Mount Ireland, Oregon (8321 ft)
|
|
|
Mount Ireland from Mount Ireland Lookout Trail
|
|
|
|
|
Elkhorn Crest from Mount Ireland
|
|
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Mount Ireland Trail #1604
Summitpost
Route: Mount Ireland Lookout Trail #1604
From downtown Sumpter head NW on Oregon Highway 220 about 11.4 miles towards Granite and turn right onto FR 7370 (gravel).
Once you have turned off the pavement onto the gravel, look for a sign hidden from the highway behind a tree stating that the Mount Ireland Lookout Trail is 3 miles.
At 0.6 miles from the highway continue straight past FR 180 on the right and at 2.2 miles fork left on FR 7370 up Deep Creek. Turn right at 2.9 miles onto FR 7370-100.
Continue about another 0.5 mile to find a trailhead, hidden in the brush on the left. I parked my car at 2.8 miles just before FR 7370 narrows
and steepens, but beyond this point the road improves.
The route starts at a sign "MT. IRELAND LO Trail 1604 1/2" on FR 7370-130, an abandoned and overgrown road.
Within this first half mile you will pass an opening in the forest where you can see Mount Ireland for the first time and
encounter three forks in the faint road. See the photos below to familiarize yourself with the appearances of these forks.
Turn left at the first fork, right at the second fork, and left at the third fork.
At this point the road becomes single track and may be the beginning of the Mount Ireland Lookout Trail, itself.
|
|
|
Mount Ireland LO Trailhead
|
|
|
|
|
Take the Left at the First Fork
|
|
|
|
|
Take the Right at the Second Fork
|
|
|
|
|
Take the Left at the Third Fork
|
|
The Forest Service claims the trail is 3.2 miles to the Mount Ireland Lookout.
At about 1.5 miles the trail crosses a jeep road and a sign indicates it is two miles to the lookout.
At about 2.3 miles is the junction with the Downie Lake Trail #1609.
From here turn left and follow a steep trail intersected by ATV tracks up the SE Ridge for the last mile to the lookout.
Reference
- Sullivan, William L., 100 Hikes/Travel Guide: Eastern Oregon, Navillus
Press, 2002.
Oregon's 100 Highest Peaks
