Nesmith-Tanner Traverse Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Start Point: John B Yeon Trailhead
- End Point: Wahclella Falls Trailhead
- Trail Log : Trail Log
- Hike Type: Point to point (Car Shuttle)
- Distance: 16.5 miles one way
- Elevation gain:
- Difficulty: Difficult due to elevation gain
- Seasons: Apr-Oct
- Family Friendly: No
- Backpackable: Yes
- Crowded: No
Contents |
Hike Description
This hike starts the same as the Nesmith Point Hike but then goes down a different trail to a different trailhead. You'll need a second car or someone to pick you up.
This hike starts in the John B Yeon State Park parking lot. This place might be the highest theft lot in the gorge. Leave your valuable things at home! You'll start up the trail, pass an old water tank, switchback and come to a trail junction, all in the first 50 steps. Take the right trail fork, marked as the Nesmith Point Trail #428.
The first mile of the trail doesn't climb too steeply. You'll pass a former trail junction with the Gorge Trail #400, headed west. This trail was completely wiped out by a 1996 landslide. Some books say it's gone permanently, some say it will be rebuilt. You'll have to look for yourself. This hike continues up the Nesmith Point Trail and here we really mean UP! Switchbacks are the norm here, and their pretty steep ones too. You'll get several viewpoints served up as rewards for your climbing. You'll be able to see Mount Adams, Mount Saint Helens and most of the Washington side of the gorge, as well as good looks at the huge 1996 landslide that started from Nesmith and closed the freeway for days.
After about two miles of heavy climbing, things get a little easier. You'll traverse the top of the ridge, still climbing, until you reach a closed road about 5 miles from the trailhead. Turn right on the road and hike about 500 feet to the end of the road and the location of an old fire lookout. Trees have grown up here, but you'll still have a good view to the east. For a better view continue down a small path past the lookout and the old lookout outhouse. A short distance down the slope, there's a great lookout with a view of the entire gorge. Soak in the sites and return the way you came to the old road. Hike down the road past the Nesmith Point Trail and the Horsetail Falls Trail #425 another 500 feet or so to the Moffett Creek Trail #430. Turn left and head east.
The trail drops for about 1.1 miles to a crossing of McCord Creek. A half mile beyond that is a junction with Wauneka Point Trail #429, which heads north onto the ridge separating McCord Creek from Tanner Creek. You'll cross a power line road and then you'll come to Von Ahm Rim campsite, about 2 1/2 miles from Nesmith Point, shortly before the Wilderness Boundary. After entering the wilderness, the trail drops down toward Tanner Creek. At the bottom, there's a ford and a short trip up to Tanner Creek Trail #431. If you're looking for a campsite, there's a good one a short way to the right.
If you're heading home, turn left on Trail #431, and in a mile and a half, you'll reach Tanner Road #777. Sadly, for your sore feet, this road is closed to cars, so you have 4.5 miles of road walking ahead of you. Fortunately, the road is pretty. At the base of the road, walk around the gate and you'll be at the Tooth Rock Trailhead.
Note - If you're lacking a second car, turn left off Road #777 at a signed junction with the Gorge Trail #400. Follow the signs closely as you're directed across several little roads and 0.7 miles later, you'll be at the Wahclella Falls parking lot. From there, there's a 3.0 mile connection on Gorge Trail #400 back to Yeon State Park.
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- Northwest Forest Pass required at Wahclella Falls Trailhead, nothing at Yeon Trailhead
Trip Reports
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Guidebooks that cover this hike
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Contributors
- Stevefromdodge (creator)