Huckleberry Picking/ Hiking Indian Heaven Wilderness
Notes are from a Sept Hike:
We will be driving up to Hood River and crossing the bridge then up to Trout Lake were we turn and head up into the National Forrest. We will then go to the Junction Lake Trail head. We have two choices – we can hike in from this trail head, or we can drop of some vehicles and proceed to the Cultus Creek trail head further up and then hike one way back through the wilderness and thus have a one way shuttle with the cars we dropped off earlier. I will need to to check the distance and see if we have time to do this one way hike. I spoke to the rangers this past week and the Huckleberries were very late this year so if the weather stays nice we should be arriving when the berries are ripe and sweet. I will be calling this week again to check.
You will want to wear appropriate hiking clothes and be prepared for extreme weather changes as this is a high elevation and storms can roll in and temperatures drop rapidly. (Night temperatures may be freezing – not that we plan to sleep there but you want to be prepared.) Everyone should carry extra non-cotton clothes, a jacket, a flash light, sufficient water (a filter system is great too). Of course wear sturdy shoes – hiking boots preferred. Bring bug spray. There is not normally mosquitoes from August on but this year due to the late snow melt the mosquitoes have lingered – although the cooler nights probably have knocked down the numbers by now.
Bring containers for huckleberries and food for to eat along the way.
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Silver Star/ Indian Pits
11001 NE 189th St
Battle Ground, WA 98604
Meet in the west parking lot at the Meadow Glade SDA church at 1:00 pm. If all goes like clock work, we will be ready to caravan up the road by 1:15 pm.
This is a fantastic hike for everyone. The open ridge and rock outcroppings along this hike allow for great views along the entire hike. Even those who don’t go all the way to the top will enjoy spectacular views. The Indian Pits are a rarely visited site featuring stone structures that were built by Native Americans. This is a very special place to visit.
The following link and description come from NW Hiker… I have made some additions as necessary.
http://www.nwhiker.co…
Length: 5.2 Miles round trip (to summit and back, add another 1.5- 2 miles for the Indian Pits)
Elevation Change: 1400′ Elevation gain
Season: Late Spring thru Fall
Difficulty: Challenging (I would say easy to moderate)
Permit: NW Forest Pass Required (Signs were removed a couple seasons ago and never replaced)
Features: This northern approach to Silver Star Mountain via a trail called Ed’s Trail, is one of the most beautiful hikes in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The trail head is at the end of Forest Road #4109.
The hikes up Silver Star Mountain almost all follow old road beds that were in place for logging and for access to the fire lookout facility that used to be on the top of the mountain. This hike is a partial exception to that rule.
The begins a moderate climb and after a couple switchbacks follows one of the old roads for a short distance. Then the trail leads away from the road bed and becomes a stand alone trail referred to as Ed’s Trail.
Ed’s Trail is a delightful hike up the east side of the Silver Star Mtn ridge line. In June this hike is a floral garden. Anytime the weather cooperates you have exceptional views of the Cascade Volcanos, such as Mt St Helens, Mt Rainier, Mt Adams, Mt Hood, and even Mt Jefferson.
This trail runs parallel to the road bed trail that you can use on return for variety. At times the trails are only a few hundred feet apart. Ed’s Trail takes you along the east side of the ridge and through a free standing arch. Right after the arch, the trail becomes very steep and challenging. However, it never seemed dangerous to me. (there are some drop offs along this trail, but less intimidating than most of the gorge hikes, just keep children under control through this section)
At about 2 miles this trail connects with the road bed trail that will take you to the summit of the mountain. As you approach the top you will notice that Silver Star appears to have 2 summits. The one on the north is obviously the higher. Both summits are worth the time and effort.
After feasting on the vistas and floral displays, you can return on the alternate route via the road be trail that takes you back to the original trail where you began the hike.
Venturing further south another 0.75 – 1 mile on a faint track will reward the hiker with a journey back in time to some rarely visited Native American ruins referred to as the Silver Star Indian Pits.
