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 | | Headlamp / Flashlight - Petzl Tikka XP
Monday, April 21 @ 16:27:35 PDT by drewsome (10 reads) |  sttjones writes "Overview:
The Petzl Tikka XP was introduced in the summer of 2005 and was the first LED flashlight to offer a super-bright single LED. The Tikka XP has a sliding filter for dispersing the light over a wider area. Slide the filter aside and the flashlight works as a spotlight. Accessories that can be purchased separately include a holder for an extra filter and a filter accessory kit that includes a blue, green, and red filter. The innovation for 2008 is the Tikka XP flashlight has accessories that allow you to change how you attach your flashlight. There is a clip that attaches to the back of the flashlight and allows you to attach the body of the flashlight to a backpack or trekking pole strap, a pocket, or a belt. This gives you the ability to change the height of the light or move the light source off to one side. There is also an adhesive-backed adapter can be attached any other hard surface, such as a helmet. Using this accessory, The light can be tilted up or down and rotated 360°.
Product Details:
The Petzl Tikka XP E86P as tested is the 2005 model and is manufactured by the French company Petzl. The Tikka XP is a single LED headlamp with four modes of lighting (full, medium and low and blinking) plus a boost mode which gives up to twenty seconds of bright light which is 50% brighter than the full power setting. The boost setting illuminates objects up to 50 meters (164 feet) away. In addition to the focused beam the Tikka XP has a wide-angle lens for a disbursed beam. Petzl has also designed an LED battery charge indicator into the housing which flashes when the light is in use and changes colors from green to yellow to red as the battery charge decreases.
Petzl advises not to use lithium batteries in this headlamp because the LED might overheat and shorten the life of the LED.
Specifications:
Manufacturer's specified weights:
· Without Batteries - 59 grams (2 ounces)
· With Batteries - 95 grams (3 ounces)
Weights I measured:
· Without Batteries - 59 grams (2 ounces)
· With Batteries - 93 grams ( 3 ¼ ounces)
Battery Life:
High – 60 hours
Medium – 80 hours
Low – 120 hours
Review:
I’ve owned many flashlights and headlamps over the years and at 3 ounces, this is the flashlight/headlamp to have. I always take it camping, unless I can’t find it when I’m assembling my gear. Full review by 5/1/2008.
This headlamp will be on sale at REI from May 2nd, 2008 through May 11th 2008 for $34.99 instead of the regular price of $49.95.
Switchback Steve"
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Dayhikes: Wygant Peak, OR
Wednesday, April 09 @ 14:07:24 PDT by Drew (0 reads) |  sttjones writes "Directions:
From Portland, Oregon, take I-84 east and take exit 58, Mitchell Point Overlook and drive uphill to the parking lot. There is no westbound on-ramp at exit 58. To return to Portland, merge onto I-84 east and drive towards Hood River. Take Exit 62, turn left at the stop sign. Cross over I-84 and take the next left and merge onto I-84 west back to Portland. From Hood River, Oregon, take I-84 west to exit 56, Viento State park, and return to the freeway eastbound. For the return trip, merge onto I-84 east. There is an outhouse above the parking lot and to the west.
No permits are required to park at the trailhead.
Length and Elevation:
Total length is 7.6 miles with a loop and an out-and-back trail to Wygant Peak. Elevation gain to Wygant Peak is 2,070 feet and 100 foot loss. Elevation at the trailhead is 140 feet, the high point is 2,214 feet.
Trail:
Wygant Peak Trail, Chetwoot Loop Trail. Connects to Mitchell Point Overlook Trail.
There is at least one geocache along this trail at: N 45° 41.756 W 121° 38.176 Info at Geocaching.com Trail Maps:
Topo Map
History:
The Chetwoot Loop was constructed by volunteers headed by Basil Clark. The trail was named for the Chinook word for bear. Basil encountered a bear while working on the trail and decided to name the trail Chetwoot. There were several hand-painted signs on this trail in the past, but I only found one of the trail signs as of this review. Review: April 13, 2008 From the parking lot, walk west to a gated road. There should be a sign above the gate indicating this is the trailhead for Wygant trail. The road heads slightly downhill to the west. The road takes a left, goes uphill, and changes into a dirt road. The trail branches off to the right at the first turn of the road. The trail follows the stream a bit, then ford the stream on a narrow log. Continue through the woods to the west. The trail goes through nice second growth trees with Ladyslipper Orchid and Trilliums blooming in the springtime. The trail uses parts of the old Columbia River Scenic Highway for about ¼ mile then the trail leaves the road and goes up a small creek valley with a small waterfall. The stream splashing over the rocks makes the narrow valley feel cool. After hopping across the small stream, the trail ascends a couple of switchbacks and rounds a corner to head west. There are some views of the Columbia River through the trees. Now the trail levels off for a while until it reaches the junction for Perham Creek and the viewpoint. The trees at the viewpoint obstruct portions of the view, but there is still a nice view of the Columbia River through the trees. Pass back under the Oregon White Oaks and return to the junction and head along the creek. The trail drops down to Perham Creek where you cross on a log bridge with railings on both sides. From there, the trail ascends up the hillside through the woods. The trail winds through the woods and comes to a junction. The branch to the right leads out to very nice, unobstructed views of the Gorge. Back on the trail, the trees have been cleared for a service road for the powerlines. Cross the road and continue along the powerlines for a short distance and then back into the woods on the trail. The trail switchbacks up the hillside to another junction. You can see there were viewpoints along this trail because there are old post and cable railings on a couple of the switchback corners. The trees have grown to block the views of the Gorge. To the right is a very nice viewpoint of the Gorge. This viewpoint is not for small children.
Back at the junction, continue on a few more switchbacks up to the junction for Wygant Peak Trail and the Chetwoot Loop Trail. From here, turn uphill to the right to climb the Wygant Peak Trail. The trail to the peak is an out and back trail. Looking at the map, the trail climbs several more switchbacks up to the peak. Expect some deadfall on the trail to deal with. Returning to the junction of the Wygant Peak and Chetwoot Trail, head east on the Chetwoot trail for a bit of bushwhacking. About ¼ mile past the junction to Wygant Peak Trail are a few trees blocking the trail. One large tree has fallen down the trail and you have to navigate down the hill, through the brush, and back up the hill to the trail. The map notes this as waypoint “TREE”. I believe I walked through poison oak in this off-trail area. The trail descends to Perham Creek and there is no bridge across the stream. Remember that the rocks in the water and the moss along the edge of this creek are extremely slippery and can offer poor footing for jumping and landing on the other side. The next obstacle is just up the hill where about 30 to 40 feet of the trail has slid away from the rock face of the valley. The water seeping out of the hillside makes this crossing a little slippery. This missing part of the trail will be difficult for inexperienced hikers and small dogs to negotiate. After climbing up from the stream crossing, the trail descends along the rim of Perham Creek Valley. This is a rustic trail with twists and turns to avoid trees and rocks. There are wet spots in the winter and spring where water seeps from the hillside and trickles across the trail. Eventually the trail leaves the valley rim, descends through the woods, and comes back to the powerline. At the powerlines, turn right, to the east, walk about 75 feet down the service road, and look for the first small trail that goes downhill, into the woods. It is about a 90 degree left turn from the service road. From the powerline the trail goes through the woods and rejoins the main trail near the junction of the viewpoint and Perham Creek. Turn right and follow the trail
This loop trail is not recommended for small children or small dogs. The Chetwoot trail is narrow, there are steep spots in the trail, the slide, and the large deadfall in the trail. Watch out for ticks in the brushy areas where you have to leave the trail. There is also poison oak on this trail and you'll probably walk through it going around the deadfalls in the trail. This is a nice walk through the woods and a couple of nice viewpoints. Perham Creek pleasantly splashes along and both crossings are quite scenic.
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Dayhikes: Shellrock Mountain, OR
Wednesday, April 09 @ 14:06:53 PDT by Drew (0 reads) | sttjones writes "Directions:
From Portland, Oregon, take I-84 east for about 52 miles. Look for milepost 52 and the steel retaining walls. At mile 52.8, look for a sloping pull off on the road and a white sign that says “Property of Oregon Department of Transportation” This trail is lightly used and parking is limited. Merging back into traffic can be a safety issue when a lot of cars are on the freeway. From Hood River, Oregon, take I-84 west to Viento State park and return to the freeway eastbound. There are no facilities at this trailhead and no water along the trail. No permits are required to park at the trailhead. Length and Elevation:
Total length is 2.6 miles out and back. Elevation gain half way is 1,225 feet and 0 foot loss. Elevation at the trailhead is 75 feet, the high point is 1,300 feet.
