• Start point: Herman Creek Trailhead
• End point: Green Point Mountain
• Trail Log: Trail Log
• Hike Type: Loop
• Distance: 12.5 miles
• Elevation gain: 3750 feet
• Difficulty: Difficult
• Seasons: May-Oct
• Family Friendly: No
• Backpackable: Yes
• Crowded: Yes

Hike Description

This is an extension of the Indian Point Loop Hike. The lower parts of the hike are through forest with occasional glimpses of a view into the Columbia Gorge. At the higher parts of the Hike, you get some nice views of the Cascades.

This hike is entirely on your typical Columbia Gorge trails, well graded and well maintained, with several exceptions as mentioned.

Start out from the trailhead on the Herman Creek Trail (#406), the only trail going out of the trailhead, at 240'. The topozone map doesn't show this trailhead. It shows the trail starting near the frontage road at the freeway.

The trail starts out a bit steeply. There is a lot of freeway noise.

At mile 0.3 (500') is a junction with the Herman Bridge Trail, stay straight.

There are a couple side trails and old logging roads, stay straight.

At mile 1.2 (1000') the trail reaches Herman Camp and the junction with the Gorge Trail #400 (which goes hard left - North) and the Gorton Creek Trail #408 (which goes left - East). The Herman Creek Trail continues straight (Southeast) on an old logging road. This hike goes onto the Gorton Creek Trail and comes back on the Herman Creek Trail.

Take the Gorton Creek Trail, which gradually gains elevation, crosses a few small seasonal streams, and has a few switchbacks.

At mile 3.8 (2750') is the junction with the Ridge Cutoff Trail (#437). There are a few views towards the Columbia Gorge.

If you're adventurous (or foolish?) take the short side trip to Indian Point, see the Indian Point Loop Hike.

At mile 4.6 is a campsite, Deadwood Camp. This makes a good winter campsite. There is a year-round drinking water stream. There's another cutoff trail from there, that's 1/2 mile up to the Nick Eaton Trail.

Continuing on the Gorton Creek Trail, it goes up fairly steeply to mile 7.2, 4000', and the junction with the Nick Eaton Trail which ends here. Reportedly, there are nice views.

Take a right onto the Nick Eaton Trail for your return. At mile 9.7 you reach the junction with the Ridge Cutoff Trail. Stay straight. In another 1/2 mile is a nice view West of the gorge.

At mile 11.3 you reach the beginning of the Nick Eaton Trail at the Herman Creek Trail. Turn right onto the Herman Creek Trail and follow it back to the trailhead.

Maps

• Maps: Hike Finder

Fees, Regulations, etc.

• List any required passes here

Trip Reports

• Search Trip Reports for Nick Eaton Ridge Loop Hike

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Related Discussions / Q&A

• Search Trail Q&A for Nick Eaton Ridge Loop Hike
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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)
• User:retiredjerry