Difference between revisions of "Gnarl Ridge from Hood River Meadows Hike"
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
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[[Gnarl Ridge]], near [[Timberline High Point|the highest point]] on the Timberline Trail, can be approached from the north (See the [[Gnarl Ridge from Cloud Cap Hike]]) or the south. The latter approach keeps your car on a paved surface and begins at the popular [[Elk Meadows Trailhead]]. This lollipop loop takes you across Newton Creek twice, allows you to visit [[Elk Meadows]], and with a little off-trail scramble, puts you on top of [[Lamberson Butte]], staring up at the imposing Newton Clark Glacier and down past dark breccia crags to the always changing spate of Newton Creek. If you're backpacking, there's water at [[Elk Meadows]] and [[Newton Creek Crossing on Timberline Trail|Newton Creek]]. | [[Gnarl Ridge]], near [[Timberline High Point|the highest point]] on the Timberline Trail, can be approached from the north (See the [[Gnarl Ridge from Cloud Cap Hike]]) or the south. The latter approach keeps your car on a paved surface and begins at the popular [[Elk Meadows Trailhead]]. This lollipop loop takes you across Newton Creek twice, allows you to visit [[Elk Meadows]], and with a little off-trail scramble, puts you on top of [[Lamberson Butte]], staring up at the imposing Newton Clark Glacier and down past dark breccia crags to the always changing spate of Newton Creek. If you're backpacking, there's water at [[Elk Meadows]] and [[Newton Creek Crossing on Timberline Trail|Newton Creek]]. | ||
| − | The Elk Meadows Trail begins in mountain hemlock forest, with silver fir, Douglas-fir, noble fir, Engelmann spruce and western white pine. There’s a huckleberry understory that invites plunder in late summer. Cross one firebreak and then another one. There’s an unmarked trail junction, with a trail leading left to a parking area for the Meadows Nordic Center. Reach the [[Elk Meadows-Umbrella Falls Trail Junction]] and keep straight. Drop to cross [[Clark Creek Bridge on Elk Meadows Trail|Clark Creek]] on its handrailed footbridge after passing the [[Elk Meadows-Clark Creek Trail Junction]] on the right. Before the bridge, there’s a | + | The Elk Meadows Trail begins in mountain hemlock forest, with silver fir, Douglas-fir, noble fir, Engelmann spruce and western white pine. There’s a huckleberry understory that invites plunder in late summer. Cross one firebreak and then another one. There’s an unmarked trail junction, with a trail leading left to a parking area for the Meadows Nordic Center. Reach the [[Elk Meadows-Umbrella Falls Trail Junction]] and keep straight. Drop to cross [[Clark Creek Bridge on Elk Meadows Trail|Clark Creek]] on its handrailed footbridge after passing the [[Elk Meadows-Clark Creek Trail Junction]] on the right. Before the bridge, there’s a wilderness permit box. |
| − | After crossing the bridge, the trail heads up a bank and enters the Mt. Hood Wilderness. The | + | After crossing the bridge, the trail heads up a bank and enters the Mt. Hood Wilderness. The path levels and then drops to cross two small creeks. Then it proceeds gradually upward. Cross a creek on a footbridge and, on a level section, reach the [[Elk Meadows-Newton Creek Trail Junction]]. The trail drops into the Newton Creek channel. A plank usually affords a good crossing of [[Newton Creek Crossing on Elk Meadows Trail|Newton Creek]]; otherwise, especially early in the season, you will have to pick your way across (See [[Tips for Crossing Streams]]). Cairns mark the route to the continuation of the Elk Meadows Trail on the opposite bank. The dusty trail switchbacks up, passing over many lush seeps and small brooks. Switchback again, and note the many large Douglas-firs on this steep hillside. Pass through thimbleberry thickets with active mountain beaver warrens. There are more springs. Switchback five more times into drier woods with bracken and bear-grass for a carpet. There are two more switchbacks, and the trail then winds gradually up under a mountain hemlock, silver fir, and subalpine fir canopy until you meet the four-way [[Elk Meadows-Bluegrass Ridge-Gnarl Ridge Trail Junction]]. To the left is the Gnarl Ridge Trail #652. To the right is the Blue Grass Ridge Trail #647. |
