Summit Road (USFS Road 031)

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Seasons

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Location

This is a very high elevation route so only attempt it in late spring through early fall. From Pendleton, travel east for 33 miles on I-84 (16 miles NW of LaGrande) and take exit 243. Travel east over the freeway and take Summit Road north for 38.5 miles to Hwy 204. There is a small pond on the left side of the road at 45.426351, -118.303348 which is 3.7 miles from I-84. Side roads FR 3109 (45.441669, -118.228992) and FR 90 (45.451289, -118.202356) can be productive. This route passes in and out of Umatilla and Union Counties

Directions

Habitat and Birds

Mixed forest of pine, fir, and spruce along with some meadows and rocky areas. Species that can be found along this route include Ruffed Grouse, Dusky Grouse, Cooper’s Hawk, Golden Eagle, Spotted Sandpiper, Belted Kingfisher, Black-backed Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Williamson’s Sapsucker, Red-naped Sapsucker, Pileated Woodpecker, Calliope Hummingbird, Common Nighthawk, Vaux’s Swift, Western Wood-Pewee, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Dusky Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Cassin’s Vireo, Steller’s Jay, Clark’s Nutcracker, House Wren, Pacific Wren, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Mountain Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Townsend Solitaire, Yellow-rumped Warbler, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Western Tanager, Chipping Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Brown-headed Cowbird, Cassin’s Finch, Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin, and Evening Grosbeak. Great Gray Owl has been found on FR 3109 and FR 90 and Dusky Grouse are present in this area but hard to find.

Nearby Birding Locations

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