Revision as of 22:20, 23 March 2007

Bonneville Dam and Hamilton Mtn. from Ruckel Ridge

Basalt pillars on Ruckel Ridge

• Start point: Eagle Creek Trailhead
• End point: Ruckel Creek-Ruckel Ridge Trail Junction
• Trail Log: Trail Log
• Hike Type: Loop
• Distance: 8.8 miles round trip
• Elevation gain: 3300 feet
• Difficulty: Difficult
• Seasons: May-October
• Family Friendly: Yes
• Backpackable: No
• Crowded: No

Hike Description

Ruckel Ridge. THE Ruckel Ridge. Widely recognized as the most treacherous hike in the Gorge, this is not a hike for inexperienced hikers, dogs or children. You'll need good boots, good route finding skills, a lot of stamina and dry weather.

The first difficult part of this hike might be finding your way to the "real" trailhead. The trail begins in the Eagle Creek Campground, near Campsite 5. You should park next to the bathrooms by the Eagle Creek Camp host. If parking isn't available there, park at the lower lot just before the Eagle Creek Suspension Bridge. Start your hike by heading up the paved campground road, until you see a sign for Gorge Trail 400. Follow the Gorge Trail as it climbs to the top of a bluff, then travels next to a protective fence for a ways. Just before the trail drops down hill, take the fork to the right. Follow the path around the perimeter of the campground, passing an old amphitheater. You will pass a metal sign for the Buck Point Trail between camp sites 5 and 6.

The sign says it's 3/4 of a mile to Buck Point, but it's closer to 0.4 miles. Hike up through a series of switchbacks through the forest. When you break out into a power line clearing, you're at Buck Point. Enjoy the views for a bit, then continue across the clearing, under the power line and into the trees. The trail dips downhill and to the right a bit (somewhat of a miracle on this hike) then traverses a lichen covered talus slope. Switchback up the rock, following occasional cairns to the crest of the ridge. The trail climbs this ridgecrest, alternating between steep sections and very steep sections. In places the "trail" consists of short rock climbs.

After about 2 miles, you'll come to The Catwalk. This is a very exposed section on the crest of the ridge. It weaves through the trees for about 1/10 of a mile, sometimes only a foot wide. A fall here could mean big trouble. Fortunately, there's an alternate path on the south side that avoids The Catwalk altogether. The trail drops a bit into a saddle here, then begins a steep climb to the Benson Plateau. Once you finally level off, over 3000 feet higher than the trailhead, you'll drop a bit to a crossing of Ruckel Creek. Cross the creek by wading or rock hopping and you'll soon come to a trail junction with Ruckel Creek Trail.

Turn left here and start down. That's right down, you're sore legs will thank you, but you're soon-to-be sore toes might be less pleased. Ruckel Creek Trail stays high above Ruckel Creek passing through hanging meadows that are filled with wildflowers in the spring. After about two miles, there are two great viewpoints, the first looking south to Mt Hood, the second looking north to Mt St Helens, Mt Rainier and Mt Adams, as well as the Columbia River Gorge. The trail continues switchbacking down, after a while passing some Native American sacred sites. Eventually you will find yourself sore and exhausted on the paved Historic Columbia River Highway Trail. Turn left, cross the Ruckel Creek Bridge and head west. A few hundred feet beyond the bridge is a junction with the Gorge Trail #400. Turn onto the Gorge Trail here and return to your car.

Maps

Ruckel Ridge Loop topo map

• Maps: Hike Finder

Fees, Regulations, etc.

• Northwest Forest Pass required

Trip Reports

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Guidebooks that cover this hike

• Day Hike! Columbia Gorge, by Seabury Blair, Jr.
• 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 (creator)
• Jim Sifferle