Home  •   Field Guide  •   Forums  •    Unread Posts  •   Maps  •   Find a Hike!
| Page | Discussion | View source | History | Print Friendly and PDF

Difference between revisions of "Mount Defiance-Starvation Ridge Loop Hike"

From Oregon Hikers Field Guide

m (Photo credits)
m (Mitchell Point -> Warren Lake)
Line 29: Line 29:
 
A short distance later, the trail leaves the old highway, and crosses Warren Creek at [[Hole in the Wall Falls]]. This is what the sign was calling Warren Falls. This waterfall was created in 1938, when highway crews blasted a tunnel to divert Warren Creek away from the road. From here, the trail begins gently climbing to a junction with the [[Mount Defiance-Starvation Ridge Trail Junction|Starvation Ridge Trail #414]] and then on to [[Lancaster Falls]]. The lower tier of Lancaster falls directly on the trail, but the real show is hidden above another huge rock. The upper tier is well worth the trip, but it's a tricky scramble up a loose slope filled with Oregon grape, loose rocks and sneaky little poison oak plants.  
 
A short distance later, the trail leaves the old highway, and crosses Warren Creek at [[Hole in the Wall Falls]]. This is what the sign was calling Warren Falls. This waterfall was created in 1938, when highway crews blasted a tunnel to divert Warren Creek away from the road. From here, the trail begins gently climbing to a junction with the [[Mount Defiance-Starvation Ridge Trail Junction|Starvation Ridge Trail #414]] and then on to [[Lancaster Falls]]. The lower tier of Lancaster falls directly on the trail, but the real show is hidden above another huge rock. The upper tier is well worth the trip, but it's a tricky scramble up a loose slope filled with Oregon grape, loose rocks and sneaky little poison oak plants.  
  
−
From here, it's up, and we mean UP. The trail begins switchbacking up the side of the Gorge almost immediately. In the next 3 miles, you'll gain over 3000 feet in elevation. Somewhere around the 3500 foot level, the landscape opens up to rocky, open environment with great views at every turn. The high amount of rock creates an ambiance that feels more alpine than the elevation would merit on its own. 4 miles up, there's a wilderness boundary and 5 miles up, you'll come to a junction with the [[Mount Defiance-Mitchell Point Trail Junction|Mitchell Point Trail #417]]. Keep this trail in mind, because we'll be using it on the way back.
+
From here, it's up, and we mean UP. The trail begins switchbacking up the side of the Gorge almost immediately. In the next 3 miles, you'll gain over 3000 feet in elevation. Somewhere around the 3500 foot level, the landscape opens up to rocky, open environment with great views at every turn. The high amount of rock creates an ambiance that feels more alpine than the elevation would merit on its own. 4 miles up, there's a wilderness boundary and 5 miles up, you'll come to a junction with the [[Mount Defiance-Warren Lake Trail Junction|Warren Lake Trail #417]]. Keep this trail in mind, because we'll be using it on the way back.
  
 
Now, it's back to climbing, as if it ever really gave up. There's another 700 feet to gain in this last half mile. About half way up this last pitch, you'll come to a trail junction with the [[Mount Defiance-Defiance Cutoff North Trail Junction|Defiance Cutoff Trail]]. This trail slabs around the west side of Mt. Defiance providing views of [[Bear Lake]]. You're going up, though, so stick to the main trail and reach the summit of [[Mount Defiance]]. The disappointment here is that there are radio towers and even (gasp) pickups carrying service workers to the site. If you look past the towers, however the views are amazing. From here you can see uncountable hills and mountains, including (let's see how many I can work in), [[Mount Rainier]], [[Mount Adams]], [[Mount Saint Helens]], [[Mount Hood]], [[Mount Jefferson]], [[Chinidere Mountain]], [[Indian Mountain]], [[Tomlike Mountain]], [[Sherrard Point|Larch Mountain]], [[Dog Mountain]], [[Cook Hill]]... (hmmm, I'm out of words.) Trust me, it has to be seen to be believed.
 
Now, it's back to climbing, as if it ever really gave up. There's another 700 feet to gain in this last half mile. About half way up this last pitch, you'll come to a trail junction with the [[Mount Defiance-Defiance Cutoff North Trail Junction|Defiance Cutoff Trail]]. This trail slabs around the west side of Mt. Defiance providing views of [[Bear Lake]]. You're going up, though, so stick to the main trail and reach the summit of [[Mount Defiance]]. The disappointment here is that there are radio towers and even (gasp) pickups carrying service workers to the site. If you look past the towers, however the views are amazing. From here you can see uncountable hills and mountains, including (let's see how many I can work in), [[Mount Rainier]], [[Mount Adams]], [[Mount Saint Helens]], [[Mount Hood]], [[Mount Jefferson]], [[Chinidere Mountain]], [[Indian Mountain]], [[Tomlike Mountain]], [[Sherrard Point|Larch Mountain]], [[Dog Mountain]], [[Cook Hill]]... (hmmm, I'm out of words.) Trust me, it has to be seen to be believed.

