Cowhorn Mountain
Difficult
9.4 miles round-trip
1900 feet elevation gain
Open mid-July to late October
Use: hikers, horses
Cowhorn Mountain has been one of the least recognized High Cascade peaks ever since its cowhorn-shaped spire toppled in a 1911 storm. But the summit view is still breathtaking, and few mountain climbs are this convenient. All but the last 0.4 mile of the route follows the well-graded Pacific Crest Trail. On the return trip, hikers can bushwhack a few hundred yards off the trail for a swim at the lovely, rarely visited Windigo Lakes.
To start, drive Highway . . .
This chapter is an excerpt from 100 Hikes: Southern Oregon