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Saddle Mountain

Shortly before you reach the low point of Saddle Mountain’s saddle, a path drops down a meadowy ridge to your left. A side trip here reveals outstanding views of the open, rounded slopes around the summit of Saddle Mountain, your next goal. To reach that goal, go across a narrow walkway through the mountain’s saddle, and then climb steeply up the final 0.4 mile on a rocky trail with poor footing. You can gain greater stability by hanging onto the intermittent cable handrail on that last trail section.

The view from the often windy summit includes Cascade snow peaks as far north as Washington’s Mt. Rainier, the shimmering Pacific Ocean to the west, and even (with the aid of binoculars) the 125-foot-high Astoria Column on a hill in the town of the same name to the northwest. Return the way you came.

TRIP 4 Soapstone Lake

Distance 2.4 miles, Semiloop Elevation Gain 250 feet Hiking Time 2 hours Optional Map USGS Soapstone Lake (trail not shown) Usually Open All year (except during winter storms) Best Time Any Trail Use Good for kids, backpacking option, dogs OK, fishing Agency Clatsop State Forest Difficulty Easy

HIGHLIGHTS Of the several recently completed trails in the Clatsop State Forest, this one to Soapstone Lake is the best. The hike’s most noteworthy feature is its variety. While most Coast Range hikes travel exclusively through dense forest, this trail explores an attractive and relatively open second-growth forest, visits a small meadow, crosses a lovely stream, and ends at a pretty lake that would be worth the hike all by itself.