Difference between revisions of "Indian Point Loop Hike"
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
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The trail drops from the trailhead, but then switchbacks up twice before traversing. There are two more switchbacks in shady big-leaf maple, hemlock, Douglas-fir woods. The trail reaches the powerline corridor and crosses it, heading up to the right to reenter the woods. Here, you'll begin to see the effects of the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, with the understory burned away but slowly recovering and the conifer canopy mostly intact. The path winds through an area of large, moss-covered boulders, and then passes an old forest track leading off the left (This track drops down to Herman Creek Road). Pass around the nose of a ridge, switchback twice, and traverse up to the junction with the [[Herman Creek-Herman Bridge Trail Junction|Herman Bridge Trail #406E]], 0.6 miles from the trailhead. Keep up on the main trail to switchback and then reach a bend in an old forest road. Stay right and head up the road, which levels in Douglas-fir, hemlock, and maple forest. You'll arrive at a five-way junction after 1.3 miles where the Herman Creek Trail reaches [[Herman Camp]]. | The trail drops from the trailhead, but then switchbacks up twice before traversing. There are two more switchbacks in shady big-leaf maple, hemlock, Douglas-fir woods. The trail reaches the powerline corridor and crosses it, heading up to the right to reenter the woods. Here, you'll begin to see the effects of the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, with the understory burned away but slowly recovering and the conifer canopy mostly intact. The path winds through an area of large, moss-covered boulders, and then passes an old forest track leading off the left (This track drops down to Herman Creek Road). Pass around the nose of a ridge, switchback twice, and traverse up to the junction with the [[Herman Creek-Herman Bridge Trail Junction|Herman Bridge Trail #406E]], 0.6 miles from the trailhead. Keep up on the main trail to switchback and then reach a bend in an old forest road. Stay right and head up the road, which levels in Douglas-fir, hemlock, and maple forest. You'll arrive at a five-way junction after 1.3 miles where the Herman Creek Trail reaches [[Herman Camp]]. | ||
| − | For the Gorton Creek Trail, go left and take the second trail on the right (The first trail leads a short distance to [[Herman Camp]]). Now you're entering the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness although wilderness signs in this area are still posted higher up at the pre-2009 boundaries. The Gorton Creek Trail rises, steepens, and then makes a long traverse through a scorched understory. Pass a large Douglas-fir, and switchback twice into an area of crown fire. However, Oregon grape, fairy bells, violet, thimbleberry, and vine maple are all leafing out again from their roots. Two more switchbacks afford you views of the Columbia River through the burned trees. Make a long traverse up, and cross a lush gully of large Douglas-firs and an intact understory. Another couple of switchbacks take you into a second old-growth gully. Cross a creek, round the nose of a ridge, and switchback. Make a rising traverse and, at the next traverse, you can go off trail to the left to get a view down to the basalt pinnacle at [[Indian Point]]. Across the river is the microdioritic intrusion of [[Wind Mountain]]. After one more switchback, you'll come to the [[Gorton Creek-Indian Point-Ridge Cutoff Trail Junction]], 3.9 miles from the [[Herman Creek Trailhead]]. | + | For the Gorton Creek Trail, go left and take the second trail on the right (The first trail leads a short distance to [[Herman Camp]]). Now you're entering the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness although wilderness signs in this area are still posted higher up at the pre-2009 boundaries. The Gorton Creek Trail rises, steepens, and then makes a long traverse through a scorched understory. Pass a large Douglas-fir, and switchback twice into an area of crown fire. However, Oregon grape, fairy bells, violet, thimbleberry, and vine maple are all leafing out again from their roots. Two more switchbacks afford you views of the Columbia River through the burned trees. Make a long traverse up, and cross a lush gully of large Douglas-firs and an intact understory. Another couple of switchbacks take you into a second old-growth gully. Cross a creek, round the nose of a ridge, and switchback. Make a rising traverse and, at the next traverse, you can go off trail to the left to get a view down to the basalt pinnacle at [[Indian Point]]. Across the river is the microdioritic intrusion of [[Wind Mountain]]. After one more switchback, you'll come to the [[Gorton Creek-Indian Point-Ridge Cutoff Trail Junction]], 3.9 miles from the [[Herman Creek Trailhead]]. Forty yards farther on, you'll see a steep user trail that descends on the left, the Indian Point Trail #408C. |
The Indian Point Trail descends steeply for almost 200 feet to the [[Indian Point]] outcropping. You can go along the steep-sided ridge to the pinnacle and ascend it if you're a confident scrambler. However, a fall could be fatal, so use your best judgment.The Gorge town of Stevenson can be seen across the river as well as [[Wind Mountain]] and [[Dog Mountain]]. On a good day, the snowy peaks of the Washington Cascades are clearly visible. The vegetation on this ridge is an interesting mix: chinquapin, manzanita, ocean spray, Douglas-fir, western red-cedar, Pacific yew, and common juniper. | The Indian Point Trail descends steeply for almost 200 feet to the [[Indian Point]] outcropping. You can go along the steep-sided ridge to the pinnacle and ascend it if you're a confident scrambler. However, a fall could be fatal, so use your best judgment.The Gorge town of Stevenson can be seen across the river as well as [[Wind Mountain]] and [[Dog Mountain]]. On a good day, the snowy peaks of the Washington Cascades are clearly visible. The vegetation on this ridge is an interesting mix: chinquapin, manzanita, ocean spray, Douglas-fir, western red-cedar, Pacific yew, and common juniper. | ||
| − | After admiring the views, | + | After admiring the views, return to the [[Gorton Creek-Indian Point-Ridge Cutoff Trail Junction]] (Another option, which extends this loop 1.3 miles, is to continue along the Gorton Creek Trail to the [[Gorton Creek-Deadwood Trail Junction|Deadwood Camp]] and use the Deadwood Trail to connect with the Nick Eaton Trail higher on the ridge). |
Revision as of 00:32, 7 August 2018
- Start point: Herman Creek Trailhead
- End point: Indian Point
- Trail Log: Trail Log
- Hike Type: loop
- Distance: 7.6 miles (round trip)
- Elevation gain: 2800 feet
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Seasons: Year round
- Backpackable: Yes
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Contents |
Hike Description
The Indian Point loop travels through forested trails to a memorable viewpoint. The loop will be described clockwise, using the gentler Gorton Creek Trail on the ascent and then the steep, switchbacking Nick Eaton Trail on the descent. Much of the area was affected by the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, but most sections of this loop still enjoy an intact forest canopy even while the undergrowth was burned to the ground. The plants of the forest floor are returning from their roots, however, and hikers can enjoy spring and early summer wildflowers along the way. Indian Point itself is a basalt spire perched on the edge of a sheer cliff: It invites a scramble, but with a great deal of care, and the views are not more fantastic than from the ridge behind it.
