Thursday, May 28, 2009

Steins Pillar

Found: 350 foot tall skyscraper in the Prinedale, Oregon vicinity.

Oh wait, that's not a skyscraper, that's Steins Pillar - a towering pink spire above Mill Creek in the Ochoco Forest!

Steins Pillar can be seen from a pullout viewpoint along Mill Creek Road where it rises from the hillside above the farming community. It's quite a site to behold from down below.

For an up-close personal view, hikers can do the 4-mile round trip hike to its base. I recommend it. The trail starts high (most of the elevation is gained on the road to the trailhead) and is only 680 elevation gained on a well groomed trail. It climbs through a forest of mostly Douglass fir and ponderosa pine. After several days in the dessert of Central Oregon, I found the aroma of the forest intoxicating!

My source for learning about this hike was Willaim L. Sullivan's book 100 Hikes/Travel Guide Eastern Oregon. I have found this to be an excellent guide book and well worth the purchase!

No comments:

Post a Comment