The Jefferson Wilderness in the Oregon Cascades, located to the north of Santiam Pass, east of Salem and West of Sisters, is one of the most amazing natural mountain environments on the west coast.  Mt. Jefferson itself is awe inspiring as the second highest peak in Oregon and host to the largest glaciers in the state other than those found on Mt. Hood.

Warm sunset light on Mt. Jefferson and Bays Lake

In days past I have trekked into Jefferson Wilderness on several occasions, either backpacking or to climb Three Fingered Jack or Mt. Jefferson itself.  This was my first time to visit specifically to take photographs.  The wilderness is home to some extremely photogenic countryside.  For the dedicated photographer willing to backpack in with camera gear and spend a couple days exploring it is a wonderland.

In July I spent a memorable week with fellow photographer, David Cobb (www.dmcobbphoto.com), photographing in two different parts of the wilderness area.

Mt. Jefferson reflected in Rock Lake

First, we backpacked in to the popular Jefferson Park area via the Woodpecker Ridge Trail which is accessed by a forest road (road 040) a few miles to the east of the town of Detroit.  Jefferson Park can be overcrowded on weekends in August, but midweek in July, when there is still quite a bit of snow on the ground and the mosquitoes are at their peak, we only saw three or four other parties in three days.  Jefferson Park is popular for a reason.  The flat alpine basin at over 6,000 feet of elevation has several lakes and numerous small tarns  that reflect some of the best views of the mountain available.  As the snow melts wildflowers carpet the marshy meadows.  The position of the Jefferson Park area on the north side of the mountain means that in summer the peak gets great side light for photography at both sunrise and sunset.

Snow filled tarn in Jefferson Park

After three days on the north side of the wilderness we hiked out, drove over Santiam Pass and down the east side of the cascades where we drove along more forest roads (road 12 to 1230 to 1234) to reach the Canyon Creek trail head.  The Canyon Creek trail starts at Jack Lake ascends toward Canyon Creek eventually arriving at Canyon Creek Meadow at the base of the north east side of Three Fingered Jack.  Three Fingered Jack isn’t the highest of the Oregon Cascades, but it is one of the cragiest with the most interesting geologic patterns of colors and layering.  Canyon Creek Meadow is located in a glacier carved basin directly at the base of the sheer north face of Three Fingered Jack.  In late July it is home to one of the most amazing wildflower blooms in the state.  We were a week or two too early for the peak of the flowers, so I look forward to getting the timing better next year.  Even still the early morning light on the peak with winding streams, reflecting pools and green meadows below made it one of the more memorable campsites and photography locations I have had.  A high ridge blocks the late evening light, so we cooked dinner and hid from the voracious mosquitos in the tent.  However, the morning light is sublime.  We spent over an hour finding one composition after another as the warm glow of the rising sun slowly progressed down the mountain face.

Paint brush in Canyon Creek Meadow below Three Fingered Jack

Greg Vaughn gives good directions and photography suggestions for both these locations in his book Photographing Oregon.

Three Fingered reflection