The Strawberry Range, also known as the Strawberry Mountains, is a
mountain range
A mountain range or hill range is a series of mountains or hills arranged in a line and connected by high ground. A mountain system or mountain belt is a group of mountain ranges with similarity in form, structure, and alignment that have arise ...
in the
U.S. state of
Oregon
Oregon () is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of its eastern boundary with Idah ...
.
It is east of
John Day, within
Malheur National Forest. The highest peak is
Strawberry Mountain.
The Strawberry Range is part of the larger
Blue Mountains range, and contains the
Strawberry Mountain Wilderness.
Pioneers named Strawberry Mountain after observing prolific wild strawberries growing in a nearby valley.
The area has extremely diverse ecological composition, which includes five of seven major life zones in North America. Indigenous populations of
Rocky Mountain Elk exist as well as
mule deer
The mule deer (''Odocoileus hemionus'') is a deer indigenous to western North America; it is named for its ears, which are large like those of the mule. Two subspecies of mule deer are grouped into the black-tailed deer.
Unlike the related whit ...
, antelope, black bear, cougar, California bighorn sheep, ruffed and blue grouse, pileated woodpecker, sharp-shinned hawk, bald eagle, pine marten, mink, beaver. There are 378 animal and 22 fish species present.
Mountain goats are seen at the higher elevations of the Palisades ridge as of Aug 7, 2016. A
hunting tag
Hunting is the human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, or killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to harvest food (i.e. meat) and useful animal products (fur/ hide, bone/ tusks, horn/antler, ...
for mountain goats on the Strawberry Mountain was issued for the first time in 2014 by the
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Recreation
Normal hiking season is July to November, though snow may be encountered at any time of the year at higher elevations.
Strawberry Camp, downstream from the
Strawberry Lake along Strawberry Creek, is connected to the lake by a hiking trail. The trail continues upstream from the lake to Strawberry Falls and then another to Little Strawberry Lake. Another trail leads from Strawberry Falls to the peak of Strawberry Mountain.
[ Sullivan, William L. (2009), ''Atlas of Oregon Wilderness'', pp. 247–52, Eugene, Oregon: Navillus Press ]
References
External links
*{{commons-inline
Mountain ranges of Oregon
Mountain ranges of Grant County, Oregon
Malheur National Forest