| − | Turn left here for a more direct route up to [[Gnarl Ridge]], but if you want to visit [[Elk Meadows]], keep straight at this junction. Head down through huckleberries under a mountain hemlock canopy. Come to the [[Elk Meadows-Elk Meadows Perimeter South Trail Junction]], and make a left. A spur leads right to the upper slopes of [[Elk Meadows]], and you'll get a view to the burned out slopes of Bluegrass Ridge. Gradually descend along the western fringe of the meadows through a carpet of lupine and huckleberry. After passing by a small spring where there's another spur to the meadows, turn left | + | Turn left here for a more direct route up to [[Gnarl Ridge]], but if you want to visit [[Elk Meadows]], keep straight at this junction. Head down through huckleberries under a mountain hemlock canopy. Come to the [[Elk Meadows-Elk Meadows Perimeter South Trail Junction]], and make a left. A spur leads right to the upper slopes of [[Elk Meadows]], and you'll get a view to the burned out slopes of Bluegrass Ridge. Gradually descend along the western fringe of the meadows through a carpet of lupine and huckleberry. After passing by a small spring where there's another spur to the meadows, turn left at the [[Gnarl Ridge Tie-Elk Meadows Perimeter Trail Junction]]. |
| − | Hike up through a carpet of grouseberry, huckleberry, and lupine. If you look carefully to your left, you might spot a section of the #9 wire which led to the tent lookout on [[Lamberson Butte]]. Ascend open meadows of lupine, goldenweed, penstemon, and wood rush to reach the [[Gnarl Ridge-Gnarl Ridge Tie Trail Junction]]. | + | Hike up through a carpet of grouseberry, huckleberry, and lupine. If you look carefully to your left, you might spot a section of the #9 wire which led to the tent lookout on [[Lamberson Butte]]. Ascend open meadows of lupine, goldenweed, penstemon, and wood rush to reach the [[Gnarl Ridge-Gnarl Ridge Tie Trail Junction]]. Keep hiking up through glades of mountain hemlock and subalpine fir to the [[Timberline-Gnarl Ridge Trail Junction]]. You'll be returning to this junction, but keep right for now. |
Enter denser mountain hemlock woods, and cross a rocky gully. Then pass through extensive open meadows. The trail swings left through glades of woodrush, lupine, fleece flower, and Jacob's ladder. As the ridge narrows, you can get a view north to the slopes scorched by the 2008 Gnarl Ridge Fire. Hike along a rocky bench, with Cooper Spur on the northern skyline. Below you, the nearest ridge is Lamberson Spur, which runs from the Timberline trail into the Gnarl Ridge Burn (See the [[Lamberson Spur Loop Hike]]). The top of [[Mount Hood]] hoves into view as you cross a rocky slope of young whitebark pines and mountain hemlocks. To your left, you'll see the ruins of the Gnarl Ridge Shelter, constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, which once had a corrugated steel roof. Soon reach [[Gnarl Ridge]], which hosts thickets of contorted, krummholz whitebark pines. Above you is the expanse of the Newton Clark Glacier on [[Mount Hood]]'s rugged southeast slope. | Enter denser mountain hemlock woods, and cross a rocky gully. Then pass through extensive open meadows. The trail swings left through glades of woodrush, lupine, fleece flower, and Jacob's ladder. As the ridge narrows, you can get a view north to the slopes scorched by the 2008 Gnarl Ridge Fire. Hike along a rocky bench, with Cooper Spur on the northern skyline. Below you, the nearest ridge is Lamberson Spur, which runs from the Timberline trail into the Gnarl Ridge Burn (See the [[Lamberson Spur Loop Hike]]). The top of [[Mount Hood]] hoves into view as you cross a rocky slope of young whitebark pines and mountain hemlocks. To your left, you'll see the ruins of the Gnarl Ridge Shelter, constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, which once had a corrugated steel roof. Soon reach [[Gnarl Ridge]], which hosts thickets of contorted, krummholz whitebark pines. Above you is the expanse of the Newton Clark Glacier on [[Mount Hood]]'s rugged southeast slope. | ||