Trail:
Shellrock Mountain Trail There is a geocache along this trail at: N 45° 41.148 W 121° 43.924 Info at Geocaching.com
Trail Maps:
Topo Map
History:
The slopes of Shellrock Mountain are covered in huge piles of talus. This rock is different that rocks in other parts of the Gorge. Much of the Gorge is basalt, but Wind Mountain on the Washington side of the Gorge and Shellrock Mountain are part of a quartz diorite intrusion that happened about 5 million years ago. (The Ore Bin – Vol 36, No 12, Dec 1974) This different rock composition is why the rocks are a lighter color than basalt and that they sometimes sound like walking on shells or big chunks of glass. You might also see small quartz crystals in the rocks. These unstable slopes swept nearly to the shore of the Columbia River and presented a challenge for land transport through the Gorge. I think the unstable slopes are the reason for this trail because the formal trail ends at a survey marker that was constructed to monitor the sliding of the slope. Review: April 8, 2008 Hop the guardrail and step onto a portion of the old Columbia River Scenic Highway. Walk east about 150 feet and look for a trail to the right, it should be easy to see. The trail meets the bottom of the talus slope and turns left to parallel the river. The first few hundred feet of the trail don’t really ascend much, but things soon change. There are different kinds of sedum plants and mosses growing among the rocks. The trail crosses the rock rubble several times as it ascends to the abandoned roadbed of the Columbia River Scenic Highway. Walk east, uphill, on the old road until it begins to enter the forest. Look to the right for the trail which goes uphill. You can also follow the road a bit further, scramble across a gully, and reach a promontory with a fine view. Looking east, you can hear Summit Creek and maybe see a tiny bit of it. Return to the junction to face more switchbacks. The slopes here are draped with a layer of moss with patches of small white mushrooms that show up in the spring. Between May and August the bottom half of this hike is in the full sun during most of the day but during the other months of the year, the hike is mostly shaded from Shellrock Mountain and the trees on the upper slopes. Anywhere on this rockfield are great views. The traffic noise drops off pretty fast, but you always hear the freight trains as they rumble past. This area is a railroad passing siding so expect to see one train waiting for another on the tracks below. The trail crosses from one rockfield to another, climbs a couple more switchbacks, The trail is cleared of deadfall up to the forest at the time of this review. Once in the forest, the trail is a little harder to follow. One switchback, when you are heading east, looks like a junction, or you might miss the switchback altogether. If you continue past this switchback, you’ll soon reach a brushy view of the Gorge and the trail stops. Retrace your way and look for the switchback and continue uphill. There are a couple of large trees across the trail near the survey marker that you have to clamber over and the trail gets narrower, less used, and a little brushy near the survey marker. On the final switchback is a bushwhack trail going straight up the mountain. Continue past it and come out to the viewpoint with the survey marker. Enjoy a slightly obscured view of the Gorge and don’t fall off the cliff! If you want to attempt the summit, go uphill at the primitive trail. The summit is 2,090 feet high, or about 850 feet higher. Return by the same trail, being careful not to twist an ankle in the loose rocks that make up the lower section of the trail. This trail offers an excellent opportunity to train for mountain climbing as well as a good workout. If you time the season, this is one of the few open trails in the Gorge that doesn’t get blasted by sun in the late summer and fall.
This trail is safe for small children and dogs, except for the viewpoints, though most children would complain about the steepness. This is a switchback trail!
Watch out for ticks in the brushy areas. They are hungry and devious!
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Dayhikes: Wauna Viewpoint, OR
Wednesday, April 09 @ 14:06:25 PDT by Drew (0 reads) | sttjones writes "Directions:
From Portland, Oregon, take I-84 east for about 40 miles and take exit #41 for the Eagle Creek Recreation Area. The exit is just after the highway tunnel. Follow the road to the right and park in the first or second parking lot. Parking is limited because the parking is shared with the Eagle Creek Trail.
From Hood River, Oregon, take I-84 west to exit #41 and return to the freeway eastbound. The exit is just after the tunnel. There is no westbound exit at Eagle Creek.
Vandalism is a big problem at this trailhead. Don’t leave anything valuable in your car. Overnight parking is safest at the main parking lot, near the campground host.
Length and Elevation:
Total length is 3.6 miles out and back. Elevation gain half way is 850 feet and 0 foot loss. Elevation at the trailhead is 125 feet, the high point is 975 feet.
Trail:
Trail #400 – Gorge Trail and trail #402 – Wauna Viewpoint Trail
There are bathrooms in a stone building near the trailhead. Water is available at the Eagle Creek trailhead. The bathrooms and water are not available during the winter season. The closest restrooms in the winter are located at the Eagle Creek Trailhead, Trail #440.
A Northwest Forest Park permit is required to park at the trailhead.
Trail Maps:
Topo Map
Review: April 8, 2008
The trailhead is the cable-stayed wooden suspension bridge across Eagle Creek. The first mile of this hike is on trail #400. After crossing the bridge there is a short nature trail loop. From the trail split, either path will loop and join back into one trail at a concrete trail marker. Take one loop on the way up and the other on the way down. The concrete sign points to Tanner Road and Wauna Viewpoint. From the sign, the trail climbs several switchbacks to an elevation of 200 feet or so, turns to the left to parallel the Columbia River, and climbs more gradually. There is a viewpoint along the way, but trees and brush have grown to mostly screen the view of the river. At 7/10 of a mile is the next trail junction. Look for a concrete sign embedded in the embankment, just before the junction. It is the sign for the Wauna Viewpoint trail, #402. At this junction, turn left and go uphill. The first good view of the Gorge is after you have gone up several switchbacks and pass underneath the powerlines. The power company keeps the trees cleared out and you have very nice views of Beacon Rock to the west and Bonneville Dam straight ahead on the Columbia River. The trail continues to climb and then turns for the final uphill to Wauna Viewpoint. The end of the trail is a concrete marker that was used as a survey marker for construction of the Bonneville Dam. The viewpoint area could be used for a picnic spot, but there isn’t room for a lot of people. From here you have nice views of the Columbia River Gorge, Bonneville Dam, and the locks. Return to the trailhead the way you came. Enjoy the photos!!Switchback Steve
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Dayhikes: Latourell Falls, OR
Wednesday, April 09 @ 14:05:57 PDT by Drew (0 reads) | sttjones writes "Directions:
From Portland, take I-84 east to the Historic Highway cutoff, Bridal Veil exit # 28. Drive about ½ mile and take the right fork to the intersection with the Historic Columbia River Highway. Turn right and drive west about 2.8 miles. The parking lot is on the left, just before the bridge over Latourell Creek. If this lot is full, try driving across the bridge and parking along the road or take the next right and park in the Guy Talbot State Park. You can begin the loop from any of the three locations.
Traveling westbound on I-84 from the Bonneville Dam, take Ainsworth State Park exit # 35 and follow the Historic Columbia River Highway for 10 miles to the parking area.
No permits are needed for parking.
Restrooms with Flush toilets and tapwater are available across the road from the parking lot. Length and Elevation:Total length is 2.2 miles for the loop. Elevation gain is 800 feet and 800 foot loss. Elevation at the trailhead is 125 feet, the high point is 725 feet. Trail:If you need to use the restrooms right away you can take the trail at the west end of the parking lot, near the creek. The paved trail that goes to the right, goes underneath the highway bridge, and goes to the restrooms. This is a fairly well maintained loop trail but it has some muddy spots during winter and spring. Start from the parking lot and go uphill to an overlook of Latourell Falls. The waterfall plunges about 250 feet into the pool at base of the falls. The falls are named after Joseph Latourell, a prominent settler in the area. The lower Latourell Falls are unique among the taller waterfalls in the Columbia Gorge because the falls drop straight down from an overhanging basalt cliff without hitting the rocks. The trail overlook provides a view of the falls. The bridge seen near the bottom of the falls is the return portion of this loop trail. Follow the trail up a couple of switchbacks as it climbs out of the canyon and above the falls. There are additional views of the falls as the trail continues upward along the east side of the creek through the switchbacks. The trail turns up the valley and follows the creek. After a short distance there is a fork in the trail. Take the left fork. The right fork goes down to a single log crossing the creek. There is a nice variety of flora along the trail such as cedar, maple, and fir trees. There is oxalis, coltsfoot, trillium, ducks foot, bleeding hearts, devils club, several kinds of ferns and huckleberries. The trail winds up the east side of the valley and crosses a couple of little picturesque bridges across seasonal streams. Upper Latourell Falls is also a plunge type falls and is about 90 feet tall. It is about 8/10 of a mile along the trail from lower Latourell Falls. It is possible to walk behind upper Latourell Falls by leaving the trail and clambering over the rocks. From the falls, the trail begins its descent along the west side of the creek. If you want to take a shorter hike, there is a place where you can go across an old dead log across the stream. Look for the waypoint LOGL and that is where you got steeply down the bank about 30 feet to a large log with no railings. This rejoins part of the trail you have already traveled and goes back to your original trailhead. At the next junction, the trail to the right first comes a junction for an old creek crossing which is now closed. About 1/10 of a mile farther is a bench and a path to the right that leads to a viewpoint. The path to the viewpoint is steep, narrow, and rocky. This portion of the trail is not for children! There is no railing at the viewpoint and the cliff at the end of the viewpoint drops straight down, 250 feet, to the bottom of Latourell Falls. Do not let your children run ahead of you for this portion of the trail. If you are bringing small children on this hike you then you will want to take a left at waypoint JCTLT, go up the hill and then descend to the next junction. With the children well in hand, turn right and walk to the bench and back. You might also just turn left at the next junction, waypoint JCTTR and avoid the bench and the trail to the viewpoint altogether. From the junction, the trail goes uphill as it comes out of the Latourell Creek Valley, turns west, and parallels the Columbia River. There is another viewpoint along the trail but the fir trees have grown to mostly obstruct the view of the Gorge. The trail climbs a little higher and then begins to gently descend. After a couple of switchbacks, the trail passes the ruins of an old water tank. The water tank must have been the source of water for the small community of Latourell. The trail continues down several switchbacks to the road. Walk directly across the road and there is a small path down towards the park and go straight ahead or to the left at the first 4-way junction down to the park and descend some stone steps to Guy W. Talbot state park, To continue on the trail, make a right at the next junction and the paved trail goes along the creek and underneath the highway bridge. Continue walking along the creek to the base of the lower falls. The trail crosses a bridge over the creek, takes a switchback up the bank, and returns to the parking lot.
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Dayhikes: Wahclella Falls, OR
Wednesday, April 09 @ 14:04:03 PDT by Drew (39 reads) | sttjones writes "Directions:
From Portland, Oregon, take I-84 east for about 40 miles and take exit #40 for Bonneville Dam. Follow the road to the right, down to the parking lot for the trailhead. There are 12 regular and 2 handicapped parking slots. More parking is available along the edge of the road and there is overflow parking about ¼ mile at the Toothrock Trailhead.
