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The WhoopDee Trail, is located off the Old Dalles Road on the east side of Hood River, Oregon. Outstanding single track, approximately 10 mile loop. Fantastic downhill through variable terrain, finishing with a fairly easy three mile switchback back to the parking lot. Most people ride the trail from the parking lot (upper left hand corner) counterclockwise.
The trailhead up to the Gumjuwac Saddle can be hard to find if one does not know where it starts off Highway 35. We had hiked and snowshoed this trail. The trail number for this trail is #480. There are a few lookouts towards Mt Adams and Mt Hood before reaching the saddle. Once you arrive at the saddle, you can continue on to Lookout Mountain or Gunsight Butte trail #685.
The Tilly Jane Trailhead starts just west of the Cooper Spur ski area. The Northwest Forest Pass is required. This trail first reaches the A-Frame, the Tilly Jane Guard Station, and continues on to various other trails leading up the slopes of Mt Hood. This track takes us to the Cloud Cap Lodge.
This trail starts in the sno-park off of Highway 35, near Mt Hood Meadows. A sno-park permit is required in the winter months. This is a very popular trail for snowshoeing and cross country skiing. It is an old abandoned road that has a mild elevation trail on it. The first part is protected by tall trees but can get very icy. Bring your microspikes if you don't have snowshoes. You can go quite a ways on the trail and connect up with other trails farther on.
Riley Creek Trail on Mt Adams
White River is a very popular place for winter activity. Weekends are very busy with families playing in the snow, outdoor groups snowshoeing and back-country skiing, and Boy Scout Troops building snow forts for overnight events.
There are a few ways to hike to Tomlike Mountain. This is one of the ways. From the Wahtum Lake parking lot, find the trail that goes down to the lake (about 250 steps). Don't forget to pick up a wilderness permit at the permit station. Near the lake, find the lowest trail that heads north. This is the official Pacific Crest Trail. Continue on the trail as it rounds the lake and slightly gains altitude. You will come to an intersection that points the way to Rainy Lake (West Fork Herman Creek Trail). the trail will continue slightly uphill and then will go downhill. Here comes the tricky part - go past the Anthill trail and at the very next bend on the trail, you will see a little used trail. THIS TRAIL IS NOT MAINTAINED and takes some navigation skills to find the trail through the rocks and trees. Once you find yourself at a small tent site, you will easily see the trail heading up the final steep hill of Tomlike Mountain. Beautiful views of Mt Hood. On the return trip you can take the Anthill Trail junction which will lead you up and over the hill, with views of Wahtum Lake, and it will deposit you back at the parking lot, just behind the restroom.
As one of the most difficult trails in the Gorge, one is rewarded with outstanding views at the top of the Bonneville Dam, the flowing Columbia River, and mountain views of Mt Hood, Mt Adams, and Mt Rainier (and Mt St Helens from the north end). With a 3,300 elevation gain, it is not a hike for the faint hearted. Both uphill and downhill can be treacherous, with brutal rock and slippery terrain. This track displays an alternate uphill route with magnificent views to the east and south. Some navigation skills are required to reach the top. On the way down, the west side is difficult, steep, and slow going. This trip was done counter clock wise. UPDATE 01-18-19: Parking under the power lines is not allowed any longer. One must park near Hwy 14 and basically take the Pacific Crest Trail up to Table Mountain, dramatically increasing the mileage.
There are many entry points into Indian Heaven and this is just one of them from the Thomas Lake Trailhead, located on the west side of the Wilderness. It is also one of the easiest hikes into the interior. You must have a Northwest Forest Pass to park here due to the well maintained pit toilet facility at the parking lot. Fill out a wilderness permit at the trailhead. This is one of our favorite fall hikes as the huckleberry bushes will have turned a beautiful red color and the mosquitoes are few and far between. This track description is from the Thomas Lake Trailhead to Junction Lake and back. The elevation is fairly mild and you may find yourself stopping frequently to take snapshots of all the lakes on both sides of the trail. When you reach Blue Lake on your right (it's mighty blue), turn left onto the Pacific Crest Trail. The trail will mosey along, then go uphill, and then downhill to Junction Lake.
In comparison to other trails in our area, the Trapper Creek Wilderness is one of the lighter traveled trails in the Gorge area. The 13 mile loop gains 2,600 vertical feet and there are creeks to cross and a waterfall to gaze at. There are giant trees to gawk at, huckleberries to eat (when in season), and the simple fact that it is a beautiful place to be in. If 13 miles is too long of a hike, there are shortcuts to make smaller loops, although the shortcuts can be steep as they connect to the other side.
Located on Highway 14 east of Bingen, Washington, Catherine Creek is a highly popular day hiking area. There are many trails to choose from and most of them go up in elevation. The views from the higher elevation is spectacular with views of the Columbia River and Mt Hood. Very popular in the spring when the wildflowers are in bloom. Be cautious of rattlesnakes, ticks, and poison oak. Know what each look like and know how to treat. How to get there: Catherine Creek is located approximately 7.5 miles from the Hood River Bridge. From the Bridge, go east through Bingen, driving 5.9 miles on Highway 14 and then turn left onto Old Highway No. 8. Follow the old highway about 1.5 miles and pull into a large parking pullout area on the left hand side of the highway. Because this is a very popular place to hike, parking will be at a premium on the weekends. Caution: State Patrol will give you a ticket if you park on the highway.
This trail takes you up the Oak Ridge Trail to the Surveyors Ridge trail. One can continue up to Bald Butte but that is an additional four miles (round trip). Beautiful views are to be had of Mt Hood and the surrounding upper Hood River Valley. This is a fairly popular hike, just be cautious of poison oak and ticks.
