View to Chemawa Hill and Silver Star Mountain from the summit of Mitchell Point (bobcat)

Expansive views of the Gorge spread out from the summit perch (Tom Kloster)

Gray-leaf desert parsley (Lomatium macrocarpum), Mitchell Point (bobcat)

• Hikes to this location:
  • Mitchell Point Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)

• Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
• Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
• Latitude, Longitude: 45.70020, -121.61432
• Elevation: 1178 feet

Description

Mitchell Point is a large rock knob in the eastern edge of the Gorge. The view includes the eastern end of the Columbia River Gorge, Mount Defiance, Wygant Peak, Cook Hill, and Dog Mountain. You can also see north past Chemawa Hill to the top of Mount Adams and Silver Star Mountain. Drano Lake sparkles below, and the view east includes the Washington towns of White Salmon and Bingen.

Mitchell Point, like Mitchell Spur directly below, is principally a formation of the Grand Ronde member of the Columbia River Basalt flows. Both structures have been tilted at an angle of 30 degrees. On Mitchell Point, the older basalt is overlain by a layer of crumbly Troutdale Formation gravel, which in turn has a cap of much younger lava. The prominence was known to local tribes as the Great Storm King. The origin of the current name is somewhat nebulous, but apparently a trapper named Mitchell once frequented the area. Early spring wildflowers include grass widow, gold stars, prairie star, western saxifrage, whitlow-grass, yellow bells, and biscuit root. Later, wild onions will bloom on the summit ridge.

The summit of Mitchell Point is a craggy perch not suitable to dogs or small children.

More Links

• "Mitchell Point and Mitchell Spur, Oregon" (The Columbia River: A Photographic Journey)
• Seneca Fouts Memorial State Natural Area (Oregon State Parks)
• Exploring Mitchell Point (WyEast Blog)

Contributors

• Stevefromdodge (creator)