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• Start point: Eagle Creek Trailhead
• End point: Benson Plateau
• Trail Log: Trail Log
• Hike Type: Loop
• Distance: 17 miles
• Elevation gain: 3800
• Difficulty: Difficult
• Seasons: June-Oct
• Family Friendly: No
• Backpackable: Yes
• Crowded: Yes (on Eagle Creek Trail)

Hike Description

Describe destination image here

Under Development:

• 1)Eagle Creek Trail to Eagle Creek-Eagle Benson Trail Junction
• 2)Eagle-Benson Trail to Pacific Crest-Eagle Benson Trail Junction
• 3)Pacific Crest Trail to Pacific Crest-Benson Way Trail Junction
• 4)Benson Way Trail to Ruckel Creek-Benson Way Trail Junction
• 5)Ruckel Creek Trail to HCRHT-Ruckel Creek Trail Junction
• 6)HCRHT to Eagle Creek Trailhead

This hike is a demanding loop, showing off all the Gorge has to offer. You encounter everything from cliffside trails and waterfalls to incredible vistas and quiet sub-alpine forests. Trails vary from extremely well maintained to not at all. Some sections are easy and well graded, while others offer rugged climbs and knee pounding descents. The Eagle Creek Trail can be crowded, while most of the rest of the hike offers relative solitude. There are several variations to this hike. You can start out easy (Eagle Creek) and finish hard (Ruckel Creek or Ridge), or get the hard stuff out of the way first and cruise to a finish.

I recommend the latter for several reasons: 1) You will get the toughest climb out of the way first while you're fresh. 2) You start out enjoying solitude rather than the throngs of people hiking Eagle Creek. 3) It is easier to descend the Eagle-Benson Trail due to the overgrown tread and the large amount of blow-down. 4) You finish with a leisurely stroll down the Eagle Creek Trail in the late afternoon or early evening when it is less crowded.

When starting the hike, you must first decide on your route to the Benson Plateau. You can choose between Ruckel Ridge and the Ruckel Creek Trail. While both trails are a stiff climb, Ruckel Ridge is a more demanding but rewarding thrill ride. The Ridge doesn't lead to a destination as much as it is the destination. The Ruckel Creek Trail offers the single best viewpoint between the two trails, and impressive hanging meadows laced with wildflowers in the spring. You can't go wrong either way. Pick your poison and make your way to the Benson Plateau. See the Ruckel Ridge Loop Hike for specific route descriptions for this first section.

Maps

• Maps: Hike Finder

Fees, Regulations, etc.

• Northwest Forest Pass required at Trailhead

Trip Reports

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Related Discussions / Q&A

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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

• See more information at Describe the link here

Contributors

• Stevefromdodge (outline)