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Dry Creek Falls and nearby Pinnacles
This hike is located in Cascade Locks, OR immediately off Bridge of the Gods. It’s a fairly easy hike, first to a stunning waterfall and then to some unusual pinnacle rock formations. Distance is approximately 7 miles round trip with a gentle elevation gain of 800 feet.
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Devil’s Rest Hike #5
This is a fairly well known and frequented hike in the Gorge that can be started at the Angel’s Rest trailhead. That’s where we will start it. It’s about 7 miles long with an elevation gain of 2300 ft. I would describe it as mostly sheltered and moderate in overall difficulty level. It has several pretty views.
Carpooling will require that we first meet at the Gateway. Then we’ll proceed east on the 84 and get off at Exit 28. Once off the exit, proceed east a short distance to the Angel’s Rest parking lot(on the right side).
Bring plenty of water, your trekking poles and hiking boots.
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15 mi. hike in Forest Park
let’s do an in and out 15 mile round trip hike in Forest Park. We’ll meet at the Viet Nam Memorial, hike to the Birch Trail, eat lunch/snacks and return. Parking is available very close by at the Zoo and I believe there is parking even closer to the memorial. We’ll meet at the memorial at 8 AM. And as it stands at the moment, it’s supposed to rain and so dress accordingly. Expect some mud. Gaters are recommended.
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Dog Mtn.
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Hamilton Mtn.
Hamilton Mtn. is located on the Washington side of the Gorge very close to Beacon Rock. To get there I recommend you cross north over the Columbia on the 205 and head East on the 14 about 15 miles past Washougal. To access the trailhead, you will see a road on the left directing you to a campground. Park at the lot that you will come to on the right hand side. NW Forest Pass is not required.
I consider this hike to be an easy moderate. At this point, we’ll be covering a little more distance. It is 8 miles round trip with an elevation gain of about 2400 ft. It contains a steep section of about 1/3 mile. The rest is not bad.
Scenically, it has a stunning waterfall, and 2 knockout scenic views.
TIP ABOUT TRYING ON NEW BOOTS: Besides checking for fit, overall comfort and support, when buying new boots, you should also double check that your feet don’t slide inside the boots. If you come down a very steep section and your feet slide to the front of the shoe, you stand an excellent chance of smashing your toes and cause them to bleed under your nails. It can be very painful, especially, if you then keep on hitting the bones on the tip of your toes.
Good outdoor stores will have some inclined surface for you to check for sliding. Don’t decide on a pair until you check for possible sliding.
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Dog Mtn. #4
Steep hiking begins with this one ; consequently it’s a huffer and puffer. We will gain an altitude of about 2700 ft. Distance will depend on our return route.
I would rate this one no more than a difficult- moderate hike. If you’ve never done it before or are not in shape, it will seem more difficult than that.
If we luck out with consistent warmer temperatures, we could start seeing the wildflowers bloom. But even if we don’t, the last .7 mi are scenically quite stunning.
All previous requirements apply(pay particular attention to your essentials). Trekking poles are highly advisable particularly should we hit some snowy spots(unlikely). AND NO COTTON. This is were it becomes more critical. You will sweat. We will lunch at the summit. Bring lots of food.
You will notice that we are meeting at Gateway a litttle earlier. Should the wildflowers be in bloom, the parking lot at the trailhead will fill-up with cars quickly.
This would be a good one to follow-up with a soak at Bonneville. Think about it. We don’t have to decide right now. Just bring a bathing suit and a towel. I will join you if some of you would like to do it. The cost is $15.00/person.
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Backpack on the Salmon River
Join us for a short backpack and camping along the Salmon River at the Rolling Riffle campground. It’s 2 miles and a moderate gain from the parking lot / trailhead on Salmon River Road to the campground. From there we can try day hikes along the river and possibly up Hunchback Mountain, depending on snow conditions. The Salmon River is a beautiful, fast-moving white water river and the forest here has a lot of old growth trees.