From Hood River, Oregon, take I-84 west to exit #40, turn left, then turn right at the “T” to find the parking lot.
Length and Elevation:
Total length is 1.8 miles round trip. Elevation gain is 300 feet and 75 foot loss. Elevation at the trailhead is 75 feet, the high point is 375 feet.
Trail:
Wahclella Falls Trail #436 with connections to #400.
There are no bathrooms or water at the trailhead. The closest bathrooms are at the Bonneville Dam Visitor's Center.
A Northwest Forest Park permit is required to park at the trailhead. There should be a fee collection box for the $5 day use permit.
Trail Maps:
Topo Map, National Forest Service Map
Review: April 8, 2008
Follow the trail up Tanner Creek on an access road and enjoy the stream as it rushes past the moss-covered rocks. In less than 1/4 mile you come to a small diversion dam which supplies the Bonneville fish hatchery with water. In the fall be sure to look for salmon in the river. The tread of this trail is pretty good and drains pretty well even in raining weather. There are only a couple of muddy spots on the trail.
Just past the dam is a bridge that crosses right in front of a 50 foot waterfall called Munra Falls. This waterfall gushes and splashes on the bridge during spring runoff but only slides down the rocks later in the season.
The trail gains elevation to look down on the stream. In one place the trail ascends about 25 stairs. Just to the left is a little grotto where the kids have made a little rock cairn. Perhaps the children pretend wood fairies live there. Continue up the stairs and look back for nice views of the Columbia River Gorge and the Tanner Creek Valley. At 7/10 of a mile is the junction for the loop that goes to the falls and back. Turn right so you have a better view of the falls as you walk around the loop. The trail drops down several switchbacks and crosses a sturdy footbridge in the bottom of the canyon. Bridges this size and weight are usually brought in by helicopter. This bridge is high enough above the stream to be safe from flooding. Enjoy the views of Wahclella Falls and a small waterfall on the west side of the canyon. Old guidebooks may call this Tanner Creek Falls, but it was renamed to Wahclella Falls by the Mazamas. As you wind your way towards the falls, the trail passes under an overhanging rock with a small grotto with a small cave. I’m sure people have used this cave for centuries to get out of the weather. Imagine building a fire at the entrance to the cave to stay warm and to cook the salmon that were caught from Tanner Creek. You will be impressed by the thundering falls and the way the water cascades out into a classic punchbowl fall. The whole area is covered by moss where the stream keeps the rocks wet all year. The stream gathers together and flows down the valley to the Columbia. The waterfall is 350’ tall and plunges down two falls. The large moss-covered boulders that border the plunge pool are from a landslide in 1973. Enjoy the large cedar trees on the canyon floor near the falls. Climb on the trail and drop back down to the junction. Continue around the loop back to the junction and back to the trailhead.
This trail looks safe for children who have hiked before. There are some very steep hillsides and some small cliffs in a couple of places. As long as your kids are experienced hikers, I highly recommend this trail for the falls and mist waterfalls on this trail.
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Gear: MSR Snowshoe Review
Tuesday, February 26 @ 08:47:22 PST by drew (0 reads) |  sttjones writes "I love these snowshoes, despite their price. This is the third winter I've used them. The winter season is ending so look for these snowshoes on clearance.
These snowshoes come in two sizes, 22 and 25 inch. Everything is a compromise and snowshoe size is no exception. In many parts of the country the snow can be wet and heavy and these snowshoes excel in those conditions. If you travel in deep powder often then you would probably want the longer model. I've used several brands of snowshoes, including rawhide snowshoes, which have an aesthetic appeal.
I've made my own snowshoes out of PVC pipe and inner tubes for the do-it-yourself appeal. I have the 25" model and the actual weight is 3# 4.5 oz. In contrast, I have a 30" pair of Yakima snowshoes that weigh 5# 3 oz. I look for snowshoes to be rugged and reliable. Pay close attention to snowshoe bindings.
If any one part of the binding breaks or fails, can you still make the binding serviceable? Are there enough straps so that if one breaks can you still walk back out to the trailhead? Can you get them on and off while wearing thick gloves? Do the bindings look like they may rub against another part of the snowshoe and squeak during use?
Think of strapping a can of green beans to your feet and walking around all day. Now think about two cans of green beans on each foot. That can be the difference between brands of snowshoes. Lighter is supremely better. When you strap your feet in, they stay where you put them and don't slip sideways in the bindings. The binding pivot is limited enough so you can step backwards, but you do have to pick your feet up a lot. The snowshoes are sturdy enough you can jump off across ditches without warping the snowshoes. These bindings also allow you to side-hill without your foot twisting or the snowshoe trying to match the angle of the slope. The teeth all around the snowshoe hold fast in all but loose snow on steep hills.
The aluminum and synthetic decking material combine to provide a fairly quiet backcountry experience. Compare these to snowshoes with plastic decking on icy snow for noise level. As with any snowshoe, care should be taken when walking over rocks because that will dull the points. The points on these snowshoes can be easily sharpened with some filing.
The MSR snowshoes are well constructed and thought out. The binding is the best I've seen on the market. With winter gloves on, you can get in and out of the bindings and make adjustments. You can also undo the two bootstraps and step out of them then later step back into them without having to readjust the heel strap, though this is best done between short trips in camp. The bindings are sturdy and wet snow doesn't stick to the bindings and decking. These snowshoes offer great traction on almost any surface. You'll appreciate the small amount of snow the tails kick up as you walk. Weight is an important factor if you intend to walk more than a couple of miles a day and I believe these are the best combination of weight savings, durability, and functionality on the market.
The only wear I can see is the exterior paint finish is chipping off in places, but this doesn't decrease the functionality of this snowshoe.
Switchback Steve
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Dayhikes: Mt. Hood, OR
Wednesday, February 27 @ 08:34:11 PST by drew (53 reads) | sttjones writes "Directions:
From Portland take I-84 East to the Wood Village, exit (16A). Head south and turn left onto NE Burnside Rd. Heading East, Burnside will merge into Highway 26. Follow Hwy 26 to Government Camp. Turn left onto the road to Timberline Lodge.
In winter, it is required to carry chains or have traction devices. The road to Timberline requires chains during much of the winter.
No parking permit is needed as of March, 2008. A decision to charge fees at Timberline is pending. A wilderness permit is required. The free self-registration for a wilderness permit is at the Wy'East Day Lodge on the lower level.
Bathrooms are available at the Wy'East Day Lodge or at Timberline Lodge.
Length and Elevation:
6 Miles, Elevation gain and loss totals 7,000 Feet
Trail:
None, with connections to the Timberline Trail #600, and overlapping with the Pacific Crest Trail #2000
Trail Maps:
Topo Map
History:
Mount Hood (called Wy'east by the Multnomah tribe), is a stratovolcano. The last major eruption was 1781-1782 and a more recent episode ending shortly before the arrival of Lewis and Clark in 1805. The most recent minor eruptive event occurred in August 1907. The mountain was given its present name on by Lt. William Broughton, a member of Captain George Vancouver's discovery expedition. Lt. Broughton named the mountain after a British admiral, Samuel Hood.
The Multnomah name for Mount Hood is Wy'east. Legend says the name Wy'east comes from a chief of the Multnomah tribe. The chief competed for the attention of a woman who was also loved by the chief of the Klickitat tribe. The anger that the competition generated led to their transformations into volcanoes, with Wy'east becoming Mt. Hood, the Klickitat chief becoming nearby Mount Adams, and the target of their affection becoming Mount St. Helens. Their battle was said to have destroyed the Bridge of the Gods and thus created the Great Cascades of the Columbia River.
Safety Advice:
This review is not meant for climbing Mt. Hood. It is meant for day-hiking in good weather to the top of the Palmer chair lift at 8,500’ and up to 9,600’. White out conditions can rapidly create zero visibility from blowing snow or surface level clouds and snow can fall any day of the year. Complete disorientation can follow and it is easy to walk the wrong way, or over a dropoff. Be sure to have a working compass. The compass bearing back to Timberline Lodge from Illumintion Rock is about 183 degrees from true north, 166 degrees from magnetic north. From the saddle at N45°21.945' W121°42.051' it is 193 degrees true north, 175 degrees magnetic north. Know the weather forecast for the day before you leave and look to the south, west, and north to check for incoming weather every 15 minutes or so.
Logistics:
Mt. Hood is a technical climb. There are no trails leading to the summit. Only climbers in good physical condition who have received technical training and with complete mountaineering gear should attempt this climb. Summer rockfall and avalanches greatly increase above 9,600’. If you later decide to climb Mt. Hood, it is best climbed between May and July. This avoids avalanche dangers early in the season and rockfall and the Bergschrund in the summer and fall.
Review: March 22nd, 2008
At 11,239 ft (3426 m) high, Mt Hood is the highest mountain in Oregon and it is the 4th highest volcano in the Cascade mountain range. It’s visibility and beauty make make Mt. Hood a very popular destination. This can lead to traffic jams on the Highway 26. When the ski resorts are at their peak, traffic back to Portland on Highway 26 can come to a near standstill between 4 and 5pm. A vehicle crash can shutdown the highway at any time.
Plan to arrive fairly early in the busy weekends of summer and winter. From the parking lot, pick a route and start walking uphill. I like the views from the southern side of the slope. On a clear day you have uninterrupted views of Mt. Jefferson and the Three Sisters. The Silcox Hut is about 900 feet above the parking lot. This hut was built for climbers of Mt. Hood but now it can be rented out for parties. Off to the south are views of White River and the Highway 35 bridge across White River. This river made the news in 2006 when a glacial outburst washed thousands of cubic yards of sand, silt, and rocks filling the river channel and burying Highway 35.
