Favorite Mountain / Wildflower spots near Portland?

Hey guys, due to some personal stuff my photography time has been drastically cut down recently. But, as the snow starts melting I wanted to head out and take some alpine wildflower photos. However, my work and personal schedule has become quite crowded, so my plans to travel for long weekends to Mt Ranier and the Crater lake area are going to have to be scratched this year.

So with my ability to spend long weekends / overnight trips severely compromised, I was wondering if anyone has some good suggestions for favorite spots for day hikes from Portland during this time of the year to capture the clearing higher altitudes. Other than some hikes up near Timberline lodge, it is something I haven't done in my 2 summers in Portland to this point I don't mind driving home real late after sunset, but probably a 5ish hour round trip drive is all I can really budget for. I am guessing this means I am just asking for spots around Mt Hood and / or Mt St Helens.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks again!

-Scott

The Mount Hood Meadows ski area might be good if you're looking for close-ups of the flowers. On the Lolo Pass side of Mount Hood, Top Spur Trail has a couple of nice openings with views of the mountain and flowers. It's less than a mile from trailhead to the first viewpoint.

On the east side of Mount Saint Helens, there is a great view of the crater from Norway Pass Trail, with wildflower foreground possibilities. It was very good in mid-July last year, might still be good now with the late summer we're having. Windy Trail across the upper part of the Pumice Plain was carpeted with lupine at that time, too. East side MSH may be a longish drive for a day trip from Portland, and both those areas are best at sunrise/early AM. On the west side, the flowers may still be good on Boundary Trail just east of Johnston Ridge Observatory, and at Loowit Viewpoint just west of the observatory. In summer, the view of Mount Saint Helens from Johnston Ridge is great at both sunrise and sunset.

Another possibility is the Bird Creek Meadows area on Mount Adams, northeast of Trout Lake, Washington.

Thanks Greg.

I'm less familiar with Mt. Hood trails, and would also like to learn more. I'm thinking of checking out the flowers in the Top Spur/McNiel Point area next weekend, but that is probably a longer hike then your time budget allows.

The internet still shows the road to Windy Ridge as closed, unfortunately. It may be tough to get to the east side even if the flowers are running this late? I wonder if they'll even open it this year.

If a long drive works, I agree with Greg that the Mt. Adams area might have potential. This photo was taken at Muddy Meadows at the end of July in '09, when the flowers weren't running as late as this year.

I called about backpacking into the mt. Margret back country...Windy Ridge is open. Independence trail is still washed out though.