Difference between revisions of "Herman Creek-Wyeth Hike"
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
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[[Category:Northwest Oregon]] | [[Category:Northwest Oregon]] | ||
[[Category:Columbia River Gorge]] | [[Category:Columbia River Gorge]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness]] | ||
[[Category:Wilderness Hikes]] | [[Category:Wilderness Hikes]] | ||
[[Category:Moderate Hikes]] | [[Category:Moderate Hikes]] | ||
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[[Category:Hikes]] | [[Category:Hikes]] | ||
| + | [[Image:TKO put tools to trail here.png|400px|right]] | ||
[[Image:HermanWyeth2.jpg|thumb|400px|Talus slope on the Gorge Trail ''(bobcat)'']] | [[Image:HermanWyeth2.jpg|thumb|400px|Talus slope on the Gorge Trail ''(bobcat)'']] | ||
[[Image:HermanWyeth1.jpg|thumb|250px|Gnarly Douglas-fir on the Herman Creek Trail ''(bobcat)'']] | [[Image:HermanWyeth1.jpg|thumb|250px|Gnarly Douglas-fir on the Herman Creek Trail ''(bobcat)'']] | ||
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{{Start point|Herman Creek Trailhead}} | {{Start point|Herman Creek Trailhead}} | ||
* End point: [[Wyeth Trailhead]] | * End point: [[Wyeth Trailhead]] | ||
| − | * Trail | + | * Trail log: [[Herman Creek-Wyeth Traverse Hike/Log | Trail Log]] |
| − | * Hike | + | * Hike type: In and out |
{{Distance|10.8 miles}} round trip | {{Distance|10.8 miles}} round trip | ||
| − | |||
{{Elevation gain|2175 feet}} round-trip | {{Elevation gain|2175 feet}} round-trip | ||
| + | * High point: 960 feet | ||
{{Difficulty|Moderate}} | {{Difficulty|Moderate}} | ||
* Seasons: Year-Round | * Seasons: Year-Round | ||
| Line 24: | Line 26: | ||
* Backpackable: No | * Backpackable: No | ||
* Crowded: No | * Crowded: No | ||
| + | {{Hazards|p=y}} | ||
=== Hike Description === | === Hike Description === | ||
| − | + | This is a low-level hike, good for rainy days and winter months. The section on the Gorge Trail, which ends at the [[Wyeth Trailhead]] is the last addition to that project, completed in the 1990s, and essentially follows the boundary of the expanded Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness. The hike covers typical low-level [[Columbia River Gorge]] topography, fauna and vegetation: coniferous woods with a liberal dosage of big-leaf maple, creek crossings, and several talus slopes; you will almost certainly see woodpeckers, Pacific wrens, and silently-flitting varied thrushes. In fall, fungi are profuse, but as with other sections of the Gorge Trail, the sounds of the Gorge as transportation corridor are never far away. A couple of viewpoints allow you to see across the river to the Washington shore. This area was affected by the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, but along most of these lower slopes, the canopy is still intact and the understory plants are recovering from their roots. Expect to see a lot of scorched tree trunks, however. For those wanting a shorter outing, this is an excellent car shuttle opportunity. | |
| − | + | The path drops from the trailhead, but then switchbacks up twice before traversing. There are two more switchbacks in shady big-leaf maple, hemlock, Douglas-fir woods. Reach the powerline corridor and cross it, heading up to the right to reenter the woods. Here, you'll begin to see the effects of the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, with the understory burned away but slowly recovering and the conifer canopy mostly intact. The path winds through an area of large, moss-covered boulders, and then passes an old forest track leading off the left. (This track drops down to [[Herman Creek Road Trailhead|Herman Creek Road]].) Pass around the nose of a ridge, switchback twice, and traverse up to the junction with the [[Herman Creek-Herman Bridge Trail Junction|Herman Bridge Trail #406E]], 0.6 miles from the trailhead. Keep up on the main trail to switchback and then reach a bend in an old forest road. Stay right and head up the road, which levels in Douglas-fir, hemlock, and maple forest. You'll arrive at a five-way junction after 1.3 miles where the Herman Creek Trail reaches [[Herman Camp]]. The actual campsite is up the first trail to the right if you turn left here; in the 1970s, this spot was also a trailhead - if you were willing to risk your vehicle on the slow drive up the narrow road. | |
| − | + | Take the Gorge Trail #400, the first trail on the left, and head into Douglas-fir/Oregon grape woods. The route essentially forms the northern boundary of the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness as per the new boundaries drawn up in 2009. Drop under Douglas-fir, hemlock, big-leaf maple and vine maple. Oregon grape and sword fern are the main carpet plants. The woods are mossy, dark and deep. Watch for the pileated woodpeckers that frequent this part of the forest. The trail rises slightly in a cedar grove and crosses a creek. Pass above a huge boulder that tumbled from above centuries ago. Enter open secondary forest and see the powerline corridor below. At a mossy talus slope, the Washington side of the Gorge is visible: [[Wind Mountain]], Home Valley, the Columbia River, and [[Dog Mountain]]. A couple of ancient Douglas-firs survive on the jumble of boulders. The trail drops and you cross rushing [[Grays Creek Crossing on Gorge Trail|Grays Creek]] and then a second, smaller tributary. Pass across another open talus slope with a rocky rampart above. At the third talus slope, there’s a great view of Wind and Dog Mountains as well as [[Home Valley Viewpoint|Home Valley]]. Traverse three narrower talus slopes with more views. After you cross Gorton Creek on a sturdy new bridge, reach the [[Gorge-Wyeth Trail Junction|Wyeth Trail]] and turn left to descend an old road bed to the [[Wyeth Trailhead]] and the Wyeth Campground. | |
| − | |||
=== Maps === | === Maps === | ||