Remember to keep an eye on the weather and descend if you see clouds rolling in. Further up the mountain you will want to head north to get a good view of Illumination Rock, a jutting spire of rock. You can walk to the saddle of illumination rock for great views to the north. From there, walk south to another saddle at just under 9,600’ in elevation. Take a break and enjoy the view of the Steel Cliffs directly east of the saddle. You will certainly see climbers going up or coming down from the summit or the skiers schussing down the mountain. In summer, skiers are on the slopes of the Palmer Icefield until about 1 in the afternoon.
Head down to one of the lodges for a well deserved snack. If you have enough energy, walk around in the lobby of Timberline Lodge and admire the workmanship of the handcrafted items.
Enjoy the photos!!
Gallery Pics
Switchback Steve"
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Metro Area Hikes: Leif Erikson Trail, OR
Wednesday, February 27 @ 08:07:01 PST by drew (60 reads) | sttjones writes "Directions:
In Portland, OR, Take I-5 to I-405. Exit towards St. Helens onto highway US-30 W. Go about 1/3 mile, looking for the NW Vaugn Street exit. Bear Right on NW Vaughn St. Turn Left on NW 24TH AVE - go 0.1 mile. Turn Right on NW Thurman St. and go about 1.5 miles. Arrive at the parking lot at the gated trailhead.
No parking permits are needed. Parking lot fills up by 7:00 or 7:30 am on weekends. The neighbors request you park downhill around 29th Ave and Thurman St. when the parking lot is full.
Portable outhouse near trailhead available seasonally.
Mountain bikes are allowed on Leif Erikson trail and most firelanes.
Portland law requires dogs to be on a leash at all times while in the park. Dogs must be leashed prior to entering and when leaving the park. You are also required to pick up after your dog, not kick it off the trail. In actual practice, about 20% of dogs are leashed on the trails.
Length and Elevation:
22 Miles round trip, Elevation gain 650 Feet and loss 200 feet to the turn-around point. Total gain and loss is 1,000 Feet. Elevation at the trailhead is 300 feet. Elevation at Germantown Road is 650 feet. High point is about 750 feet.
Trail Maps:
Topo Map - Leif Erikson Map , Topo Map – The Art Of Geography
Trail:
Leif Erikson Trail with connections to the Wildwood trail and a multitude of other trails.
There is at least one geocache along this trail at: N 45° 34.095 W 122° 46.115 Info at Geocaching.com
History:
There is one other large Forest Park in the United States. It is in St. Louis, MO. and is about 1,293 acres in size. Forest Park in Portland is over 5,100 acres in size. A century ago the old growth trees in the hills above Portland were being cut down for the city. Fires also burned in the park in the 1940’s and 1950’s burning over 2,000 acres. There has been support for preserving the hills as a park since the 1870’s as well as plans to develop the park for homesites. Rumors of oil created a rush to drill wells, but no oil was found. The idea of a park continued to gain favor and Forest Park was created September 23, 1948. The park was originally 4,200 acres in size and has had small tracts of land added over time and has become the largest urban forest park in the United States.
Review: March 1, 2008
Forest Park has numerous trails throughout its length. The south end Forest Park is bounded by Washington Park which contains the Children’s Museum, Hoyt Arboretum, Oregon Zoo, Japanese Garden, Vietnam Memorial, World Forestry Center, and International Rose Test Garden. This hikes starts north of these tourist attractions. The trail is actually called Leif Erickson Drive and is a gated road with mileposts every quarter mile and additional mileposts scattered along the trail.
Since this trail is within a metropolitan area, it is well maintained and gets very busy when the weather is nice. Mountain bikers, hikers and runners along with their dogs use this trail heavily.
There is trail signage at the trailhead showing several of the trails and trailheads. The trail starts out as a paved road and heads uphill at a steady rate for the first mile or so. The road turns into a kind of cobbled road and then into a packed dirt road. There are limited views of the industrial area of the city for the first few miles. It is surprising how quiet this trail is for being so near to Portland, and the port. Enjoy the woodsy setting with fern covered cliffs and some small streams.
The major junction to pay attention to is at mile 6.5 where several trails come together. This trail junction also offers an excellent view of the St. John’s Bridge, which crosses the Willamette River. From this point the trail narrows and gets muddier in wet weather. In some places you can’t avoid the mud, but it is only a couple of inches deep and dries out in the summer.
The trail tends to follow the contour of the land, curving in and out of the gullies and small canyons and generally gains elevation over the entire length of the trail. I turned around at mile 10 but you could arrange a shuttle hike by parking at the Germantown Road and Thurman St trailheads.
Since this park is in an urban area, take considerable thought before venturing off-trail. Law authorities occasionally find marijuana plants being cultivated in the park. People who cultivate these illegal plants can be very protective of their plot and don’t take kindly to people stumbling upon their crops. About 100 plants were seized in October, 2007.
Overall this is a great trail for a cloudy day and very child-friendly. There are some steep hillsides but no cliffs along the downhill side of the trail. All the unleashed dogs I saw were out for a romp and not interested in other people.
Enjoy the photos!!
Gallery Pics
Switchback Steve"
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Dayhikes: Ape Cave, WA
Friday, January 25 @ 14:37:30 PST by Drew (95 reads) | sttjones writes "Note: The trailhead is presently inaccessable because the roads leading to the Sno Parks are not plowed as of 3/31/08. FR 83 is closed due to snow at its junction with FR 90. It is about a 6 mile snowshoe or snowmobile ride to the Marble Mountain SnoPark. Call the Gifford Pinchot National Forest for current information at (360) 891-5000 or visit the Gifford Pinchot Recreation webpage for the road and snopark information. Directions:
From Seattle take I-5 south and exit I-5 to State Route 503 at Woodland, WA. Drive through Cougar, Washington, to Forest Road 90 and then to Forest Road 83, then to Forest Road 83/8303. In the summer you need a parking permit for the trailhead. In the winter you need a SnoPark permit and park where you can. From Portland, OR, take I-205 north to exit 30b to Battle Ground. Move over to the middle or left lane and proceed north on SR503 for about 10 miles to Battle Ground. Continue north on SR503 past Chelatchie Prairie and Amboy. At the junction of Lewis River Road and SR503, turn right and continue on SR503 past Cougar. Make a left turn on to FR 83 then to Forest Road 83/8303, In the summer you need a parking permit for the trailhead. In the winter you need a SnoPark permit and park where you can. You must have a Snow Park permit for winter parking and a Northwest Forest Pass or day use pass in the summer. Lantern rentals and book sales are available from late June to early-September at the Ape's Headquarters near the trailhead. There are outhouses available at the trailhead. Trail:
Ape Cave Lower Cave and Upper Cave with connections to trail 239. Trail Maps:
Topo Map, Forest Service Map Cave Route Map There is at least one geocache along this trail at: N 46° 06.565 W 122° 12.658 Info at Geocaching.com Length and Elevation:
1.5 Miles Roundtrip for the lower cave, 3 miles roundtrip for the upper cave. Elevation at trailhead – 2,100 Ft, Elevation at upper entrance – 2,450 History:
People are usually curious about the naming of Ape Cave. The cave was named after the Mt. St. Helens Apes, a Boy Scout troop from Amboy. It was discovered in 1947 during loggin of the area. A local logger, Lawrence Johnson later told the Scoutmaster of the Apes. In the early 1950’s the Scoutmaster and Scouts explored the cave by climbing down ropes into the cave. Review: February 16, 2008 First, make sure you have the proper equipment to explore the cave. You need good flashlights and/or lanterns, clothing for standing in 42 degree farenheit weather, and a hat would be good. For hiking the upper cave, gloves and a helmet are advisable. From the parking lot follow the well-worn trail to the entrance. Stop at the visitors kiosk and read more about Ape Cave. Descend the stairs into the mouth of the cave and explore. Once down the metal stairs you can choose the upper or lower cave. The lower cave is the easy lava tube to explore. The floor is fairly free of obstacles and there is plenty of headroom. Marvel how the lava tube snakes downhill. The sand on the floor has been washed in over the centuries from water flooding into the cave. Be cautious of downpours which can cause a lot of water to enter the cave. The size of the lave tube goes from big to huge to small again. As the lava flowed in the tube, ledges were made where the lava flowed in the cave at the same level. In a couple of places the ledges came together. Be sure to look for the “meatball”, a boulder carried along on the lava which then got stuck where the gap between the ledges narrowed. Listen to the sounds of dripping water echoing in the dark. This part of the cave is suitable for children 6 and above. The cave eventually becomes filled with sand. Who knows how far the lava tube actually continues for. Maybe all the way to the lake far below. The upper cave is more challenging. There are some rockfalls to contend with and the floor is jagged in some areas. A misstep at the wrong time could result in a sprained ankle, a nasty abrasion, or a broken leg. There is also the frozen waterfall to negotiate. Some people have not been able to climb over this and they had to turn around and go back. Look for insect life in the cave. At the end, climb back up to the surface and take trail 239 back to the trailhead. "
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Metro Area Hikes: Portland Eastbank Esplanade, OR
Friday, January 25 @ 14:36:25 PST by drew (97 reads) | sttjones writes "Directions:
Mass Transit –
Using the Portland MAX, take the red, yellow, or blue line to the Rose Quarter Transit Center. Trains run about every 5 to 15 minutes. Walk south on NE 1st Ave. Cross NE Oregon St at the traffic light, turn right and cross NE Lloyd Blvd. and walk southwest towards the pedestrian bridge across the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. Take the ramp or stairs to the Eastbank Esplanade.
