A monumental landslide crumbled half of Grasshopper Mountain about 1000 years ago, damming the Fish Lake Valley with 4 square miles of jumbled debris.  Surprisingly, the scene of this ancient disaster has become one of the loveliest subalpine landscapes anywhere.  An easy 1.4-mile trail, perfect for hikers with children, crosses the now thoroughly forested landslide to a pair of mountain lakes at the foot of a dramatic mile-long cliff—the origin of the slide. An extra 2-mile climb takes you through wildflower meadows to a viewpoint atop the cliff itself.

To find the trailhead, drive Interstate 5 . . .

This chapter is an excerpt from 100 Hikes: Southern Oregon