Cowhorn Mountain, West Ridge

Activity Notes

Preference will be given to 2024 BCEP students and BCEP students from Team 04

Applicants should be able to keep a steady pace for the 4.5-mile approach.

Climbing skills required: 4th/low 5th class rock scrambling

Leader will be camping at Broken Arrow Campground the nights of August 17th to August 24th. This is the first of three climbs planned over the week.

The area is prone to lightning and climb start time may need to be adjusted for an earlier start

Timpanogas Lake is a great starting point for Cowhorn Mountain summit. Timpanogas Lake has a campground.  The day use parking area is just past the campground, and it has room for about 15 cars. From there we will walk back down the road to Timpanogas Lake and find the trail beginning on the left (southwest) side of the lake. For 0.25 miles we walk around the west side of the lake, pass by the Timpanogas cabin and then come to a trail junction.  Head up the Start O'Willamette Trail #3642 as it switchbacks uphill for 1 mile through hemlock and pine trees and T's into the Windy Pass Trail. At this trail junction we take a right onto the Windy Pass Trail #3643 and continue heading uphill through a thick forest for 2.6 miles. Overall, most of this hike is not very interesting because there aren't many viewpoints until we get up higher, but the climb through the forest can be very relaxing and extremely quiet as this area is not heavily trafficked. After 2.6 miles, we look for a sign on the left-hand sign indicating a tie trail over to the Pacific Crest Trail. Take a left on this 0.2 mile traverse and arrive at the PCT. Take a right onto the iconic Pacific Crest Trail and from here we will start seeing Cowhorn Mountain in the distance. After 0.3 miles on the PCT, rock cairns mark the climber trail up to the Cowhorn Mountain summit. The climber trail is a non-technical climb as it meanders through mountain hemlock trees for a bit until we get above tree line.  The trail goes along the ridgeline as we switchback up to right before the summit. This stretch is just half a mile long. The last 500 feet to the summit are an extremely steep. From the summit of Cowhorn Mountain you will get 360 degree views, and it is fantastic! To the north you can see Crescent Lake, Summit Lake, Diamond Peak and the Three Sisters as well as Broken Top and Mount Bachelor. We will take lunch on the summit and retrace our route back to the trailhead.  bring a swim suit and we might take a refreshing dip in the lake.