It's an interesting hike/run as you're in dense forest for the first 3 miles. It's not until it's nearly upon you that you finally get a glimpse of the peak. Nice gentle terrain through the forest before the climb up the peak which gets steeper the higher you go. Last 100 or so feet there is no trail, so be careful, and take your time going up the rock. Views from the top are exceptional, with views of at the very least Diamond Peak south to Mt. McLoughlin and the Mountain Lakes Wilderness as well as everything in-between. Very highly recommended. You can check out my video of my experience here: https://youtu.be/CKvKcARJ_YQ
Brian Jenkins - Oct 18, 2017 12:41 am Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2014
Birthday dawn hike
Started hiking just before dawn. Sun coming up and warming me on the summit. Great birthday morning hike before driving back to Portland.
My wife and I were intrigued by this basalt incisor rising distant from the forest southwest of Crater Lake. The day we climbed it, we were pleasantly surprised to learn what a deep woods approach (>5miles) it was to the summit outcrop. The forest here is mature and quiet. We never saw another person on the 5-6 hours we spent round tripping to the summit. We did come across a horse sized elk on a dark hillside, standing amidst the massive trees. We had never seen an elk in thick woods before, only having freuqently seen them in open meadows and herds. It was a real thrill and imbued the animal with a totally different personality than that of a grazing animal.
The summit block is very beautiful, the oldest peak in Crater Lake NP. We enjoyed the solitary nature of this hike and the deep and diverse woods, views and topography of this peak. A great day. There is also a nice camp site, just slightly down the hill at the corner of the first, and longest, switchback that heads up the summit block.
The first few miles of the trail are pretty straightforward, but once you get a view of the peak, things get interesting fast. It never becomes anything technical, but the views are great and the exposure is just enough to make things interesting. Highly recommended hike, even though you can't see the lake from the summit.
Heard elk bugles on the way in and crossed paths with elk and a bear on the way back to the car!
Paul McClellan - Jul 14, 2014 1:23 pm Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2014
Nice Trail
Humid and warm day with some mosquitoes. Met a NPS trail crew working on the upper trail. The trail makes this ascent quite straightforward, with one switchback at class 2 with some exposure.
alpinedon - Nov 23, 2009 1:05 am Date Climbed: Aug 31, 2008
Twice
I have done this peak twice, once in 2007, with my friend Mike and then again in 2008 with a large group of friends and family. The second trip was fun because my girlfriend Brook, really started to see why I enjoyed climbing so much and she literally flew up the mountain.
SkiValdez - Jul 18, 2019 1:11 pm Date Climbed: Jul 14, 2019
Union Peak Trail RunIt's an interesting hike/run as you're in dense forest for the first 3 miles. It's not until it's nearly upon you that you finally get a glimpse of the peak. Nice gentle terrain through the forest before the climb up the peak which gets steeper the higher you go. Last 100 or so feet there is no trail, so be careful, and take your time going up the rock. Views from the top are exceptional, with views of at the very least Diamond Peak south to Mt. McLoughlin and the Mountain Lakes Wilderness as well as everything in-between. Very highly recommended. You can check out my video of my experience here: https://youtu.be/CKvKcARJ_YQ
Brian Jenkins - Oct 18, 2017 12:41 am Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2014
Birthday dawn hikeStarted hiking just before dawn. Sun coming up and warming me on the summit. Great birthday morning hike before driving back to Portland.
PTMcG - Nov 1, 2014 11:57 am
Deep Woods HikeMy wife and I were intrigued by this basalt incisor rising distant from the forest southwest of Crater Lake. The day we climbed it, we were pleasantly surprised to learn what a deep woods approach (>5miles) it was to the summit outcrop. The forest here is mature and quiet. We never saw another person on the 5-6 hours we spent round tripping to the summit. We did come across a horse sized elk on a dark hillside, standing amidst the massive trees. We had never seen an elk in thick woods before, only having freuqently seen them in open meadows and herds. It was a real thrill and imbued the animal with a totally different personality than that of a grazing animal.
The summit block is very beautiful, the oldest peak in Crater Lake NP. We enjoyed the solitary nature of this hike and the deep and diverse woods, views and topography of this peak. A great day. There is also a nice camp site, just slightly down the hill at the corner of the first, and longest, switchback that heads up the summit block.
locke456 - Sep 21, 2014 3:55 pm Date Climbed: Sep 13, 2014
Great Last 1.5 MilesThe first few miles of the trail are pretty straightforward, but once you get a view of the peak, things get interesting fast. It never becomes anything technical, but the views are great and the exposure is just enough to make things interesting. Highly recommended hike, even though you can't see the lake from the summit.
Heard elk bugles on the way in and crossed paths with elk and a bear on the way back to the car!
Paul McClellan - Jul 14, 2014 1:23 pm Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2014
Nice TrailHumid and warm day with some mosquitoes. Met a NPS trail crew working on the upper trail. The trail makes this ascent quite straightforward, with one switchback at class 2 with some exposure.
alpinedon - Nov 23, 2009 1:05 am Date Climbed: Aug 31, 2008
TwiceI have done this peak twice, once in 2007, with my friend Mike and then again in 2008 with a large group of friends and family. The second trip was fun because my girlfriend Brook, really started to see why I enjoyed climbing so much and she literally flew up the mountain.
cjwhat - Jul 26, 2005 4:54 pm
Route Climbed: Union Peak Trail Date Climbed: July 23, 2005Made it up in 2 1/2 hours. DEET and water were both very necessary.