The loop hikes involves three trails named after early locals: James H. Herman was an early settler near Cascade Locks; a man named Edward Gorton had a homestead claim near the mouth of Gorton Creek in the 1890s; Nick Eaton was a farmer who lived between Cascade Locks and Wyeth at the beginning of the 20th century.
The trail drops from the trailhead, but then switchbacks up twice before traversing. There are two more switchbacks in shady big-leaf maple, hemlock, Douglas-fir woods. The trail reaches the powerline corridor and crosses it, heading up to the right to reenter the woods. Here, you'll begin to see the effects of the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, with the understory burned away but slowly recovering and the conifer canopy mostly intact. The path winds through an area of large, moss-covered boulders, and then passes an old forest track leading off the left (This track drops down to Herman Creek Road). Pass around the nose of a ridge, switchback twice, and traverse up to the junction with the Herman Bridge Trail #406E, 0.6 miles from the trailhead. Keep up on the main trail to switchback and then reach a bend in an old forest road. Stay right and head up the road, which levels in Douglas-fir, hemlock, and maple forest. You'll arrive at a five-way junction after 1.3 miles where the Herman Creek Trail reaches Herman Camp.
For the Gorton Creek Trail, go left and take the second trail on the right (The first trail leads a short distance to Herman Camp). Now you're entering the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness although wilderness signs in this area are still posted higher up at the pre-2009 boundaries. The Gorton Creek Trail rises, steepens, and then makes a long traverse through a scorched understory. Pass a large Douglas-fir, and switchback twice into an area of crown fire. However, Oregon grape, fairy bells, violet, thimbleberry, and vine maple are all leafing out again from their roots. Two more switchbacks afford you views of the Columbia River through the burned trees. Make a long traverse up, and cross a lush gully of large Douglas-firs and an intact understory. Another couple of switchbacks take you into a second old-growth gully. Cross a creek, round the nose of a ridge, and switchback. Make a rising traverse and, at the next traverse, you can go off trail to the left to get a view down to the basalt pinnacle at Indian Point. Across the river is the microdioritic intrusion of Wind Mountain. After one more switchback, you'll come to the Gorton Creek-Indian Point-Ridge Cutoff Trail Junction, 3.9 miles from the Herman Creek Trailhead. Forty yards farther on, you'll see a steep user trail that descends on the left, the Indian Point Trail #408C.
The Indian Point Trail descends steeply for almost 200 feet to the Indian Point outcropping. You can go along the steep-sided ridge to the pinnacle and ascend it if you're a confident scrambler. However, a fall could be fatal, so use your best judgment.The Gorge town of Stevenson can be seen across the river as well as Wind Mountain and Dog Mountain. On a good day, the snowy peaks of the Washington Cascades are clearly visible. The vegetation on this ridge is an interesting mix: chinquapin, manzanita, ocean spray, Douglas-fir, western red-cedar, Pacific yew, and common juniper.
After admiring the views, return to the Gorton Creek-Indian Point-Ridge Cutoff Trail Junction (Another option, which extends this loop 1.3 miles, is to continue along the Gorton Creek Trail to the Deadwood Camp and use the Deadwood Trail to connect with the Nick Eaton Trail higher on the ridge).
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Indian Point Loop
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Indian Point Loop
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- Day Hike! Columbia Gorge, by Seabury Blair, Jr.
- 60 Hikes within 60 Miles of Portland, by Paul Gerald
- Afoot and Afield Portland/Vancouver, by Douglas Lorain
- 35 Hiking Trails, Columbia River Gorge, by Don & Roberta Lowe
- Columbia River Gorge, 42 Scenic Hikes, by Don & Roberta Lowe
- Hiking the Columbia River Gorge - 1st and 2nd Editions, by Russ Schneider
- 100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon - 3rd Edition, by William L Sullivan
More Links
- Indian Point Hike (Northwest Hiker)
- Big Hills and Big Rewards in the Columbia Gorge: Hiking the Nick Eaton Way to Indian Point (Paul Gerald)
- Indian Point Loop (Friends of the Columbia Gorge)
- Indian Point Hike via Herman Creek Trailhead (Outdoor Project)
- Herman Creek to Indian Point (Jenny Bruso)
- "Indian Point: Climb high for a birds-eye view of the Gorge" (Hood River News)
- "Indian Point (Columbia River Gorge) is No. 7 on list of Oregon's best landscapes" (Oregon Live)
- "Doing one Columbia River Gorge hike? Make it Indian Point" (Oregon Live)
Revised
- January 2016