A permit is required from the land owner.
The permit is free and easy to get online.
See
https://nncpermits.com/PermitHome.aspx for information and a permit application.
Access is often CLOSED during the summer due to fire
conditions.
This is the final in a series of
caches that will lead you to the summit of Humbug Mountain. Note that this
is the Humbug in Clatsop County, 12 miles east of Seaside, and not the Humbug
Mountain on the Southern Oregon Coast.
Humbug Mountain as seen from Saddle
Mountain (click image to enlarge):
It's an easier hike than the other
major summits nearby, such as Saddle Mountain, but still a good workout!
Hiking distance is about 2.7 miles one-way with 1,200 feet of elevation gain.
Parking and the hike start are at:
N 45 54.284 W 123 41.176
(Saved as a Waypoint)
It's about three miles east of the
Saddle Mountain Road turnoff. It may be closed at certain times, such as
during high-fire-danger situations.
There is a small turnout for parking
just up the dirt road from the highway.
Several caches will keep you occupied
on the hike. They are:
1 -
Humbug Trailhead (Archived - Please
start with #2)
2 -
Humbug Not-A-Stump
3 - Humbug
Nursie
4 - Humbug
Logend
5 -
Humbug Summit View
6 - Humbug
4,999
7 - Rush
To 5,000
(Dangerous exposure - See the listing)
8 -
Humbug Mossy Rocks
9 -
Humbug Saddle View
10 - Humbug Mountain Summit (This cache)
Be sure to visit the caches in the
order they are numbered in the titles. At times, the closest cache to your
position won't be the next one along the hike (due to the road winding around
toward the summit).
It's really a "road" and not a
"trail", but it's still a very pleasant hike, and one that few visit.
Despite some clear cutting, there are numerous very nice forest sections to pass
through and outstanding views. The "Saddle View" cache marks perhaps the
best viewpoint of Saddle Mountain, and Onion Peak, Kidders Butte and Sugarloaf
are all easily viewed on clear days as well as the volcanic peaks on especially
clear days.
View to the west. Onion Peak
(pointed peak on left), Kidders Butte (saddle-like peaks in foreground just to
the right of Onion), and Sugarloaf (far right) (Click to enlarge):
Mt. St. Helens from the hike, via
telephoto (Click to enlarge):
My GPS receiver was skiwampus at the
summit, probably due to the installations there, so don't hesitate to use the
hint!
Bonus question: What is the
purpose of the flexible fiberglass rods inserted in the wood fence at the
summit??
Enjoy the hike and stay safe!