The weather is warming but we may still encounter some snow and/or mud on both the road and trail. The campground elevation is 1950 feet. Wear waterproof boots, gaiters and consider bringing yak-trax if you have them. Bring a pad or small tarp to sit on. If we climb up Hunchback Mountain to Kinzel Lake we will definitely hit some snow, but there are other nice hikes along the river.
Directions: To get there, we drive out to Mt Hood on Highway 26. Just before Mt. Hood in the town of Welches, we follow the Old Salmon River Road in about 5 miles. There’s a parking area near the bridge.
What to bring:
Lightweight tent
Sleeping bag
Gaiters
Waterproof boots
The ten essentials.
Stove
Food
Camera
Water filter or purifying tablets
Warm clothing! The forecast is good, but we will be at almost 2000 feet and we may hike higher.
Small tarp – the ground may be wet or snowy.
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EAGLE CREEK #3
Eagle creek is a 12-14 mi. in and out hike with a spread-out elevation gain of only 1000 ft. There is no snow on this trail. What we will loose in conditioning by elevation gain, we will make-up for with the distance covered. I plan to take us past Tunnel Falls. We’ll stop for lunch just past these falls and then turn around.
BE AWARE that immediately past Tunnel Falls there is a 10-20 yard section of trail that falls off dramatically
on one side. If you have difficulty with such a situation you might seriously consider skipping this hike. Alternatively, you can turn around and not proceed through Tunnel Falls(anyway it’s fairly close to the end). Also, along the way there are a bunch of narrow stream crossings.
Eagle Creek is located off exit 41 on the 84. Follow the signs. There is a fish hatchery nearby. You will need your NW Forest passes to park.
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Wyeth Trail #2
The Wyeth trail is located in the Gorge just west of Mt. Defiance. It is approximately 11-12 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 3700 ft. on the way up. It is not particularly steep and the trail is fairly wide most of the way. If conditions permit, we will lunch at North Lake.
The parking lot is located off the 84 at Exit 51.
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Angel’s rest in the Gorge #1b
Angel’s Rest is generally considered an easy hike. It is 4+ miles round trip with approximately 1300 ft. elevation gain. Very pretty with a stream on the way up and a beautiful overlook of the Columbia at the summit. To get to the summit, however, you do have to do an approximately 8 ft. high scramble over some rocks(easy).
We will be carpooling from the Gateway. Angel’s rest is a relatively short distance from the Gateway and is located off exit 28 as you proceed east along the 84. I’ve scheduled to meet at Gateway at 8 AM because the parking lot at Angel’s Rest fills-up real fast in the Spring(though parking along the road is quite common).
This is the perfect time to begin talking about issues in hiking. For now, I will talk about ESSENTIALS that you MUST take along with you and for that purpose, you must have a backpack. The essentials are:
First aid kits(everyone must carry one; go online for recommendations on what to include)
Sunglasses
Sunscreen(though I only put it on when hiking in extremely exposed trails)
Extra clothing(including gloves and a warm headcovering; even in May, it can get mighty chilly at the higher elevations)
An extra pair of socks( in case we get unpredictably rained on)
Snacks(I’ll talk about food some other time) and lunch for longer hikes
Plenty of water
Something like a Swiss Army knife or at least a plain small knife
and if the worst occurs: matches or a firestarter, a headlamp and/or flashlight and extra food.
Though we will be hiking on well delineated trails that I am familiar with you might consider taking a compass and trail map.
AND OH YES: NO COTTON CLOTHING. I WILL DEFINITELY TURN YOU AROUND AT THE GATEWAY. You might be able to do this hike with trail runners but hiking boots would be preferable.
I’m not placing an upper limit on the number of people that can attend because we can always break down into smaller groups.
Some people wimp out because of rain. Unless there’s a monsoon(and I have experienced some of those in the Gorge), I will not cancel. This is the NW–get over it! And besides some rains really enhance the beauty of the trails. Don’t let the rain deter you from hiking!