Driving-
Traveling southbound on I-5, take exit 300B and follow the brown signs towards OMSI. Follow signs for US-26 and merge onto SE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. Turn right at SE Salmon St then turn left at SE Water Avenue. You will see the OMSI building ahead and parking on the right.
Traveling I-5 northbound, while driving over the Marquam Bridge, take exit 300 to I-84 East towards the Portland Airport and the Dalles. Bear right onto the off-ramp for OMSI/Central Eastside Industrial District. Turn right at SE Water Avenue. You will see the OMSI building ahead and parking on the right.
Free parking is available in the OMSI parking lots.
Once you have parked, walk towards the river, then to the right to hook up with the Eastbank Esplande under the Hawthorne Bridge.
One outhouse is available on the east bank near the Steel Bridge. Restrooms are available inside OMSI. Go through the main doors and turn left towards the Omnimax theater. Restrooms are to the right of the Omnimax theater entrance. Restrooms are also on the west side of the Willamette river at the base of the Hawthorne Bridge in Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
Length and Elevation:
3.0 Miles, Elevation gain 50 feet. Total gain and loss totals 100 feet.
Trail:
Springwater Corrider which is part of the Portland 40 mile loop.
There is at least one geocache along this trail at: N 45° 31.064 W 122° 40.406 Info at Geocaching.com
Trail Maps:
Topo Map, Portland 40 mile Loop, Springwater Corridoor and Eastbank Esplanade, Eastbank Esplanade
Review: January 19th, 2008
One of Portland’s premier trails, the Eastbank Esplanade and Tom McCall Waterfront park join to create a well maintained, cement trail that is heavily used. The trail is multi-use for walkers, runners, and bicyclists.
There is a multitude of choices on how to hike or bike this trail. The nearly level trail is good for people of all ages as well as strollers, scooters, and skateboards. A suggested itinerary is to start from OMSI, head north and use the Hawthorne Bridge to cross the Willamette River. Once across the river, head north, downriver and choose to play in Salmon Street Springs in the summer or continue walking. The next bridge is the Morrison Bridge. Pause to read the plaques, signs, and labels in the cement sidewalk pointing out places of historical interest. Stop at the Portland paddlewheel or the USS Oregon Memorial. Perhaps an event is in progress at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Events range from feasts and festivals to races and concerts. Past the Burnside Bridge, the next quarter mile turns into clouds of pink cherry blossoms in the spring. Perhaps a short detour to the Chinese Garden is in order. It is at 239 NW Everett St, just 3 blocks north of Burnside Bridge and three blocks from the park.
Next, cross back over the Willamette River on the Steel Bridge. You may have to wait while the lower deck lifts for a passing boat. Perhaps both decks will lift to allow a taller ship to pass by the bridge. The Steel Bridge is unique due to the lower deck rising while the upper deck remains open to traffic. The lower deck carries a pedestrian bridge and two tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad while the upper deck carries cars, buses, and two tracks for the Portland MAX.
On the east bank near the Steel Bridge is a ramp and stairs that lead across the train tracks. The sidewalk can take you to the Oregon Convention Center or the Rose Garden Transit Center. Back on the Eastbank Espalnade, you have nice views of downtown Portland and the West Hills. The walkway passes an outhouse that is open to the public. The walkway drops down to the river and changes into a floating esplanade. People commonly fish from the dock that is connected to the floating esplanade. Seagulls and Canada Geese also like to hang out on the dock. The trail goes back onto dry land and passes under the Burnside and Morrison Bridges. This part of the trail is near the freeway and short sections are very noisy. There are several outdoor works of art along this part of the esplanade. Part of the esplanade is a catwalk and you can look through the deck to the riverbank below. There are several overlooks with benches along the esplanade providing a place to sit and watch the city.
Heading back towards OMSI you will pass a bronze statue of Vera Katz, former mayor of Portland. Sometime people dress her up for the weather or give her a book to read. Have some water from the Benson Bubbler drinking fountain and lounge around on the basalt rocks for a bit. Pass under the Hawthorne Bridge and return to your car, or continue walking past OMSI then along SE Caruthers St, turn right on 4th Ave, and hook up to the Springwater Corrider to continue walking along the Willamette River.
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Dayhikes: Angel's Rest, OR
Tuesday, October 16 @ 13:30:29 PDT by drew (203 reads) | Directions:
From Portland, take I-84 east to the Historic Highway cutoff, Bridal Veil exit # 28. The first parking lot is at the intersection of the cutoff road and the Historic Columbia River Highway. The second parking lot is just west of the intersection. The trailhead is south of the Historic Columbia River Highway, opposite the junction with the interstate access road in Bridal veil. From the overflow parking lot, take the trail at the north end of the parking lot.
Travelling westbound on I-84 from the Bonneville Dam, take Ainsworth State Park exit # 35 and follow the Historic Columbia River Highway for 7.1 miles (11.4 km).
Northwest Forest Pass may be needed for parking.
No outhouse is available at the trailhead.
Length and Elevation:
4.5 Miles, Elevation gain 1,100 feet. Total gain and loss totals 2,200 feet.
Trail:
Angel's Rest Trail #415. Connects to Wahkeena Falls Trail #420.
There is at least one geocache along this trail at: N 45° 33.802 W 122° 09.188 Info at Geocaching.com
Trail Maps:
Topo Map, National Forest Service map
Review: July 7th, 2004, October 12th 2007
This is a well maintained trail that is heavily used. The trail is nice and wide most of the way to Angel’s Rest. The first part of the trail is pretty gentle.After about ¼ mile, you cross a rock field with a view of the Gorge, freeway, river, and pasture. Across the river you can see Cape Horn and Highway 14.
The trail passes Coopey Creek Falls. Most of the view is obscured by brush and trees. There is a large fir tree on the left side of a trail that marks a small, slippery little trail that gives you an okay view of a small waterfall on coopey Creek. The trail becomes rather steep and slippery, so you might decide the view isn’t worth the risk. In mid-April you’ll see hundreds of trillium in the forest along the trail. Later the cow parsnips, columbine, and monkshood appear.
The trail leaves Coopey Creek and starts switchbacking up the mountain. The understory becomes brushier as the cover from big trees lessens. The trail is safe for small children as long as you keep them away from the cliffs at Angel’s Rest. Be sure to avoid the poison oak. Remember that your dog can get the poison oak on their fur and then rub it onto you. On Angel’s rest you’ll see wild roses, iris, and other wildflowers. Near the top is a trail junction to Devil’s Rest. Turn left and climb over the rocks to Angel’s Rest. There is an overlook of the Gorge with a bench with a dedication on it. Since Angel’s Rest has a commanding view of the Gorge, you might want to choose another hike on a really windy day or continue in the woods towards Devil’s Rest or Wahkeena spring.
This is a dog happy trail! There were at least 20 dogs hiking with their owners on the trail this weekend day.
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Dayhikes: Gobbler's Knob Mt. Rainier, WA
Tuesday, October 16 @ 13:30:29 PDT by drew (197 reads) | sttjones writes "Directions:
From Portland, take I-5 North and take exit 68 to Hwy 12. Take Hwy 12 for about 30 miles to Morton. Turn left on Hwy 7 and drive about 17 miles to Hwy 706. Turn right on Hwy 706 and drive to the Nisqually entrance on the west side of Mt. Rainier National Park. Drive about one mile from the entrance and turn left on Westside Road. Continue about three miles to the parking area and gate. This road is closed in the winter.
From Seattle, take I-5 South to Hwy 512 East and go towards Puyallup (Exit 127). Follow Hwy 512 East for about 2 miles. Turn south onto Hwy 7 towards Mt. Rainier. Follow Hwy 7 south to Elbe. At Elbe, turn left onto Hwy 706, travel through Ashford, and then to the Nisqually entrance of Mt. Rainier National Park. Drive about one mile from the entrance and turn left on Westside Road. Continue about three miles to the parking area and gate. This road is closed in the winter.
Length and Elevation: 11.8 Miles total round trip. Elevation gain 2,700 feet and no loss. Total gain and loss is 5,400 feet. The road segment (including washed out portions) is 3.5 miles each way and 1,170 feet gain from the gate on Westside Road to the Gobbler's Knob trailhead at Round Pass. The foot trail is 2.4 miles each way and 1,570 feet gain from the trailhead to Gobbler's Knob fire lookout.
Trail: Gobbler’s Knob Trail. Connects to Goat Lake Trail #248.
No toilet facilities. Pit Toilets are available at Kautz Creek. National Park Entrance fee of $15.00 or Annual Pass is required to enter the park.
Trail Maps:
Topo Map, National Park Map
Review: October 13, 2007
From the parking lot on Westside road, continue past the gate on the closed road and cross Tahoma Creek on a footlog. From there, follow the flagging through the road washout. Short sections of the road in the valley are intact. On the Topo map, the road is washed out between W1 and W2, and again between W3 and W4. Look to see how the forest trees have been killed by the flood that pounded rocks against the trees. Once the flood girdled the trees they soon died. Farther up the road are dozens of deadfalls that have been chainsawed through to clear the trail. This section of the road on the valley floor is still good for hiking or mountain biking. The road is in good shape where it heads steeper uphill and leaves the valley floor. Continue uphill to Tahoma View where there were once views of Mt. Rainier. Now second growth trees have obscured the view. Continue uphill once again to Round Pass and the Gobbler’s Knob trailhead.
At the trailhead sign is a bike rack. Mountain bikes aren’t allowed on the Gobbler’s Knob trail. Follow the well maintained trail as it winds its way up to Lake George. Lake George is a popular backpacking campground with individual sites and a group site. There is also a rustic ranger’s cabin for the Park staff. Lake George is a somewhat narrow lake oriented towards Mt. Wow. This lake, like many lakes in the Park, can have plenty of black flies in the spring. Early spring and fall are great times to hike this trail. On the far side of Lake George is a trail that goes partially around the lake. There are several deadfalls in the trail to negotiate.