Revision as of 14:04, 8 July 2007

View of Mount Hood from the summit of Mount Defiance (Jeff Statt)
Lancaster Falls (Steve Hart)
File:StarvationView1.JPG
View from Starvation Ridge Trail (Steve Hart)
Insert map image here
  • Start point: Starvation Creek TrailheadRoad.JPG
  • End point: Mount Defiance
  • Trail Log: Trail Log
  • Hike Type: Loop
  • Distance: 11.6 miles
  • Elevation gain: 48404,840 feet
  • Difficulty: Difficult (and that's only because we don't have anything harder)
  • Seasons: June-October
  • Family Friendly: No
  • Backpackable: Yes
  • Crowded: No

Contents

Hike Description

This is the mother of all day hikes in the Columbia River Gorge. It starts out flat, paved and populated and then seems to pride itself on changing all of that. You'll go up here. The climb is nearly 5000 feet, no matter how you slice it.

This hike starts in the Starvation Creek Rest Area. There's a paved, restored piece of the original Columbia River Highway here, that head east to Viento Park. There's also a nice universal access trail to the base of nearby Starvation Creek Falls. These might be nice trails, beautiful and all, but they're not for you. You're about to tackle the monster. To start, head west along the freeway shoulder passed the sign reading "Mt. Defiance Trail". The Warren Falls distance is off by a factor of 2, but who's counting? When you're done, "Warren Falls" will seem like the parking lot.

In about 1/10 of a mile, you'll step away from the freeway on an unrestored section of the Columbia River Highway. In another 1/10, you'll be at a trail junction with the Starvation Cutoff Trail #414B. This steep trail is your return route. For now, continue west on the abandoned highway and you'll soon come to Cabin Creek Falls. There's a mammoth boulder here that's fallen from the cliffs, in front of the waterfall creating a kind of amphitheater. There are quite a few interesting photos here and tourists have been pausing here since the days when Model-Ts filled the highway. On the other hand, dawdling might be better left for less packed days.

A short distance later, the trail leaves the old highway, and crosses Warren Creek at Hole in the Wall Falls. This is what the sign was calling Warren Falls. This waterfall was created in 1938, when highway crews blasted a tunnel to divert Warren Creek away from the road. From here, the trail begins gently climbing to a junction with the Starvation Ridge Trail #414 and then on to Lancaster Falls. The lower tier of Lancaster falls directly on the trail, but the real show is hidden above another huge rock. The upper tier is well worth the trip, but it's a tricky scramble up a loose slope filled with Oregon grape, loose rocks and sneaky little poison oak plants.

From here, it's up, and we mean UP. The trail begins switchbacking up the side of the Gorge almost immediately. In the next 3 miles, you'll gain over 3000 feet in elevation. Somewhere around the 3500 foot level, the landscape opens up to rocky, open environment with great views at every turn. The high amount of rock creates an ambiance that feels more alpine than the elevation would merit on its own. 4 miles up, there's a wilderness boundary and 5 miles up, you'll come to a junction with the Warren Lake Trail #417. Keep this trail in mind, because we'll be using it on the way back.

Now, it's back to climbing, as if it ever really gave up. There's another 700 feet to gain in this last half mile. About half way up this last pitch, you'll come to a trail junction with the Defiance Cutoff Trail. This trail slabs around the west side of Mt. Defiance providing views of Bear Lake. You're going up, though, so stick to the main trail and reach the summit of Mount Defiance. The disappointment here is that there are radio towers and even (gasp) pickups carrying service workers to the site. If you look past the towers, however the views are amazing. From here you can see uncountable hills and mountains, including (let's see how many I can work in), Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, Mount Saint Helens, Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, Chinidere Mountain, Indian Mountain, Tomlike Mountain, Larch Mountain, Dog Mountain, Cook Hill... (hmmm, I'm out of words.) Trust me, it has to be seen to be believed.

You've got a few options for the return trip. You can start back the way you came, or you continue south on the Mount Defiance Trail to another junction with the Defiance Cutoff Trail. Turn right on the Defiance Cutoff Trail and you can slab around the mountain to the north side. In either event, head north off the mountain to that junction with the Mitchell Point Trail, you saw earlier.

Turn right on the Mitchell Point Trail and head gradually down about 2 1/2 miles to Warren Lake. There are campsites here for the overnighters. From Warren Lake, you'll hike down the Starvation Ridge Trail almost 3 miles to a junction with the Starvation Cutoff Trail. Hang a right here and head down 0.4 miles of very steep trail to the old highway near Cabin Creek Falls. Only 2/10 of a mile of pavement is between you and your car.

Maps

Regulations or restrictions, etc

  • None

Trip Reports

  • (Click here to add your own)

Related Discussions / Q&A

Guidebooks that cover this hike

More Links

Contributors

Retrieved from "https://www.oregonhikers.org/w/index.php?title=Mount_Defiance-Starvation_Ridge_Loop_Hike&oldid=20826"
Oregon Hikers Field Guide is built as a collaborative effort by its user community. While we make every effort to fact-check, information found here should be considered anecdotal. You should cross-check against other references before planning a hike. Trail routing and conditions are subject to change. Please contact us if you notice errors on this page.

Hiking is a potentially risky activity, and the entire risk for users of this field guide is assumed by the user, and in no event shall Trailkeepers of Oregon be liable for any injury or damages suffered as a result of relying on content in this field guide. All content posted on the field guide becomes the property of Trailkeepers of Oregon, and may not be used without permission.