Larch Mountain, Mountain summit in Multnomah County, Oregon.
Larch Mountain is a volcanic summit in Multnomah County, Oregon, covered in old forests of Douglas fir and Pacific silver fir growing on steep slopes. The mountain sits east of Portland and is reached by a paved road that ends near the top.
In the 1800s, the mountain was logged heavily to supply timber for the growing settlements of the region. Over the following decades it was brought into public land management, and the trail network that hikers use today was gradually put in place.
The summit area features a viewpoint called Sherrard Point, where people gather on clear days to look out over a wide open sky. The trails leading there pass through old forests that locals have walked for generations.
The paved road to the top is generally open from May through November and closes in winter due to snow. Weather can shift quickly at this elevation, so bringing extra layers is a good idea regardless of the season.
Despite the name, there are no larch trees on Larch Mountain. The name likely came from early settlers who confused the Pacific silver fir with the larch, a tree that looks similar in certain seasons.
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