Vista Ridge Trailhead

Mount Hood from the road to Vista Ridge Trailhead (Tom Kloster)

Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
Latitude, Longitude: 45.4429, -121.7292
Elevation: 4500 feet

From Zigzag, at the Zigzag store, go north on the Lolo Pass Road and drive 10.7 miles, and take the second right at Lolo Pass, onto FS 18, which is signed for Lost Lake. After 5.5 miles of gravel you’ll be back on pavement, and 5 miles beyond that – a total of 10.5 miles on FS 18 since Lolo Pass – make a hairpin right onto paved FS 16. (A sign at this intersection points to Vista Ridge Trail #626) Go 5.4 miles and turn right at a large intersection onto FS 1650, which quickly becomes good gravel road. The trailhead is 3.6 miles ahead, at the end of the road. Note that twice during this stretch you’ll need to stay left and uphill on the bigger of two roads.

An enticing view of Mount Hood unfolds just as you approach the trailhead, foreshadowing the trip ahead. Parking can be tight where the road abruptly ends at the trailhead, so be prepared to backtrack and park along the shoulder.

HOOD RIVER ROUTE

This is a slightly longer route that has much less rough road than the Lolo Pass route. From Portland, drive east on I-84 to Hood River, take Exit 62, turn right onto Cascade Avenue. After 1.4 mile turn right onto Mt. Adams Avenue, which becomes Wine Country Avenue after a sharp turn to the right and then becomes Country Club Road after another sharp to the left. Country Club Road heads west from here, briefly parallels the freeway, then climbs steeply and turns south. At a T-intersection with Barrett Drive, turn left, and follow Barrett Drive for about a mile to Tucker Road, marked by a gas station and grocery story. Turn right on Tucker Road, and follow this route as it eventually descends to a bridge over the West Fork Hood River and passes the Apple Valley Country Store. Just beyond the bridge and store, turn sharply right on Dee Highway and follow this route for approximately 7 miles to the abandoned mill site at Dee. Take the fork to the right onto the Lost Lake Highway, and following signs to Lost Lake at various twists and turns through orchards. Soon, this route enters (mostly clearcut) private forest lands and begins paralleling the West Fork Hood River where it becomes Forest Road 13. After several miles, come to the well-signed 3-way junction at a hair-pin turn with paved Lolo Pass Road, which is Forest Road 18. Turn left onto Lolo Pass Road here, and follow it 3.2 miles as it drops to another crossing of the West Fork, then climbs for a few miles to the junction with paved Forest Road 16 (A sign at this intersection points to Vista Ridge Trail #626). Go 5.4 miles and turn right at a large, unsigned intersection onto FS 1650, a well-maintained gravel road. The trailhead is 3.6 miles ahead, at the end of the road. Note that during when you reached unsigned forks with a couple spur roads along Road 1650 you will always stay left and heading uphill.

An enticing view of Mount Hood unfolds just as you approach the trailhead, foreshadowing the trip ahead. Parking can be tight where the road abruptly ends at the trailhead, so be prepared to backtrack and park along the shoulder.

See a map of the different driving approaches to the trailhead.

Note that this trailhead does not have enough parking to accommodate the high volume of hikers who come here. Get here early to get a parking spot.

Page Contributors

Splintercat (Tom Kloster) (primary)
User:retiredjerry

Vista Ridge Trailhead

Vista Ridge Trailhead

From Oregon Hikers Field Guide

Contents

Hikes starting here

Fees & Regulations

Driving Directions

Page Contributors