Cougar Rock via Elevator Shaft Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
| This page is marked as a Lost Hike. The "trail" may be dangerous and hard to follow and is not recommended for beginning hikers without an experienced leader. Carry detailed maps of the whole area and/or a GPS unit and compass. |
- Start Point: Multnomah Falls Trailhead
- End Point: Cougar Rock
- Trail Log : Trail Log
- Hike Type: Loop
- Distance: ??
- Elevation gain: 1650'
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Seasons: Apr-Oct
- Family Friendly: No. Stony scramble & poison oak
- Backpackable:
- Crowded: No
Contents |
Trip Reports
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Hike Description
This hike has a little bit of every kind of trail, from paved, wellgraded tourist trap to a scramble up a talus slope. Various hiking guides show it to be lost, found or even "not as lost as it once was". Plan ahead, wear good boots for the rocks, long pants for the poison oak and plan on working hard.
The hike starts at the Multnomah Falls Trailhead. Hike up the Larch Mountain Trail #441 to the Benson Bridge, along with scores of dayhikers and tourists. About 1/2 mile from the lodge, you'll come to a switchback where the dirt Gorge Trail #400 connects. Continue straight ahead on the Gorge Trail, signed the Ak-Wanee Trail. In about another half mile of flat walking, you'll come to a large talus slope. This is where the fun begins.
On the east side of the talus slope look for a faint path leading up through the rocks. This is the infamous Elevator Shaft. (I haven't found it yet, so I could use more details, help me out here guys!) The path switchbacks numerous times up the rocky slope. As you climb the views of the Columbia River and Archer Mountain get better and better. At the top of the rocks, the footing gets better, but the climbing switchbacks continue. Finally after over (40-50??, 80?? 2,315??, can anyone guess?) switchbacks, you'll reach the edge of the Multnomah Basin, a large, relatively flat area, dotted with use paths and abandoned homesteads. Soon, there's a trail junction with another use path south.
Continue heading east for another half mile or so to a junction with a path headed north, down the hill. This path switches down steeply to the viewpoint of Cougar Rock pictured above. The summit of Cougar Rock is reserved for very experienced rock climbers with a lot of gear. Most of us will turn back at the viewpoint and return uphill to Multnomah Basin.
Head west back the way you came to that first trail junction. Head south and then east on the trail about a quarter mile to a junction with Multnomah Basin Road. This road is closed to most traffic, but open to hikers and mountain bikers. Turn right and walk down the road for a quarter mile to a sharp u-turn. You'll find another path here that heads down to the Larch Mountain Trail's "High Water Trail". A right turn here will get you down to Multnomah Creek and the Larch Mountain Trail #441. (Should you somehow miss the turn, you will come to a crossing of Larch Mountain Trail, where you'll turn right.) In either event, turn right on to Larch Mountain Trail just before the creek and hike down past Ecola Falls, Weisendanger Falls and numerous other scenic spots, including the Multnomah Falls Upper Viewpoint. Follow the paved trail #441 back to Multnomah Falls Lodge and your car.
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- None
Related Discussions / Q&A
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Guidebooks that cover this hike
None known
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Contributors
- Stevefromdodge (creator)