Leaving the lake, the trail becomes a bit steeper as it climbs up the slopes of Gobbler’s Knob. The trail crosses a couple of seasonal streams and passes another lake. This is the last water on the trail. Now the trail begins a series of switchbacks to the intersection of Goat Lake Trail. Many people choose to reach Gobbler’s Knob via this side trail which begins outside the Park. Please remember that pets are not allowed on trails in the Park.
Just below Gobbler’s Knob, the trail clears the trees and you have an unobstructed view of the valley below, Mt. Rainier, and Goat Rocks. Just a bit more and you reach the fire lookout at Gobbler’s Knob. The lookout was heavily damaged in the November storm of 2006. The roof was blown off and most of the walls were knocked down. Now the lookout is mostly repaired and will be ready next summer.
Enjoy the 360 degree views from the area and look down on Lake George and the Tahoma Creek valley. You can look at your map and pick out the peaks around Mt. Rainier and the major features of the west side, such as Emerald Ridge.
From here, return to the trailhead, and if you brought your mountain bike, enjoy the fast ride downhill until you have to walk around the washouts.
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Dayhikes: Eagle Peak, WA
Monday, September 10 @ 12:24:03 PDT by drew (217 reads) | Directions:
From Portland, take I-5 North and take exit 68 to Hwy 12. Take Hwy 12 for about 30 miles to Morton. Turn left on Hwy 7 and drive about 17 miles to Hwy 706. Turn right on Hwy 706 and drive to the Nisqually entrance on the west side of Mt. Rainier National Park. Drive about three miles from the entrance and cross the bridge over Kautz Creek. Continue to Longmire and take a right turn just after the lodge. Drive about .1 mile and park on the right.
From Seattle, take I-5 South to Hwy 512 East and go towards Puyallup (Exit 127). Follow Hwy 512 East for about 2 miles. Turn south onto Hwy 7 towards Mt. Rainier. Follow Hwy 7 south to Elbe. At Elbe, turn left onto Hwy 706, travel through Ashford, and then to the Nisqually entrance of Mt. Rainier National Park. Drive about three miles from the entrance and cross the bridge over Kautz Creek. Continue to Longmire and take a right turn just after the lodge. Drive about .1 mile and park on the right.
Flush toilets are available at Longmire.
National Park Entrance fee of $15.00 or Annual Pass is required to enter the park.
Length and Elevation:
7 Miles round trip. Elevation gain 2,950 feet and no loss. Total gain and loss is 5,900 feet. Side-trip to other peaks - 1 mile. Elevation at the trailhead is 2,800 feet, the saddle elevation is 5,700 feet, Eagle Peak is 5,958 feet.
Trail:
Eagle Peak Trail.
Trail Maps:
Topo Map, National Park Service Map
Review: September 8, 2007
From the parking lot, continue walking on the pavement uphill and cross the large wood suspension bridges over the Nisqually River. Walk down the road about 1,000 feet to the trailhead on the left.
The trail begins innocently enough. You walk gently uphill on a wide, well maintained trail. Pretty soon you realize the trail has gotten steeper. Then the switchbacks start. The trail climbs relentlessly up the side of the mountain on a multitude of switchbacks. The climb is pleasant as the trail switchbacks along a stream. The last water on the trail is where the trail crosses the stream at about 2 miles up the trail. Eventually the trail climbs a ridge and you think a little more fondly of the switchbacks. Don’t worry though, there are more! The Park Service has graveled the trail for erosion control.
The official trail ends on a saddle between Eagle Peak and xx Peak. You’ll find a trail that heads towards the west to scramble up Eagle Peak. There are places where you’ll need to use your hands and watch your head so you don’t bump your head or fall off but it isn’t any harder than climbing a tree. Once at the top there are great views of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, and Mt. St. Helens. On the scramble back down to the saddle, make sure you go back the way you came. There are two paths that look like a shorter trail down but they quickly dead-end.
Perhaps you want to take a side trip on the way down. There is a primitive path that branches off from the main trail at the lower edge of the rock field at N 46 45.004 Lat, W 121 46.97 Long. The trail sidehills along the meadow and goes through the brush. The hill side is covered in beargrass. At the boulder field you can climb up to another saddle or sit in the boulder field and try to spot the Pikas and Marmots.
Continue back down to the trailhead and if you have time, take Trail of the Shadows. It is across the main road from the Longmire Inn. It is a 1/2 mile walk around the Longmire Meadow to see a homestead cabin and soda springs.
Here is a trail that has plenty of switchbacks, is safe for small children to the saddle, has great views, and is fairly uncrowded.
Enjoy the photos!!
Gallery Pics
Switchback Steve
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Backpacking Trips: Three Sisters Wilderness Backpack
Tuesday, June 19 @ 07:14:01 PDT by drew (301 reads) | | Drew writes " Just returned from a week long trip around the Three Sisters Wilderness, that included a climb of South Sister also known as "Charity". A review is underway, and will be posted soon. Take a look in the gallery for some pictures.
Drew
Here is a review of the South Sister climb for those who want just to do this portion.
The route along the Devils Lake Trail takes
you up about a 1000ft over the first 3.0 miles to a plateau above
Moraine Lake This is the easy part of your day. From here the real
climb begins switch backing through the last remaining trees at
timberline and passing between two pointed outcroppings. Beyond
timberline, it continues through loose pumice and scree and the incline
increases with almost every step. At 8800 ft, you will come to a ridge
which overlooks the Lewis Glacier and usually has a small lake of melt
water. Many stop here for lunch and to rest a bit before pushing on to
the summit. From this point, the trail follows the ridge of cinder
towards the northwest, but then veers north to ascend the upper slope
of the cone. The pumice & scree becomes allot looser from all the
traffic this trail sees. Finally you approach the southern edge of the
crater rim, and "Wow" your there. The true summit is on the North side.
Reverse your course to head home.
Geting There:
Trailhead: To get to this hike, take this route for the easist
access. Drive 25 miles west of Bend on the Cascade Lakes Highway, 4.5
miles past Mount Bachelor Ski Area. Turn right at the Green Lakes
Trailhead. Alternately, you can use the the Devils Lake trailhead which
is two miles further down the road. Either trail will do, and they join
together at Moraine Lake which is the beginning of the climb. (Lat:44.1 Lon:-121.75)
Trail Guides for South Sister Climb - Three Sisters Wilderness:
Hiking Oregons Central Cascades
by Bruce Grubbs (Falcon Publishing)
100 Hikes Central Oregon Cascades
by William Sullivan (Navillus Press)
Hiking Oregon Three Sisters
by Bruce Grubbs (Falcon Publishing)
Best Seasons: Fall, Spring, Summer,
User Groups: Hikers,
Ranger Contact: Deschutes National Forest 1001 SW Emkay Drive (541) 383-5300
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Dayhikes: Eagle Creek, OR
Tuesday, June 19 @ 07:12:52 PDT by drew (260 reads) | sttjones writes "Directions:
From Portland, Oregon, take I-84 east for about 40 miles and take exit #41 for the Eagle Creek Recreation Area. The exit is just after the highway tunnel. Follow the road to the right, up a one lane paved road to the trailhead. Parking is limited and this is one of the most popular trails in the Gorge.
From Hood River, Oregon, take I-84 west to exit #41 and return to the freeway eastbound. The exit is just after the tunnel. There is no westbound exit at Eagle Creek.
Vandalism is a big problem at this trailhead. Don’t leave anything valuable in your car and don’t park here overnight. Overnight parking is available at the main parking lot, near the campground host.
The bathrooms in a stone building near the trailhead and water are available at the trailhead in the summer months. Only portable toilets at the trailhead are available during the winter.
A Northwest Forest Park permit is required to park at the trailhead.
Length and Elevation:
Trailhead elevation: 180 feet. 1500 feet gain, 100 feet loss for the first 7 miles. 2250 feet gain for the next 5 miles to Wahtum Lake.
Trail:
Eagle Creek Trail #440 with connections to #400, #406, #416, #433, #434, #435, and the Pacific Crest Trail.
There is at least one geocache along this trail at: N 45° 36.505 W 121° 52.927. Info at Geocaching.com
Trail Maps:
Topo Map, National Forest Service Map
Review: June 7, 2007
This is one of the most popular trail in the Columbia Gorge. Expect parking to be an issue during weekends in the summer. The well-used trail gently climbs above the creek and passes along basalt cliffs. Cable railings have been installed where the trail passes the cliffs. The trail has been blasted into the cliffs at a couple of sections. About 2 miles up the trail is the junction to Punchbowl Falls. This nice 25 foot tall fall spills into a grotto with a large pool good for summer swimming. Rejoin the trail and continue about another mile to Metlako Falls. Here is a nice overlook of the falls. About another mile is Loowit falls. The trail continues up the canyon on the east side of the stream. Steel bridges pass over some of the side streams and there is one step-across crossing. The trail continues to High Bridge, where the creek is 150 feet below the bridge. Look for a geocache in this area if you have got the necessary information from the link at the beginning of this review. The trail follows the west side of the canyon then crosses Eagle Creek on another bridge in about ½ mile. After Wy East camp is a junction to the left for trail 434. Pass this junction and continue along the stream on trail 440. At about 6 miles up the trail is Tunnel Falls where the trail is blasted into the cliff and passes behind the falls. The trail is narrow along the cliff but thanks to all the foot traffic the rocks are just wet and not slimy from moss growing. The trail leaves the cliffs for a bit, then in a short time passes another cliff where the trail rounds a corner and passes just past the top of another waterfall. What a great place to pause for a bit and be mesmerized by watching the water fall over the edge and plunge to the streambed below. The next 200 feet of trail are part of the streambed so you need to walk carefully. The trail begins to get away from the creek after this and it becomes narrower from the lower level of use, especially after 7 ½ Mile Camp. You’ll pass camping areas along the way but they fill quickly. Turn left at the junction of the Eagle-Tanner trail 433. The Eagle Creek Trail climbs away from the creek and ends at Wahtum Lake.