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Exploring a New Trail in Forest Park: Cannon Trail
The other day I was driving down to the 30 along Germantown Rd.( for those of new to Portland, it is located in the hills immediately west of the NW industrial area and is close to the St. John’s bridge). At one point I noticed a trail called the Cannon Trail(which, I believe, was designated as a new trail). It had it’s own parking area. I’ve never hiked so far up in Forest Park and do not have any information on this trail. I’d love to explore and do it with you folks.
I propose that we meet in front of the Lucky Lab on NW Quimby at 10 AM to carpool. I will lead the way to the trail in my car and provide all the other drivers with directions.
At the moment the long-term forecast calls for rain with temps. in the mid 40s(imagine that, rain in Portland)
DO NOT WEAR COTTON. I WILL REFUSE YOU TO JOIN US. If you wish, bring an umbrella. I would also recommend boots over trail runner/ running type of shoes. BRING WATER.
I will do my best to get some further info. on it before we meet but none may be available. Does anyone who is very interested in coming have a set of maps of Forest Park? If so, please bring it along with you.
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Oneanta Trail to 2800 ft. elev.
carpool to the Triple Falls Trailhead( just east of Multnomah Falls). There are several waterfalls along the lower part of our destination. Once we pass Triple Falls, we’ll be hiking on the Oneanta Trail and the elevation gain will pick-up. It’s been quite a while since I’ve hiked on the upper part of this trail and I don’t remember much about it. If we’re up to it, we may connect with the Franklin Ridge Trail for about an extra 2/3 mi or so.
Does anyone have an up-to-date guidebook that covers this hike? Could you bring it with you and possibly make a couple of copies of the map?
The drive from Gateway to the Trailhead is simple: proceed east on the 84, off at Exit 35, turn west towards Ainsworth State Park and proceed about 1.5 mi. to Triple Falls TH parking lot. Needless to say, dress warmly. Don’t forget your gloves, extra socks and bring your gaters. Bring snacks, lunch and lots of fluids(including lots of water). And oh yes, treking poles. If you have yak traks, bring those as well.
This will be an in and out hike and the distance, depending on how far we go, will be 10-12 miles.
Let’s hope for acceptable weather.
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Cowlitz River Canoe Trip – Vader to Castle Rock, Washington
This is a fun and mild canoe trip. I did this last summer. There is some nice rive bars and islands to goof around on and a tributary that is fun to paddle back into for lunch which has a hard interesting sandstone bottom. This was a camp area at one time for the Cowlitz Indians.
The trip is about 13 miles in length and takes about 5 hours not including time to goof around and have some packed lunch along the way. Considering the drive which is about 1 hour north of Portland and stopping to rent canoes and gear, it will be a full day. We will need to start early for this.
Logistics:
– We need people that have vehicles that can be used for shuttling and
can carry a canoe or two. Mine can carry two canoes. Please let me
know in your RSVP.
– If you have a canoe that can be used for this, please let me know also.
– Reservations for the canoes are nessesary.
Cost will be posted here later. The more people we have the cheaper.
Let’s see how many are interested and then we can tighten up the details from there. This could be combined with a camping trip, but I think it will likely just be a day event. – Ken
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Tieton River Rafting Trip & Camping
Tieton River Rafting Trip & Camping
Caroline Rose has suggested this rafting and camping trip. It sounds like a lot of fun! Please contact her for arrangements.
Wet Planet is a locally based company that does incredible white water rafting trips around the Pacific Northwest. In September only, they offer a special 15 mile, half-day trip on the Tieton River.
“When most other rivers in the Pacific Northwest have run out of water, the Tieton River provides an excellent ‘season finale’. The yearly release of water from Rim Rock Lake each September turns the Tieton River into a big wave, class III+ roller coaster. With steep gradient and guaranteed water, the Tieton offers non-stop whitewater action from start to finish. Each September, the Wet Planet crew heads to the Tieton River for this incredible late season whitewater event. The typically gorgeous fall weather found on the eastern flanks of the Cascades, ponderosa pine forests, spectacular basalt gorges, and guaranteed high water all combine to create an incredible whitewater experience. The action on the Tieton is fast paced, stopping spots are rare, and the rapids are continuous. Rafting enthusiasts looking for great water levels in the fall won’t want to miss this trip.”