| − | To head up to the summit of [[Lamberson Butte]], go left to get views almost straight down into the Newton Creek Canyon. Highly eroded breccia | + | To head up to the summit of [[Lamberson Butte]], go left to get views almost straight down into the Newton Creek Canyon. Highly eroded breccia formations are a feature of this ridge. Stunted clumps of common juniper, ocean spray, and Sitka alder cling to life. Pass over a false summit, and continue along the rim before detouring down to the left, passing by the next prominence before diverting up to the top of [[Lamberson Butte]]. The summit here is crowned by a twisted congregation of whitebark pine skeletons. Views extend down the Newton Creek drainage, up the slopes of [[Mount Hood]], and over to Cooper Spur, where you can make out Tie-in Rock. You can leave the summit by cutting down at a gentle angle on the back slope of [[Lamberson Butte]]. Once below the summit ridge, you'll be hiking through open glades, and you may well startle a deer or two. You could even trip over the #9 wire that led to the old lookout site. Err to the left rather than the right, and you'll soon meet the Timberline Trail to descend to the [[Timberline-Gnarl Ridge Trail Junction]]. |
Go right on the Timberline Trail to make a gradual traverse down a slope of mountain hemlock, silver fir, and noble fir with an understory of boxwood, pinemat manzanita, snow brush, and huckleberry. You'll get glimpses of the almost vertical wall below [[Lamberson Butte]]. The trail rises for a short distance to the edge of the open canyon floor. Small cairns guide you to the fast flowing stream of Newton Creek and the [[Newton Creek Crossing on Timberline Trail|makeshift crossing]] which changes every year. Golden-mantled ground squirrels dart about. Head up a rubbly slope, and cross a burbling creek, getting views up to [[Gnarl Ridge]]. There are more campsites here, and you'll pass above a copious spring before passing through thickets of willow, mountain ash, and thimbleberry. Switchback, and rise to the [[Timberline-Newton Creek Trail Junction]]. | Go right on the Timberline Trail to make a gradual traverse down a slope of mountain hemlock, silver fir, and noble fir with an understory of boxwood, pinemat manzanita, snow brush, and huckleberry. You'll get glimpses of the almost vertical wall below [[Lamberson Butte]]. The trail rises for a short distance to the edge of the open canyon floor. Small cairns guide you to the fast flowing stream of Newton Creek and the [[Newton Creek Crossing on Timberline Trail|makeshift crossing]] which changes every year. Golden-mantled ground squirrels dart about. Head up a rubbly slope, and cross a burbling creek, getting views up to [[Gnarl Ridge]]. There are more campsites here, and you'll pass above a copious spring before passing through thickets of willow, mountain ash, and thimbleberry. Switchback, and rise to the [[Timberline-Newton Creek Trail Junction]]. | ||
| − | Here, you'll make a left to descend along the canyon rim through skeletons of whitebark pines decorated with bright clumps of wolf lichen. A steep and dangerous slope plunges to Newton Creek on the left, while pinemat manzanita carpets the slope on your right. Switchback twice down the slope through bracken and manzanita to cross two rivulets issuing from an alder-shaded spring. | + | Here, you'll make a left to descend along the canyon rim through skeletons of whitebark pines decorated with bright clumps of wolf lichen. A steep and dangerous slope plunges to Newton Creek on the left, while pinemat manzanita carpets the slope on your right. Switchback twice down the slope through bracken and manzanita to cross two rivulets issuing from an alder-shaded spring. Continue descending through a huckleberry understory with Newton Creek rushing to your left. Cross a rubble field, and hike close to the edge of the ravine where the trail has had to be rerouted many times. Come to the [[Elk Meadows-Newton Creek Trail Junction]], and go right to walk the mile back to your car. |
Revision as of 23:00, 22 October 2018
- Start point: Elk Meadows Trailhead
- Ending Point: Lamberson Butte
- Trail Log: Trail Log
- Distance: 9.5 miles round-trip
- Elevation gain: 2480 feet
- High Point: 6633 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Seasons: July to November
- Family Friendly: No
- Backpackable: Yes
- Crowded: On summer weekends
Contents |
Hike Description
Gnarl Ridge, near the highest point on the Timberline Trail, can be approached from the north (See the Gnarl Ridge from Cloud Cap Hike) or the south. The latter approach keeps your car on a paved surface and begins at the popular Elk Meadows Trailhead. This lollipop loop takes you across Newton Creek twice, allows you to visit Elk Meadows, and with a little off-trail scramble, puts you on top of Lamberson Butte, staring up at the imposing Newton Clark Glacier and down past dark breccia crags to the always changing spate of Newton Creek. If you're backpacking, there's water at Elk Meadows and Newton Creek.
