near the Martin Creek crossing that are suitable for small
tent trailers or travel trailers. Finally, tent campers can
set up right at Moon Meadow, in sites tucked into the trees
off spur roads around the meadow's edge.
Agency Contact: Umatilla National Forest, North
Fork John Day District, (541) 427-3231
DISCLAIMER:
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this
information, but the authors do not guarantee that it is
either current or correct. The reader assumes full
responsibility for any use of this information, and is
encouraged to contact local public land agencies to inquire
about current conditions before
traveling.
Page last updated: 11/18/13