Bohemia Mountain Trail #1440

Dogs Off-leash

Features Views · Wildflowers

The hardest part of this trail is getting to it! It begins at Bohemia Saddle, which is accessible from either Brice Creek Road or Sharps Creek Road. Both roads appear to no longer be gravelled, and are at times steep, with exposed, bumpy rock sections. They are frequently only wide enough for one vehicle, but there are many turn outs along the way in the unlikely case that you run into someone going the opposite way. High clearance and 4WD or AWD is strongly recommended.

For detailed directions, see the instructions from the US Forest Service.

The trail begins on the south side of Bohemia Saddle. A large national forest trailhead sign sits just to the south of the Sharps Creek road entrance, but the trail is easier to access if you hike down the gravel road to the south for about 50 feet (to make sure you're oriented correctly, put the fire lookout tower on Fairview Peak at your back. The road you see ahead of you is the one you want to approach). On your right in the trees, you'll see a smaller trail sign for Bohemia Mountain.

From there, the trail proceeds clearly for 0.75 of a mile up the mountain. You'll pass various trees marked with "bearing tree" signs, as well as one filled-in mine shaft (stick to the trail for safety). If you have come in July or early August, you'll come upon wildflowers like Indian paintbrush, columbine, and various asters. Several spots with views of the hills south of the Willamette valley and the coast range are interspersed along the climbing trail so you can take breaks as needed. The trail alternates steep sections with flat, and packed dirt with piled shale. One false summit gives early views of the mountains and surrounding hills.

The summit is nearly 360°, and on a clear day you can see mountains from Mt. Hood to Mt. Shasta, including Mt. Washington, Mt. Jefferson, the Three Sisters, Mt. Bachelor, and others. The top is fairly broad, with lots of flat areas to rest. At its eastern extremity, you can look back down to Bohemia Saddle where you started, and also to some old buildings that were part of the Bohemia mining district. Above all these you'll see the Fairview Peak watchtower, a fire lookout since the 1920s that was also used as a radar station in the 1950s and 1960s. Because of the state of the access roads, it's likely you'll have the top to yourself!

High altitude wildflowers, salal, fir trees and more.