This will be on the weekend of September 22nd + 23rd, as it’s the last weekend they offer this trip. The Tieton River is located 3 hour outside of Portland. We would drive up to the river on Saturday (carpooling can be arranged), camp at their campground Saturday night, whitewater rafting trip on Sunday morning, and drive back to Portland Sunday afternoon.
Please let me know ASAP if you are interested in this trip and I will make arrangements with Wet Planet.
The cost is $75 per person [$70 if we have 8 or more / $65 if we have 18 or more] which includes a BBQ lunch and all the equipment you need (wetsuit, booties, life vest, helmet, waterproof jacket etc.) to enjoy this incredible adventure.
Like all event with all events of the Adventure Group ? you are responsible for your own safety and well being. Have fun!
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Lewis River Trail #31
I’ve never been on this trail but over the past several years, I’ve heard a great deal about it. The trail cuts through old growth forest and meanders along the Lewis River. It’s full of spectacular waterfalls that apparently rival Eagle Creek. Apparently, it has mild grades full of ups and downs. A literal visual cornucopia. Overall, the level of difficulty seems to be moderate.
It’s located south of Mt. St. Helens and east of the Swift Reservoir. Driving time should be 1 1/2-2hrs.
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Hike to Soda Peaks Lake in WA
This hike is located at the Southern end of the Gifford Pinchot in WA. It is a steep hike(at least some of the sections) to a beautiful swimmable lake. It’s approximately 8 miles round trip with an elevation gain of about 2600 ft.( doesn’t sound like much but take my word for it, it is steep). If you want to swim in the lake, wear your suit or pack it and change in the forest. The water will probably be cold but will feel great after all that perspiring. Take a towel as well.
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Salmon Butte Hike
I just learned that part of the roadway to Salmon Butte was washed away during the winter and is closed. I am therefore changing this event to a trail in Washington.
What I have in mind is one of two possible trails: Bluff Mtn. or Soda Lake. Bluff Mtn. is a 12 mile almost totally exposed trail with beautiful views; Soda Lake is a 7-8 mile steep hike to a beautiful lake that you can swim in if weather permits.
I’ve been to both. Both are wonderful. I just need to get some info. on trail and nearby road conditions and then let you guys choose the trail.
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Hike on the Wyeth Trail to N. Lake
This is an 11.5-12.5 mile rt hike with a 3700+ elevation gain. The trail is fairly wide in many spots with a couple of nice viewpoints on the way up; but the reward is N. Lake, our destination. I find alpine lakes to be quite beautiful. Did I mention that this trail is located on the OR side of the Gorge?
I was there 3-4 wks. ago. There was a fair amount of blowdown but only in about 5 spots was it annoying to get over. As the trail plateaud, there was a 1-2″ layer of snow. Because of the snow, the trail became indiscernible and I never made it to the lake. It was also a bit chilly up there.
How would I rate it? Something inbetween Dog and Hamilton except significantly longer. Not recommended for beginners. Bring lots of snacks, lots of water and a nice lunch. It is a bit high so I would definitely take additional clothing. If you like real chilly water, pack a bathing suit.
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Hike for Beginners to Horsetail Falls
Originally, in an email to the membersip, I asked if those staying in town for the holiday weekend would be interested in doing the Wyeth trail to North Lake on 5/28. Out of the 3 that responded, 2 indicated they were looking for a beginner’s hike. The Wyeth Trail is not exactly a beginner’s hike. Therefore, instead, we’ll do Horsetail. It is about 4-5 miles long with an approximate elevation gain of 500 ft. A very nice trail to a beautiful waterfall on the Oregon side of the Gorge.
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Randy May Family in Hillsboro Oregon 
