Mount Ireland
Encyclopedia
Mount Ireland is a mountain
in Grant County
of the U.S. state
of Oregon
. It is about 5 miles (8 km) east-northeast of Granite, Oregon
. It is the second highest peak in the Blue Mountains
at 8321 feet (2,536 m) after Strawberry Mountain, and Oregon's 71st highest peak. For a period of several years, this mountain peak was referred to as Bald Mountain but in 1975, it was changed to Ireland Mountain before formally becoming known as Mount Ireland. The name change was brought about by a cooperative effort of local citizens and the US Forest Service to honor Henry Ireland, a forest supervisor for many years, who had died in 1916.
Several gold mining claims were established in the area and are still identifiable on local forest maps. Some are still patented while others have long been abandoned .
Mount Ireland is located in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
and outdoor enthusiasts are welcome to hike the Mt. Ireland Lookout Trail #1604 which is open Summer and Fall. Though the trail is ranked as "more difficult", there are no restrictions. The trail covers 3.2 miles from an elevation of 6,000 feet at the trailhead and ends at the Mt. Ireland Fire Lookout established on the peak at an elevation of 8,321. The summit overlooks Baldy Lake on the north slope and though the mountain peak's name was changed, the small mountain lake retained its original name. The view from the summit provides an extensive panorama of the North Fork John Day Wilderness
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Mountain
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in Grant County
Grant County, Oregon
Grant County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is included in the 8 county definition of Eastern Oregon. In 2010, its population was 7,445. It is named for President Ulysses S. Grant, who served as an army officer in the Oregon Territory, and at the time of the county's creation...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. It is about 5 miles (8 km) east-northeast of Granite, Oregon
Granite, Oregon
Granite is a city located in Grant County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 24, up from its population of 10 in 1990...
. It is the second highest peak in the Blue Mountains
Blue Mountains (Oregon)
The Blue Mountains are a mountain range in the western United States, located largely in northeastern Oregon and stretching into southeastern Washington...
at 8321 feet (2,536 m) after Strawberry Mountain, and Oregon's 71st highest peak. For a period of several years, this mountain peak was referred to as Bald Mountain but in 1975, it was changed to Ireland Mountain before formally becoming known as Mount Ireland. The name change was brought about by a cooperative effort of local citizens and the US Forest Service to honor Henry Ireland, a forest supervisor for many years, who had died in 1916.
Several gold mining claims were established in the area and are still identifiable on local forest maps. Some are still patented while others have long been abandoned .
Mount Ireland is located in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
The Wallowa–Whitman National Forest is a United States National Forest in Oregon. Formed by a merger of the formerly separate Wallowa and Whitman national forests, it is located in the northeastern corner of the state, in Wallowa, Baker, Union, Grant, and Umatilla counties in Oregon, and includes...
and outdoor enthusiasts are welcome to hike the Mt. Ireland Lookout Trail #1604 which is open Summer and Fall. Though the trail is ranked as "more difficult", there are no restrictions. The trail covers 3.2 miles from an elevation of 6,000 feet at the trailhead and ends at the Mt. Ireland Fire Lookout established on the peak at an elevation of 8,321. The summit overlooks Baldy Lake on the north slope and though the mountain peak's name was changed, the small mountain lake retained its original name. The view from the summit provides an extensive panorama of the North Fork John Day Wilderness
North Fork John Day Wilderness
The North Fork John Day Wilderness is a wilderness area within the Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests, in the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon....
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