| Marys Peak | |
|---|---|
 Marys Peak viewed from the Willamette Valley | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 4,101 ft (1,250 m) NAVD 88[1] |
| Prominence | 3,357 ft (1,023 m)[2] |
| Listing | Oregon county high points |
| Coordinates | 44°30′16″N 123°33′09″W / 44.50435595°N 123.552456264°W[1] |
| Geography | |
  Marys Peak Location in Oregon  Marys Peak Marys Peak (the United States) | |
| Location | Benton County, Oregon, U.S. |
| Parent range | |
| Topo map | USGS Lorane |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | trail from Marys Peak Road |
Marys Peak (formerly Mary's Peak and sometimes still spelled this way) is a mountain in Benton County, Oregon, United States, just southwest of Philomath. According to the Benton County Historical Society, the native Kalapuya called the peak tcha Timanwi, or 'place of spiritual power.'[3] It is the highest peak in the Oregon Coast Range. It is also the highest point in Benton County,[4] and ranks eleventh in the state for prominence.[5]
On a clear day at the top of the peak, facing east, northeast, and southeast, one can see the cities and suburbs of the Willamette Valley, as well as the Cascade Range. To the west, the Pacific Ocean is visible on clear days.
The road to the peak now remains open in the winter. During the 2010–2011 winter, the Forest Service announced that it will leave the gates open to facilitate travel to the summit. The road will not be maintained, so a lifted 4x4 or four-wheel chains are required for motor access during the winter months.[6]
On June 15, 2019, the Oregon Geographic Names Board unanimously endorsed a proposal to give Native American names to 10 unnamed creeks that flow down Marys Peak. The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde and Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians were enlisted to be involved in representing the ancient indigenous groups and selecting the new names. The names proposed for adoption are in the languages of the Kalapuya, Wusi’n and Yaqo’n people who originally inhabited the land. The U.S. Board on Geographic Names unanimously approved the 10 names in September 2019.[7][8]
- ^ a b "Mary". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ^ "Marys Peak, Oregon". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2008-04-03.
- ^ "Marys Peak". Benton County Historical Society. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
- ^ "Oregon County High Points". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ^ "Oregon Peaks with 2000 feet of Prominence". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ^ "Marys Peak". Siuslaw National Forest, U.S. Forest Service. Retrieved 2013-02-09.
- ^ Hall, Bennett (July 1, 2019). "New creek names win state approval". The Philomath Express. Corvallis Gazette-Times. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
- ^ Fisher, Bruce (May 11, 2021). "Links to Native Past and Present: Ten Creeks on Marys Peak Have New Names". The Oregon Historical Society. Retrieved November 22, 2023.