Difference between revisions of "Aldrich Butte Hike"
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
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Revision as of 14:55, 21 May 2016
- Start point: Dick Thomas Trailhead
- End point: Aldrich Butte
- Trail log: Trail Log
- Hike Type: Out and Back
- Distance: 3.2 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 1070 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Seasons: All Season
- Family Friendly: Yes
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: No
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Contents |
Hike Description
This is a fairly short, easy hike to the top of Aldrich Butte on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge. It's a nice alternative for those wanting a great view without the effort and stamina required for neighboring Hamilton Mountain or Table Mountain. The view from the summit is beautiful, overlooking the Columbia River in the Bonneville Dam / Eagle Creek area. While not a classic 360 view, it is pretty nice, especially if you walk out onto the vertical meadow on the front (south) face.
Walk up the gravel track at the west end of the large parking area. The corridor here supports a natural gas pipeline. The former beginning of the Dick Thomas Trail headed through a clump of blackberries: now walk a little farther west in the pipeline corridor, crossing a flowing rivulet, to pick up the trail entering the woods on your right. Cross a four-log footbridge and then drop to step across a small creek. The old trail alignment comes in from the right here. Continue up on a rooty tread, winding through sword ferns under Douglas-fir, western hemlock, and big-leaf maple. Drop to skirt a vernal pool and then gradually descend through a sword fern/Oregon grape carpet. At the Carpenters Creek Crossing, use the makeshift footbridge.
Reach the Aldrich Butte-Dick Thomas Trail Junction, with grassy, alder rimmed Carpenters Lake, a former beaver marsh, to your right. Go right at the junction, and after 60 yards, at the junction with the Two Chiefs jeep track, go left up the slope on another old vehicle track. Hike up under Douglas-firs and hemlocks as the road swings right. At the next switchback, the Aldrich Butte-Aldrich PCT Bypass Trail Junction, stay left and walk up the eroded road bed to the east of the ridge crest.
Pass below a large rock outcropping and reach a gap in the ridge where a logging road peels off to the right at the Aldrich Butte-Cedar Falls Trail Junction (See the loop option described below). Keep to the road, which is pretty steep, but in good condition, and you'll reach the Aldrich Butte summit before you know it. It's about 0.6 mile from the last junction to the summit. Watch for views of Hamilton Mountain on your right. Soon the trail will curve to your left and empty out at the summit.
The summit is a perfect picnic spot. A small clearing almost looks like someone brings a lawn mower up once a week! There are great views to the south of the Gorge and the bluffs on the Oregon side. Behind you to the north are nearby Cedar Mountain and Table Mountain.
There are some historic remains here from when the location was used as a fire lookout and a defensive position in WWII for the Bonneville Dam. If you look back down hill you'll see a light short trail heading upward a few more feet. Here you'll see what appears to be on old gun mount in curiously good condition!
You'll return back the way you came unless you want to attempt the loop.
Loop hike for the more adventurous and other options
This is a bit harder option, not recommended for families with children under 8. Hike up on the old road to the top as described above. On the return trip, go back down this road for about 5-10 minutes and look for an obvious trail heading off to the left, the Aldrich Butte-Cedar Falls Trail Junction. Take this unofficial but pretty good trail. Down the slope you'll reach the Cedar Falls-Aldrich Butte Cutoff Trail Junction - ignore the trail to the right (It goes to Cedar Falls), and go straight. You'll go around the other side of Aldrich Butte and soon come to an old forest road. Go left (east) on this road. It goes along the powerline, but always under trees and some distance from powerline so you won't notice it a lot. Soon, you'll come to a junction with the Aldrich Butte Road. go left here and head up the road track to the Aldrich Butte-Dick Thomas Trail Junction, where you'll make right and return the mile back to your vehicle at the Dick Thomas Trailhead.
There are a whole maze of trails in the area between Hamilton and Table Mountains. Some are old forest roads left from the 19th century, some are old railroad beds used for hauling timber. Still others are the work of local outdoorsmen struggling to introduce the little-known area to the general public. For a more advanced route that investigates this area more see the Aldrich Butte-Cedar Falls Loop Hike or the Cedar Mountain Loop Hike.
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- $10 day-use fee at Bonneville Hot Springs & Spa
- Dogs on leash at spa and make sure you clean up after your pet!
- $1 toll at the Bridge of the Gods
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Aldrich Butte Hike
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Aldrich Butte Hike
More Links