The cliffs on this trail make it inappropriate for inexperienced hikers. People have fallen off this trail with serious injuries. With that warning, this is the arguable the most beautiful trail along a stream without a lot of elevation gain in the Gorge.
Enjoy the photos!!
Gallery Pics
Switchback Steve"
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Dayhikes: Cape Horn, WA
Tuesday, June 19 @ 07:11:28 PDT by drew (290 reads) | sttjones writes "Directions:
From Portland, take I-205 north past the airport and cross the Columbia River. Get into the right hand lane and take the exit for Camas. Drive about 20 miles and park at the intersection of Salmon Falls road and Highway 14. There is also parking at an alternate trailhead on Mt. Pleasant Road or on Strunk Road. Directions to these locations are not provided in this review. There are no bathrooms at the trailheads. Length and Elevation:
8 Miles, Elevation gain 1,500 and loss 1,500, total 3,000 Feet in elevation change. Trail:
Cape Horn Trail There is at least one geocache along this trail at: N 45° 34.305 W 122° 11.875. Info at Geocaching.comTrail Maps:
Topo MapReview: June 16, 2007 This is a great low-elevation hike in the Gorge. Late May through the end of June have the best wildflower displays. In the late spring and summer the seasonal grows and the leaves infringes on the trail. You will definitely want rain pants for this first part of the trail if there is any chance of rain or early morning hiking. Be sure your hiking shoes or boots have good traction because the first mile or so of the trail is only dry in summer. There are several switchbacks to negotiate as the trail climbs up towards Pioneer Peak. In the spring there is Columbine, larkspur, and thimbleberry along the trail underneath the forest canopy. In late spring the cow parsnips bloom along with the tiger lilies. About 2/3 of the way up the switchbacks is a fair grouping of tiger lilies by the trail. About a mile in, there is a junction to an alternate parking site on Mt. Pleasant road. Parking is along the wide shoulder of Mt. Pleasant road. Walk up the 4-wheel drive road and turn right and uphill where there is a junction with a lesser used 4-wheel drive road. Walk past the BPA powerlines and look to the left for a trail that leads downhill to the Cape Horn trail. On the day that I hiked this trail, just uphill from the access trail, is a brown sign on the 4-wheel drive trail that show Cape Horn up the 4-wheel drive road. I advise using the access trail and not the 4-wheel drive road. The trail becomes steep, levels out for a bit, then climbs again. The trail comes up to an overlook along some cliffs that have a terrific view of the Gorge. You can see Multnomah Falls, Beacon Rock, cows grazing in the field, and boats going up and down the river. Follow the trail along the cliffs and you will come out on a cape that also has a commanding view of the Gorge. Backtrack about 75 feet from the cape and you will come back to a trail junction. Take a left and head downhill from the junction. The trail descends a few switchbacks and comes out in the woods on a 4-wheel drive road. Make a left and follow the road into the woods for less than 1/10 of a mile and make a left on an ATV trail. This is the first left you can make after joining the 4-wheel drive road. The trail comes out on a Strunk Road, which is paved. Directly across the road there should be a sign on a tree pointing to the trail. Take a bearing of about 145 degrees true north and cross the field to a gravel road. Turn right and follow the gravel road past a property that is owned by the Friends of the Columbia Gorge land trust. Walk along the chain-link fence and continue the same direction downhill through a meadow. The trail enters the woods at the bottom of the meadow. After entering the woods and descending about ¼ on some switchbacks, you will enter a clearing that has nice views of the Gorge. The trees have been cut at the clearing because it is the beginning of the fencing that protects the highway and cars below from rocks falling off the cliffs. You can’t see the road because it is so close to the cliff. You will see some of the retention cables as you walk down the trail. The trail then switchbacks down towards highway 1The trees have been cut at the clearing because it is the beginning of the fencing that protects the highway and cars below from rocks falling off the cliffs. You can’t see the road because it is so close to the cliff. You will see some of the retention cables as you walk down the trail. The trail then switchbacks down towards highway 14. Just a short time before you get to Highway 14, you pass a building that looks like an outhouse. Perhaps there was a homestead near here. The trail comes out at Highway 14. Go straight across the road and descend on the trail. Be careful crossing the highway because there is limited visibility and the cards zip around the corners. Take care of exposed skin because the trail descends through some stinging nettle crosses a small stream, climbs a bit, and continues through the woods. The trail comes to a 4-way junction. The right trail leads to parking on SR14 and the left trail leads to a view of a waterfall and an overlook of the gorge. From the junction, the trail continues to descend and cross another small stream and then climbs back up some. This is the first rail where I’ve seen someone bring in 12 inch square concrete patio blocks for stepping stones so you don’t have to walk in the mud. The trail now drops down on a number of switchbacks and descends towards the Columbia River. One interesting place is where the trail comes out to a rock scree and you can see the next six switchbacks going down towards the river. The trail comes out almost above a tunnel portal on the Burlington Northern railroad. Turn left here and head east on the trail. After climbing several switchbacks across the broken basalt, you will hear a waterfall. Pretty soon you’ll se it come into view. Don’t worry about walking up the stream to approach it. After a few switchbacks, the trail drops back down and goes right behind the waterfall. When you get off the footpath and onto the paved road, stop and take a look around and above you. You can see SR 14 going around Cape Horn high above you. From here, follow the road uphill back to your car. Please respect the request not to park, pick up, or drop off hikers here so that the property owner doesn’t shut down access to this trail. Enjoy the photos!! Gallery PicsSwitchback Steve "
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Dayhikes: Lakes Trail and High Lakes Trail, WA
Monday, June 11 @ 16:26:34 PDT by drew (281 reads) | sttjones writes "Directions:
From Seattle, take I-5 South to Hwy 512 East and go towards Puyallup (Exit 127). Follow Hwy 512 East for about 2 miles. Turn south onto Hwy 7 towards Mt. Rainier. Follow Hwy 7 south to Elbe. At Elbe, turn left onto Hwy 706, travel through Ashford, and then to the Nisqually entrance of Mt. Rainier National Park. Now, follow the last paragraph of the directions. From Portland, take I-5 North and take exit 68 to Hwy 12. Take Hwy 12 for about 30 miles to Morton. Turn left on Hwy 7 and drive about 17 miles to Hwy 706. Turn right on Hwy 706 and drive to the Nisqually entrance on the west side of Mt. Rainier National Park. The drive take about 3 1/4 hours. Shuttle: Once you are in the park, continue several miles and park at Longmire Inn. Take the shuttle bus to the Paradise Inn parking lot. Self-Park at a trailhead: Peak weekends: Once you are in the park, continue about 18 miles on the Longmire-Paradise Road. If you are in the park by 9am then you can follow the signs and probably park at Jackson Visitor Center or the Paradise Inn parking lot. If you are in the park by 10am then you can probably park at Reflection Lakes and modify this hike. Otherwise, think about using the shuttle. National Park entrance fee must be paid to enter Mt. Rainier National Park. Flush toilets available near the parking lot, near Paradise Inn and at Jackson Visitor Center Length and Elevation:
5.5 Miles, Elevation gain 1,500 and loss 1,500, total 3,000 Feet in elevation change. Trail:
Lakes Trail, High Lakes Trail, and Wonderland Trail Trail Maps:
Topo Map , National Park Service MapReview: July 3, 2005; September 27, 2005 Due to the renovation of the Paradise Inn, parking is severely limited. Either arrive early on a weekday, very early on a weekend, or take the shuttle. This is one of my favorite hikes in the Paradise area. The first part is in the forest and the last part is above the timberline. Black flies and mosquitoes can be a problem in late June and July. Look for the trail at the east end of the parking lot where the lot narrows back into a two-lane road. Begin the hike by descending the granite stairs on the downhill side of the lot. The trail descends down the west edge of Paradise valley. After about 1/2 mile, turn left at the junction to Narada Falls Trail and cross Paradise River. The trail crosses the one-way road from Paradise and begins to climb, about 500 feet and crosses a saddle. At the flat area in the saddle, turn right at the High Lakes trail junction, and drop down towards Reflection Lakes for about 4/10 of a mile. Turn left at the junction with the Wonderland Trail and follow the Wonderland Trail, stopping to enjoy the views at Reflection Lakes. You have to walk on the road shoulder for a bit, then leave take the Wonderland Trail as it leaves the roadway. In early October, there are great fall colors at the second, smaller Reflection Lake.
In a very short distance is a trail junction to Faraway Rock. Pause to enjoy the views of the Tatoosh Range while perched on the precipice overlooking the valley below. Continue on the Lake Trail which climbs Mazama Ridge and marvel at the incredible fields of wildflowers with Mt. Rainier as a backdrop. My favorite part of the trail is a level stretch and you walk straight towards Mt. Rainier. The nearby landscape is nearly devoid of plant-life and the Mountain towers over you.
