Home • Field Guide • Forums • Unread Posts • Maps • Find a Hike! • Search •

Portland Hikers Archive

Tanner Butte, 6/8/06.

Posted by JosephSamuel (2006-06-09)

Bushwacker's report and pics of Tanner Butte spurred me into action. This is a trail I have always put off for another time, until yesterday.

For a good trail description, look at Bushwacker's report. I have just a few of my own opinions to add.

Between the powerline clearing and the Wauna Point junction there are a number of beautiful orchids now in bloom. I noted numerous examples of both Merten's coralroot and spotted coralroot as well as the easy to miss heartleaf twayblade. The few rhodadendrons along the way between Wauna Point Juncion and Dublin Lake are just about to bloom, at about 3200' The fields of beargrass below Tanner Butte are spectacular! While the day I hiked it was cloudy and threatening to storm, a nice warm, sunny day could be spent lounging in these fields if you had the time. The beargrass is just starting to bloom in this field.

I hiked all the way to the base of Tanner Butte and, remembering that you have to bushwack, picked a spot and commenced the slow going. About halfway up I found a small trail and followed it to the top. The view from the top is not to be missed, even on a cloudy day! The whole area seemed layed out before me like a map. I could see all the gorge landmarks.....Chinidere Mtn., Benson Plateau, Larch Mountain, Ruckel Ridge, Tomlike Mtn., Wolly Horn Ridge, Green Point Mountain, even clear over to Mt. Defiance and it's radio tower. The top is rocky with ruins of the old fire spotting tower among the rubble. I followed the unofficial trail back down easily and to my chagrin found it ended by the famous sign asking you to, "find your own scramble", just 15 feet from where I began my bushwack! My pedometer showed an even 8 miles to the top of Tanner Butte (4 hours going up) from the Tanner Butte trailhead which agrees with what is published in Don and Roberta Lowe's hiking guide for the gorge.

I must note that to save time I biked the road from the toothrock parking lot to the trailhead. I had to use very low gears and was probably not much faster than walking. It was hard work and I ended up taking walking breaks for probably 1/4 the way. I locked my bike to a tree at the Tanner Butte trailhead. The way down was VERY fast though. I covered the 2 miles in under 10 minutes, bone jarring the whole way (I have an old non-suspension Stumpjumper). It was a blast! The road up begins just to the west of the Toothrock parking area and is gated.

JosephSamuel

Re: Tanner Butte, 6/8/06.

Posted by jimsiff (2006-06-09)

Nice report! I'm going to get up there this summer. Thanks for the tip about finding the faint trail at the sign. I'll remember that, and avoid unnecessary shwacking. I like the idea of using a bike to get to and from the trailhead. I'd definitely do that if I ever get around to exploring the Tanner Creek trail. I guess the trailhead for that is another mile or two? down FS 777.

Return to Portland Hikers Archive

Disclaimer: Information found on PortlandHikers.org and PortlandHikersFieldGuide.org is provided by website visitors and volunteers and should be considered anecdotal. All trails and directions and subject to current conditions. Trails and roads can be rerouted due to natural events and the website is not able to provide current information for every hike. Please verify against two other sources before planning a trip. Outdoor activities present inherent risks. Portlandhikers.org, nor any of its members, accept liability for injuries relating to information found on this website.