Stan's Overlook, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

We have been to Stan's Overlook, Rattlesnake Mountain, several times since it is close to home, gives us elevation gain, some miles, and some flowers.  The trail goes on up to two more summits past Stan's and eventually down to Rattlesnake Lake.  There are trails open to hikers, horses, and bikes.  By the way, there are no rattlesnakes here.  Trailhead facilities include a newer style double outhouse and a large parking lot.  A nearby park has flush toilets and running water. 

 

 

This sign shows the bike routes, the difficulty levels, and other information.

 

Separate bike trails have been created and this time the parking lot at the trailhead was predominantly filled with cars that had bike racks.  In a few places the bike trails cross the hiking trail and Stan's is a popular place for hikers as well as bikers to rest before the bikes start down the Popping Tops. Hikers can continue on up or turn around and back to the trailhead.  

 

The hiking trail was once an old logging road and is wide in some places, narrow in places where the vegetation is starting to overgrow.  The walking surface for the most part is good, free of roots and rocks.  There was plenty of mud the day we went.  

 

Mud

In one place there is an arch of tree branches.  Here Bob hides under the bridge of branches by an old stump.

 

The trail crosses a logging road that is still in use, as can be seen by this logging truck.  The logging is being done on the south side of the mountain while all the trails are on the north side.

 

The view from Stan's Overlook.  Not terrific on the cloudy, cool day we were there.  On a clear day the view is obviously better.  It is a steady climb up to Stan's gaining 1050 ft in elevation.  The round trip for us was 5 miles.

 

There were 4 or 5 of these little guys foraging for leftovers.  Since lots of people stop at Stan's it has a picnic table and benches.  Although it is not a good idea to feed them people food, the chipmunks know where to look and how close to get to people.  They were pretty bold even when a biker arrived with a dog.

 

 There are two sets of stairs like these

 

There was a better selection of native plants and flowers this day:

Aven

Bald head waterleaf

 Bleeding heart

 

Trailing or Creeping Blackberry

 

 

Foam flower

Fringe cup and Aven

 

 Goat's beard

Nootka Rose

 

 

Yellow Scotch broom  (Scotch broom is invasive and weeded out, but the flowers are pretty.) 

Red and Yellow Scotch broom

Queen's Cup

Thimble berry

Vanilla leaf

Count for the day:  22 hikers, 7 dogs, 4 bikers

5 miles RT with 1050 elevation gain