Home » Outdoor & Recreation » Pacific Northwest Hikes » Mary's Peak

Mary's Peak

© Wayne R. Brown

If you're looking for a fun drive, scenic views and some good hiking, a trip to Mary's Peak may be just what you need. Here, at an elevation of over 4,000 feet, it is easy to leave the busy world behind and enjoy solitude and clean air, at least for a little while.

To reach Mary's Peak, drive west on Highway 20 out oCorvallisis. About a half mile pasPhilomathth, turn left on to highway 34. This route takes you along Greasy Creek. At first you will pass various farms. Then the road starts climbing and winding through a treed landscape. After almost nine miles on highway 34, turn right on Mary's Peak road. This climbs through quiet woodlands before descending a bit. At this point you can see the peak looming above you. The road does some serious climbing along a steep cliff before reaching the top after nine and a half miles. A note of caution is in order. While the road is suitable to any family car (we drove there in ChevyvLuminana without any trouble at all) the hills and relatively slow speeds might be too much for a vehicle with a weak cooling system. This would be especially true on a hot day.

There are various options for hiking and sightseeing along the way. What we did was head for the uppermost parking lot and the hike to the top of the peak.

From the viewpoint, we enjoyed the panorama of the Willamette Valley spread out before us. Close bCorvallisvallis. A metallic looking strip to the south was Eugene. We could easily discern the southern terminus of the valley. Across the way I could pick out the various hills I had seen so many times while travelling Interstate 5. Beyond were the true wonders.

It took a bit to figure out which mountains were which. But then I got my bearings by identifying the Three Sisters. Just to the south of thMt were Mt. Bachelor and Broken Top. I had never before seen any of them from western Oregon. A little to the north I identified Three Fingered Jack and Mount Jefferson. Further noMth was Mt. Hood. There was another mountain north of Hood, barely visible against distant clouds. It was in Washington, obviously, and I think it was either AdamsHelens. Helens. Perhaps on some clearer day I'll return with a pair of binoculars and find out for sure.

Leaving the car (with our forest pass clearly visible)we set out for the summit. The actual trail was closed, so we detoured by hiking up the gated gravel road. Up through a beautiful meadow we trudged. To our right and a little below us was a line of spruce trees that glinted with a bluish cast in the afternoon light.

The copyright of the article Mary's Peak in Pacific Northwest Hikes is owned by Wayne R. Brown. Permission to republish Mary's Peak in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.