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Malheur National Forest
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In the Cedar Grove Botanical Area in eastern Oregon's Aldrich Mountains, you can see the only isolated stand of Alaska yellow cedar east of the Cascades in the United States. Some of the cedars are over 300 years old. You can find the Cedar Grove Botanical Area by driving south on Forest Service Road 21 (Fields Creek Road) off of Highway 26, about 10 miles west of Mt. Vernon. When you reach Fields Creek summit, turn right and follow the #2150 road for about five miles west to the trailhead. The trail is only one mile long. It crosses a broad ridge, then descends a timbered slope and ends in a short loop through the grove of Alaska yellow cedars. The terrain is steep and rough as it passes through a dense fir forest and large rock outcroppings, giving it the more difficult rating.
In the Vinegar Hill-Scenic Rock Area, you can get awesome views of the North Fork John Day Wilderness, the Middle and North Fork drainages of the John Day River, and the peaks of the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness to the south. Almost all of the alpine wildflowers found west of the Rockies can be blooming at different times in this area. There are a variety of geologic formations including basalt, rhyloite, granite, and shales; rockhounders will find agate, jasper, and quartz. The area has a rich history and active and decaying remains of mines can be seen. The area provides unfettered opportunities for solitude and isolation except during big-game hunting seasons. To get there: follow Highway 26 for approximately 26 miles. Turn right onto Highway 7, follow Highway 7 for about 1 mile, and turn right onto County Road 20. Continue on county road 20 for about 11 miles. Turn onto Forest Service Road 45 and continue for approximately 4 miles until you reach the boundary of the scenic area.
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