The Elk Meadows Trail begins in mountain hemlock forest, with silver fir, Douglas-fir, noble fir, Engelmann spruce and western white pine. There’s a huckleberry understory that invites plunder in late summer. Cross one firebreak and then another one. There’s an unmarked trail junction, with a trail leading left to a parking area for the Meadows Nordic Center. Reach the Elk Meadows-Umbrella Falls Trail Junction and keep straight. Drop to cross Clark Creek on its handrailed footbridge after passing the Elk Meadows-Clark Creek Trail Junction on the right. Before the bridge, there’s a wilderness permit box.
After crossing the bridge, the trail heads up a bank and enters the Mt. Hood Wilderness. The path levels and then drops to cross two small creeks. Then it proceeds gradually upward. Cross a creek on a footbridge and, on a level section, reach the Elk Meadows-Newton Creek Trail Junction. The trail drops into the Newton Creek channel. A plank usually affords a good crossing of Newton Creek; otherwise, especially early in the season, you will have to pick your way across (See Tips for Crossing Streams). Cairns mark the route to the continuation of the Elk Meadows Trail on the opposite bank. The dusty trail switchbacks up, passing over many lush seeps and small brooks. Switchback again, and note the many large Douglas-firs on this steep hillside. Pass through thimbleberry thickets with active mountain beaver warrens. There are more springs. Switchback five more times into drier woods with bracken and bear-grass for a carpet. There are two more switchbacks, and the trail then winds gradually up under a mountain hemlock, silver fir, and subalpine fir canopy until you meet the four-way Elk Meadows-Bluegrass Ridge-Gnarl Ridge Trail Junction. To the left is the Gnarl Ridge Trail #652. To the right is the Blue Grass Ridge Trail #647.
Turn left here for a more direct route up to Gnarl Ridge, but if you want to visit Elk Meadows, keep straight at this junction. Head down through huckleberries under a mountain hemlock canopy. Come to the Elk Meadows-Elk Meadows Perimeter South Trail Junction, and make a left. A spur leads right to the upper slopes of Elk Meadows, and you'll get a view to the burned out slopes of Bluegrass Ridge. Gradually descend along the western fringe of the meadows through a carpet of lupine and huckleberry. After passing by a small spring where there's another spur to the meadows, turn left at the Gnarl Ridge Tie-Elk Meadows Perimeter Trail Junction.
Hike up through a carpet of grouseberry, huckleberry, and lupine. If you look carefully to your left, you might spot a section of the #9 wire which led to the tent lookout on Lamberson Butte. Ascend open meadows of lupine, goldenweed, penstemon, and wood rush to reach the Gnarl Ridge-Gnarl Ridge Tie Trail Junction. Keep hiking up through glades of mountain hemlock and subalpine fir to the Timberline-Gnarl Ridge Trail Junction. You'll be returning to this junction, but keep right for now.
Enter denser mountain hemlock woods, and cross a rocky gully. Then pass through extensive open meadows. The trail swings left through glades of woodrush, lupine, fleece flower, and Jacob's ladder. As the ridge narrows, you can get a view north to the slopes scorched by the 2008 Gnarl Ridge Fire. Hike along a rocky bench, with Cooper Spur on the northern skyline. Below you, the nearest ridge is Lamberson Spur, which runs from the Timberline trail into the Gnarl Ridge Burn (See the Lamberson Spur Loop Hike). The top of Mount Hood hoves into view as you cross a rocky slope of young whitebark pines and mountain hemlocks. To your left, you'll see the ruins of the Gnarl Ridge Shelter, constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, which once had a corrugated steel roof. Soon reach Gnarl Ridge, which hosts thickets of contorted, krummholz whitebark pines. Above you is the expanse of the Newton Clark Glacier on Mount Hood's rugged southeast slope.
To head up to the summit of Lamberson Butte, go left to get views almost straight down into the Newton Creek Canyon. Highly eroded breccia formations are a feature of this ridge. Stunted clumps of common juniper, ocean spray, and Sitka alder cling to life. Pass over a false summit, and continue along the rim before detouring down to the left, passing by the next prominence before diverting up to the top of Lamberson Butte. The summit here is crowned by a twisted congregation of whitebark pine skeletons. Views extend down the Newton Creek drainage, up the slopes of Mount Hood, and over to Cooper Spur, where you can make out Tie-in Rock. You can leave the summit by cutting down at a gentle angle on the back slope of Lamberson Butte. Once below the summit ridge, you'll be hiking through open glades, and you may well startle a deer or two. You could even trip over the #9 wire that led to the old lookout site. Err to the left rather than the right, and you'll soon meet the Timberline Trail to descend to the Timberline-Gnarl Ridge Trail Junction.
