I found this hike by chance and what a surprise it was. While looking at some recent trip reports in several hiking sites, I found one that was particularly interesting. It wasn’t about Dome Rock but a saddle and a ridge line right across from it. I started looking at maps and soon found the saddle they were talking about. Then, in one of the pictures the pointed out that it was Dome Rock across the valley. I also found that on the map and noticed a trail which prompted me to research a bit more and plan this hike. Getting there couldn’t be easier. While other hikes require some complex directions sometimes driving on forest roads with no signs, this trailhead starts from a highway pull off. The first part follows an old service road along Tumble Creek. Soon after you start, a trail veers off to the right and climbs towards the ridge and things change. For a while the trail meanders thru the forest gaining elevation quite rapidly until everything opens up with a side view of Detroit Lake and the ridges around Tumble Lake higher up. But these views are just a teaser of what’s coming. Several switchbacks after and some interesting rock formation appear as you go. Then the trail takes a weird turn and the angle of the views change direction. Another opening, very similar to the first one offers views of Mt Jefferson, three Finger Jack, Sisters, Coffin Mountain and all the other peaks in that area. We had a hard time naming the different mountains we could see. Finally we got to a fork and our last push to the summit of Dome Rock. At this point the trail becomes exposed as it circles a couple of times and climbs the on a narrow path towards the top. Once there, it easy to understand why there used to be a fire lookout tower there. We stopped there for Lunch having trouble deciding in which direction to sit. Views were spectacular.
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