This is a beautiful hike to the viewpoint 3.25 miles one way from the trail head. On a sunny day, Mt Hood stands out in all its glory against a bright blue sky. Bring a lunch and a camera and enjoy the view!
This loop on the southeast side of Mt Hood is spectacular in the late fall when the huckleberry leaves are red and other bushes have changed color. It's about a 12 mile loop and we usually tackle it going counterclockwise. Part of the trail is considered wilderness, but most is forest land. Park at the Elk Meadows trailhead and have your Northwest Forest Pass hanging in your front window. Follow the Elk Meadows trail, cross the bridge over Clark Creek, and then at the Newton ridge sign, turn left up the hill. If you get to Newton Creek, you've gone to far. After a nice long uphill with views of Newton Creek far below you, turn left onto the Timberline Trail 600 and continue hiking south. Making your way into the Clark Creek area (advanced downhill skiers know the area as Heather Canyon at Mt Hood Meadows), you will have to find a way across Clark Creek. Luckily, in the fall one can jump rock to rock to get over the rushing creek. Continuing through Heather Canyon you will see beautiful waterfalls and once you meander up the hill, you will be walking underneath ski lifts. You will come to an intersection where you need to take the left fork and head downhill. Cross the Mt Hood Meadows access road and continue down, passing a couple of waterfalls. After 12 miles you will arrive back at your car.
McNeil Point is one of the most popular hikes on Mt Hood. For a complete description of the route up to the McNeil Point Shelter, please visit the Oregon Hiker's website at [url=http://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/McNeil_Point_Hike]http://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/McNeil_Point_Hike[/url] Please be aware that car break-ins do happen at popular trailheads. Never leave anything valuable in your car. We usually take the car registration out of our cars and carry them with us on the hike. You don't want someone breaking in and then finding out where you live.
This is a fun loop with a side trail up to the Timberline Trail via Mt Hood Meadows. The loop can be done either clockwise or counterclockwise, but the preference is to hike it counterclockwise. Start at the Elk Meadows trailhead and if you time it right in August, you will enjoy ripe hickleberries as you make your way up to the left turnoff at trail #667 which leads to Umbrella Falls. After visiting the falls, you can take the 1.7 mile optional trail up to the Timberline Trail by crossing over the paved road that leads to the Mt Hood Meadows upper ski area. Find the trail that leads to the Timberline Trail just north of the new maintenance building hidden in the woods. When you return back to Umbrella Falls, look for the sign that is marked #667C that will lead you down to Sahalie Falls and back to your vehicle.
This trail combo is usually either hiked or mountain biked as it is almost 13 miles one way. We usually have a vehicle on both ends of the trail and ride it from south to north. Take Smullen Road off of Hwy 35 and look for the sign that takes you to the trailhead parking lot. Drop one vehicle here. Return to Hwy 35 and go south (past the "S" curves and turn left on Forest Road 44. The trailhead (#688) is about 3.5 miles up on the left hand side. About nine miles north, you will see the turn off for the Oak Ridge Trail. Be warned: this is a fairly steep downhill trail. The top part is in the trees with switchbacks, but the middle part is the gnarly nasty part. If you fall, you will hurt. The last third of the Oak Ridge trail is back in the trees with a few switchbacks. Be careful of poison oak and ticks on this trail.
This is a short but gorgeous loop starting at the trailhead parking lot by the Cloud Cap Inn. From Hwy 35 take the Cooper Spur Road and follow the signs to the Cooper Spur Ski Resort. Continue past the ski area and the road will turn from paved to gravel. Follow the gravel road for about 9.5 miles. Be aware of the water diversions starting halfway up. Go slow or you may lose your car bumper. The very last half mile can be rough but most cars make it without too much issue. The Northwest Forest Pass is required here. Make sure you bring water with you as there is no water available here. There are two ways to get to the Cooper Spur Hut - after filling out your required wilderness pass, you will have an option of taking the left or right trail. The left trail weaves up in the trees and misses the amazing Mt Hood Views. If you have a terrible fear of heights, take the left trail. The trail on the right takes you up to the moraine where after a nice steep section you will have an outstanding view of Eliot Glacier and Mt Hood. Follow the moraine trail all the way up and then catch the trail that leads off to the left to the Cooper Spur Hut. At this point you have an option to continue up the Cooper Spur trail to the highest point on the mountain, or follow the trail that makes a loop where you can visit the Tilly Jane A-Frame, the old cook building, the no longer used amphitheater, and the Tilly Jane Guard Station. Right after the Tilly Jane Guard Station, look for the trail on the left which will lead you back to Cloud Cap trailhead in about 1/2 mile.
Knebel Springs is a multi-use trail with both hikers and mountain bikers using it. When the snow finally melts in late spring/early summer, the wildflowers are beautiful to see. Knebel Springs is a more challenging trail and has one water crossing. Finding the Knebel Springs trailheads can be kind of tricky. There are two places to park - either at the Knebel Springs campground or start at the trailhead where 8 Mile trail starts. We never find it the first time off as there is no sign telling you where to turn left. To get to the 8 Mile trailhead: from Hwy 35, turn onto Forest Road 44. Drive to the top bearing right at the paved intersection. This is still FR 44. If you see the sign for 8 Mile Campground, you've gone too far. It's really best to have a map or to go with someone who knows where to go. Once you've finally found the little parking area, look for the trailhead and the Knebal Springs sign. You can go either clockwise or counterclockwise. We prefer clockwise.