At the junction with the Skyline Trail, turn left and proceed downhill. This part of the trail has great patches of Avalanche Lilies in spring and hillsides of red foliage in the fall. At the junction with the Fourth Crossing Trail, turn right and stay on the Skyline Trail. Continue on this generally downhill trail, passing the junction to the Golden Gate Trail. Stop at Edith Creek and Myrtle Falls, then pass the Paradise Inn and back to your starting point. Enjoy the photos!! Gallery PicsSwitchback Steve
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Dayhikes: Herman Creek, OR
Friday, May 18 @ 10:46:26 PDT by Drew (322 reads) | Directions:
From Portland, Oregon, take I-84 east for about 40 miles and take exit #44 for Cascade Locks. Drive through town, heading east. Look for the sign with the symbol for the airport. Turn left across from Edgewood Avenue and drive 2 miles, cross over I-84 and turn left at the road juction. Go about .3 miles and make a right turn onto the campground access road. Follow the hiker signs through the campground to the hiker’s trailhead. Turn right, off the paved road, and arrive at the trailhead. This is one of the few trails that has water.
Length and Elevation:
15 Miles round trip Elevation gain 4,500 feet and loss of 50 feet. Total gain and loss is 9,100 feet. Elevation at the trailhead is 50 feet, Nick Eaton Ridge elevation is 4,000 feet.
Trail:
Herman Creek Trail #406 with connections to #400, #406A, #406B, #406E, #406G, #408, #410, #447, and #476.
An outhouse is available at the parking lot. There is a drinking fountain and spigot just before the trailhead.
A Northwest Forest Park permit is required to park at the trailhead.
Trail Maps:
Topo Map, National Forest Service Map
Review: May 7, 2007
The trail goes up several switchbacks and the hillside has several water seeps in the springtime. The trail comes up to a set of powerlines. Turn right under the powerlines and continue uphill. The trail parallels under the powerlines for a short distance before turning to the left, uphill. The first trail junction sign you come to is rather weatherworn. It points to Herman Ridge Trail to the right and Herman Creek Trail to the left and Herman Creek Camp .7 miles away. Take the left junction going uphill. Remember which way to turn on your way back or you may end up at Herman Creek and on the wrong trail. Just before the trail is about to come out into a little clearing, is a junction to the right. Skip that junction and walk through the clearing and take the trail on the right and goes uphill. Just before the edge of the clearing, you will see a sign on a tree for Herman Creek Trail #406. The sign points both the way you came from and the way you are about to go. I’ve marked the point JCTHC. It is time to get your compass out to find the direction to the correct trail. This 4-way junction is marked JCTHN. You should take the trail that bears 50 degrees north which keeps you on trail #406. If you go to the left, you’ll be on the Gorge trail #400 to Wyeth. I’m not sure what trail is on the right. In a short time is another juction. The sign at the this junction says Gorton Creek Trail #408, and also it leads towards the Ridge Cutoff Trail in 2.6 miles. Take the left trail, #408.
When the trail ascends the slope in several switchbacks, take the time to look down and notice several different kinds of mosses that are growing along the trail. You are far from the car traffic noise but you will hear the wails of the trains as they pass through the gorge. Just a couple of switchbacks past Indian Point, you’ll come to a different trail junction. You can take the Ridge Cutoff Trail or head towards the Deadwood Trail on the Gorton Creek Trail. Indian Point looks like it was a lava dike of basalt that has weathered away leaving a big rounded point of rock poking into the sky. At the next junction, continue straight ahead. The trail drops slightly downhill. Just past the trail junction is another little trail junction that goes downhill. Follow this slippery and steep trail down to the spine of Indian Point. The trails ends in a reasonable sized clearing. If you’re daring, you can go further out on the rock spine. Good views of Table Mountain, the Gorge, and the community of Stevenson, Washington can be appreciated depending upon the cloud cover. To the west is a great view of a columnar basalt cliff. If you go out on the spine of the rock, there is a great view of Mt. Adams to the north. Retrace your steps back to the juction. From here you have several loop options. This review turns left and continue left on trail #408. If you want to hike a little used trail, continue on Trail #408 past Deadwood Creek camp. There is a spring near the camp where you can get water. After the camp, the brush is taking over the trail and there are several deadfalls that haven’t been logged out. The trail is fairly pleasant as the trail goes through the woods. The trail climbs a ridge, swithcbacking at times, you will cross a rockfield that has a great view of Mt. Adams and the Columbia Gorge. The trail passes over one of the headwaters of Gorton Creek. In the springtime you can hear the water running underneath the rockfield and you may even be able to spot the stream in a place or two if you look carefully. I think it is an interesting phenomenon when you can hear the water running under the rocks, but you can’t see it. A few more switchbacks and you’ll arrive at the Mark Hatfield Wilderness boundary. I saw some tracks in the snow and it looked like there was only two people on the trail Saturday. This boundary point does not have any permit forms available. Use caution in the spring because the trail will be hard to find with any snow cover because of all the branches littering the trail. Watch carefully for the junction to Herman Creek Trail. It is in some brush and you might well walk by the junction. The trail junction is off sharply to the right and it goes uphill a little. This next section of the trail is not suitable for trail running because of the boulders in the trail and the branches sticking out into the trail. JCTHR is the waypoint that marks this junction on the map. The trail here is not much more than a trace so follow it carefully through the Oregon Grape and Beargrass. The trail goes uphill a bit, crosses the ridge and starts descending. This portion of the trail is fairly level along the ridge. There are places where there are boulders in the trail that can be slippery. The trail follows along the ridge and then drops sharply off to the west. There are a few view of the gorge through the trees. You would think that there would be less trees and better views because of all the rocky slopes. The trail continues steeply down the slope through the woods. There is a small open meadow with views of the surrounding mountainsides. The trail shortly enters the woods again and switchbacks down towards the valley. There is a place in the trail where some very large trees have covered up the switchbacks. You have to pick your way among these monsters and pick up the trail again. With trail maintenance budgets slashed, it will be some time before someone will come along and get these big monsters out of the way. On the map, JCTCP is the junction of Casey Creek Trail and Herman Creek or Nick Eaton Trail. A sign points upriver to Cedar Swamp Camp. At the junction with the Herman Creek trail, you will turn right and there is a camp with a .3 mile trail down to Herman Creek to get water. Heading downstream towards the trailhead, you will pass a nice springtime wildflower rock garden. A little later is a very nice little waterfall. You will cross a bigger stream and a bit further down the trail is a waterfall about 120 feet tall. The waterfall must be a fairly popular destination because the trail becomes much wider after the waterfall. The trail undulates towards the trail head in the woods. Past the junction to trail #447, on your right, rejoin with your original trail to the trailhead.
Most of this trail is in the forest with only limited views of the Gorge and surrounding mountains. Save this trail for a spring or fall hike on a cloudy day. You will find plenfy of switchbacks on this trail. Enjoy the photos!! Gallery PicsSwitchback Steve
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Dayhikes: Silver Falls, OR
Thursday, May 10 @ 16:26:52 PDT by sttjones (285 reads) | | Drew writes " Directions:
From Portland take I-5 south to exit 271. At the stoplight, turn left onto Hwy 214, also called Newberg Hwy. Cross over I-5 and continue for 1.1 miles.
Stay on Hwy 214 by turning right at N Settlemeir Ave, then a left on Garfield St. Garfield turns into Young St. Make a slight left as Young St turns into Silverton Ave. After .2 miles, Hwy 214 turns right and the road changes to Wilco Hwy NE.
After about 5 ½ miles, you enter Mt. Angel and continue on Hwy 214 into town. Make a slight left off N Main Stto stay on Wilco Hwy NE and Hwy 214. If the road turns into S Main St, you have missed the turn. Drive 3.5 miles to Silverton and continue on Hwy 214 through town for about another 13 miles to the main entrance to Silver Falls State Park. Turn right into the park and park in the main parking area.
Alternate Return directions to downtown Portland: Take a right out of the park back onto Hwy 214. Follow Hwy 214 for 16 ½ miles west and merge onto Hwy 22 West, towards Salem for 9.9 miles. Merge onto I-5 North. Take I-5 north for about 45 miles to Portland.
Length and Elevation:
6 Miles round trip Elevation gain 500 feet and loss of 50 feet. Total gain and loss is 1,100 feet. Elevation at the trailhead is 1000 feet. Trail:
Trail of Ten Falls with connections Maple Ridge Trail, Winter Trail, Rim Trail, and horse and biking trails. Flush toilets are available at the parking lot. Bicycles, skateboards, in-line skates, and pets are not allowed on the Canyon Trail because there are sharp drop-offs along the trail. An Oregon State Park parking permit is required to park at the trailhead. Trail Maps:
Topo Map, State Park trail map and brochure Review: April 5, 2007 I combined a trip to the Wooden Shoe Bulb Co. fields in Woodburn with the Silver Falls hike. I have only included directions to Silver Falls. My favorite time of year to hike at Silver Falls is early spring while the falls are full and the parking lot isn't. There are several loop hiking options and the trails are in good repair for 2007. This is a great hike for a cloudy, even drizzly day because you are in a stream valley for most of the hike. I like to hike the Trail of Ten Falls clockwise so you lose elevation at the end of the hike. From the main parking area, stop in at the lodge if it is open and learn about the park history. Proceed from there to the Canyon Trail/Trail of Ten Falls, which goes down to the South Falls. You may want to stop off and see Frenchie Falls, though it isn't big. The trail goes behind South Falls and drops down to Canyon Trail. Follow this trail along South Fork of Silver Creek, descend stairs, and take the trail behind Lower South Falls. After about 3/4 of a mile, the trail crosses the North Fork of Silver Creek on a steel bridge. In about 1/2 mile, take the side trail to the 178 foot tall Double Falls, the tallest waterfall in the park. Once you are back on the main trail, continue along the creek for another 6/10 of a mile and reach the junction to Winter trail. Take a right and cross the bridge over the creek. In about 4/10 of a mile you will reach the base of Winter Falls. Climb the trail to the top of the falls, turn right again onto the Rim Trail and make you way back to the parking lot. Enjoy the photos.. Switchback Steve
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