Go right on the Timberline Trail to make a gradual traverse down a slope of mountain hemlock, silver fir, and noble fir with an understory of boxwood, pinemat manzanita, snow brush, and huckleberry. You'll get glimpses of the almost vertical wall below Lamberson Butte. The trail rises for a short distance to the edge of the open canyon floor. Small cairns guide you to the fast flowing stream of Newton Creek and the makeshift crossing which changes every year. Golden-mantled ground squirrels dart about. Head up a rubbly slope, and cross a burbling creek, getting views up to Gnarl Ridge. There are more campsites here, and you'll pass above a copious spring before passing through thickets of willow, mountain ash, and thimbleberry. Switchback, and rise to the Timberline-Newton Creek Trail Junction.
Here, you'll make a left to descend along the canyon rim through skeletons of whitebark pines decorated with bright clumps of wolf lichen. A steep and dangerous slope plunges to Newton Creek on the left, while pinemat manzanita carpets the slope on your right. Switchback twice down the slope through bracken and manzanita to cross two rivulets issuing from an alder-shaded spring. Continue descending through a huckleberry understory with Newton Creek rushing to your left. Cross a rubble field, and hike close to the edge of the ravine where the trail has had to be rerouted many times. Come to the Elk Meadows-Newton Creek Trail Junction, and go right to walk the mile back to your car.
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
- Green Trails Maps: Mt. Hood, OR #462
- Adventure Maps: Mt. Hood Area
- Geo-Graphics: Mount Hood Wilderness Map
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Mt. Hood National Forest
- Discover Your Northwest: Mt. Hood National Forest North: Trail Map & Hiking Guide
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Hood River Ranger District
- National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: Mount Hood
- Adventure Maps: Hood River, Oregon, Trail Map
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- Port-a-potty, picnic table, information kiosk at trailhead
- Self-issued wilderness permit
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Gnarl Ridge
- A Grand Day on Lamberson Butte - 2015/02/15
- Lamberson Butte & Elk Meadows - 2014/03/23
- Gnarl Ridge Ski to Lamberson Butte
- Gnarl Ridge to Lamberson Butte 11/10
- 2012-09-14 Elk Meadows & lamberson Butte
- Lamberson Butte, Mt Hood
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Gnarl Ridge
Guidebooks that cover this destination
- PDX Hiking 365 by Matt Reeder
- Take a Hike: Portland by Barbara I. Bond
- Hiking Oregon's Mount Hood & Badger Creek Wilderness by Fred Barstad
- 100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon & Southwest Washington by William L. Sullivan
- Portland Hikes by Art Bernstein & Andrew Jackman
- One Night Wilderness: Portland by Douglas Lorain
- 50 Hikes in Oregon by David L. Anderson
- 70 Hiking Trails: Northern Oregon Cascades by Don & Roberta Lowe
- 62 Hiking Trails: Northern Oregon Cascades by Don & Roberta Lowe
- 100 Oregon Hiking Trails by Don & Roberta Lowe
- Around Mt. Hood in Easy Stages by Sonia Buist & Emily Keller
- 105 Virtual Hikes of the Mt. Hood National Forest by Northwest Hiker
- Oregon Hiking by Sean Patrick Hill
More Links
- Elk Meadows Trail #645 (USFS)
- Gnarl Ridge Cut Off Trail #652A (USFS)
- Gnarl Ridge Trail #652 (USFS)
- Timberline National Historic Trail #600 (USFS)
- Newton Creek Trail #646 (USFS)
- Lamberson Butte via Gnarl Ridge Hike (Northwest Hiker)
- Sleeping With the Elk: Elk Meadows and Gnarl Ridge (Casing Oregon)
- Gnarl Ridge Hike (Outdoor Project)
- Spectacular Gnarl Ridge below Mt. Hood (Anne's Travels)
- Newton Creek, Timberline Trail, and Gnarl Ridge Trail Loop (AllTrails)
Page Contributors
- Splintercat (Tom Kloster) (primary)
- User:Retiredjerry