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Kings Mountain, located in the coast range between Tillamook and Forest Grove, provides a challenging hike through varied terrain. It is a fun trek for those with good balance, appropriate footwear, and strong legs.
Park at the trail head and begin winding through a wonderfully peaceful forest of alder and ferns. Your cares will seem to fall away as you enjoy this almost magical setting. A mile or so later the alder gives way to Douglas fir. The trail steepens somewhat along this stretch of the trail. In time, the fir trees will give way to an open meadow. Here the trail climbs a steep ridge. The footing is often loose. In places, the hiker will probably have to use their hands as well as their feet. If you don't have good footwear, are not in reasonable shape, or have brittle bones, I strongly caution you to turn around at this point. The upper part of the trail is not for everyone! If you do brave the last part of the trail, you will find yourself climbing ever higher. You will eventually reach the summit of Kings Mountain. Here is a meadow of wildflowers perfect for enjoying a light lunch while you take in the panoramic view. From here you can see the highway and perhaps a glimpse of the Wilson River. There are hills and steep sided valleys all around. There is a register at the summit where hikers can record their names and any comments they may have. You will notice, from your 3200' perch, that the heights here are fairly clear, without many of the ancient trees you might expect to see. This is because a huge series of fires burned here in 1933. The Tillamook Burn, it was called. This, and subsequent fires, destroyed over 350,000 acres of timberland. The scars of those fires, most dramatically seen in old, burned snags, can still be seen today. Some seventy two million trees have been planted in an effort to replace the forests lost to the Tillamook burn. The first quarter to half mile of the return hike is the most treacherous. The path is steep and the loose soil tends to roll out from under your feet. If you're going to fall, it's likely to be here.
The copyright of the article Kings Mountain in Pacific Northwest Hikes is owned by Wayne R. Brown. Permission to republish Kings Mountain in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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