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=== Fees, Regulations, etc. === | === Fees, Regulations, etc. === | ||
| − | * Northwest Forest Pass required at | + | * Northwest Forest Pass (or America the Beautiful Pass) required at [[Herman Creek Trailhead]]. |
{{TripReports|Herman Wyeth}} | {{TripReports|Herman Wyeth}} | ||
| + | * [https://www.oregonhikers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=28684 solstice celebration: Wyeth to Herman Creek] | ||
* [http://www.portlandhikers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=4335 Herman Creek - Wyeth Traverse on 400 - 19-March-2010] | * [http://www.portlandhikers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=4335 Herman Creek - Wyeth Traverse on 400 - 19-March-2010] | ||
Latest revision as of 15:37, 14 July 2023
- Start point: Herman Creek Trailhead
- End point: Wyeth Trailhead
- Trail log: Trail Log
- Hike type: In and out
- Distance: 10.8 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 2175 feet round-trip
- High point: 960 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Seasons: Year-Round
- Family Friendly: Yes (as a car shuttle)
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: No
|
Contents |
Hike Description
This is a low-level hike, good for rainy days and winter months. The section on the Gorge Trail, which ends at the Wyeth Trailhead is the last addition to that project, completed in the 1990s, and essentially follows the boundary of the expanded Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness. The hike covers typical low-level Columbia River Gorge topography, fauna and vegetation: coniferous woods with a liberal dosage of big-leaf maple, creek crossings, and several talus slopes; you will almost certainly see woodpeckers, Pacific wrens, and silently-flitting varied thrushes. In fall, fungi are profuse, but as with other sections of the Gorge Trail, the sounds of the Gorge as transportation corridor are never far away. A couple of viewpoints allow you to see across the river to the Washington shore. This area was affected by the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, but along most of these lower slopes, the canopy is still intact and the understory plants are recovering from their roots. Expect to see a lot of scorched tree trunks, however. For those wanting a shorter outing, this is an excellent car shuttle opportunity.
The path drops from the trailhead, but then switchbacks up twice before traversing. There are two more switchbacks in shady big-leaf maple, hemlock, Douglas-fir woods. Reach the powerline corridor and cross it, heading up to the right to reenter the woods. Here, you'll begin to see the effects of the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, with the understory burned away but slowly recovering and the conifer canopy mostly intact. The path winds through an area of large, moss-covered boulders, and then passes an old forest track leading off the left. (This track drops down to Herman Creek Road.) Pass around the nose of a ridge, switchback twice, and traverse up to the junction with the Herman Bridge Trail #406E, 0.6 miles from the trailhead. Keep up on the main trail to switchback and then reach a bend in an old forest road. Stay right and head up the road, which levels in Douglas-fir, hemlock, and maple forest. You'll arrive at a five-way junction after 1.3 miles where the Herman Creek Trail reaches Herman Camp. The actual campsite is up the first trail to the right if you turn left here; in the 1970s, this spot was also a trailhead - if you were willing to risk your vehicle on the slow drive up the narrow road.
Take the Gorge Trail #400, the first trail on the left, and head into Douglas-fir/Oregon grape woods. The route essentially forms the northern boundary of the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness as per the new boundaries drawn up in 2009. Drop under Douglas-fir, hemlock, big-leaf maple and vine maple. Oregon grape and sword fern are the main carpet plants. The woods are mossy, dark and deep. Watch for the pileated woodpeckers that frequent this part of the forest. The trail rises slightly in a cedar grove and crosses a creek. Pass above a huge boulder that tumbled from above centuries ago. Enter open secondary forest and see the powerline corridor below. At a mossy talus slope, the Washington side of the Gorge is visible: Wind Mountain, Home Valley, the Columbia River, and Dog Mountain. A couple of ancient Douglas-firs survive on the jumble of boulders. The trail drops and you cross rushing Grays Creek and then a second, smaller tributary. Pass across another open talus slope with a rocky rampart above. At the third talus slope, there’s a great view of Wind and Dog Mountains as well as Home Valley. Traverse three narrower talus slopes with more views. After you cross Gorton Creek on a sturdy new bridge, reach the Wyeth Trail and turn left to descend an old road bed to the Wyeth Trailhead and the Wyeth Campground.
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
- Green Trails Maps: Columbia River Gorge - West #428S
- Geo-Graphics: Trails of the Columbia Gorge
- National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
- Discover Your Northwest: Mt. Hood National Forest North
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Hood River Ranger District
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Mt. Hood National Forest
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- Northwest Forest Pass (or America the Beautiful Pass) required at Herman Creek Trailhead.
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Herman Wyeth
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Herman Wyeth
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- Afoot and Afield Portland/Vancouver by Douglas Lorain
More Links
- Herman Creek Trail #406 (USFS)
- Gorge Trail #400 - Moody Road to Wyeth (USFS)
- Gorge Trail: Herman Creek to Wyeth Campground (REI)
Contributors
- Stevefromdodge (outline)
- bobcat