Mt. June/Hardesty Mtn.

Directions:
Trailhead 1: Drive Highway 58 to Patterson Mtn Road (#5840), wich is located just after milepost 24. Follow this road for 5.1 miles to the top where there is a four way interesection. Take the road on the right (#5840-550) and follow this road 1.7 miles (or as far as you can, I didn't quite make it that far due to mud, but found several suitable places to park my car) to the trailhead Trailhead 2: From Cottage Grove, take Row River Road (#2400) east for 17 miles until reaching Layng Creek Road (#17). Turn left on this road and continue on it for 13.5 miles to Road #58-550. Turn left on this road (at the big four road intersection). Continue 1.7 miles on this road to the trailhead.

The Trail:
The summits of Mt June and Hardesty Mtn can be reached by many different routes. I started by taking trailhead 1. The trail slowly switchbacks up the side of Hardesty Mtn, eventually reaching a half mile side route which leads to the top. Your close to the summit, so you might as well hike the extra distance to the top. The view from the top is mostly obscured by the surrounding trees. The trail then wraps around the west side of Hardesty Mtn before switchbacking down to meet the ridge. The trail continues along the ridgeline. After taking the trip, you will gain a better understanding as to why the trail is called the Sawtooth Trail! Several portions enter open hillside meadows, which provide good views of Mt. June and the surrounding hills. After about 3 miles, a side trail leads off to the north, continue straight. After 4.1 miles, another trail leads down to trailhead 2, once again, continue straight. The last half mile of the trail is a grueling treck to the top of Mt. June. The view from the top is stupendous, reaching from Mt. Hood to Diamond Peak. The summit of Mt. June can be reached by a much shorter route from trailhead 2. It is about a mile to the summit from this trailhead. For those of you wanting a harder, longer hike, I would suggest the taking the other route. It was a good workout for me!