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Difference between revisions of "Yocum Ridge Hike"

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[[Category:Hikes]]
 
[[Category:Hikes]]
  
[[Image:Yocummthd.JPG|thumb|400px|Mount Hood from the viewpoint near the end of the Yocum Ridge Trail ''(Jerry Adams)'']]
+
[[Image:Reid Glacier, Yocum Ridge.jpg|thumb|400px|The Reid Glacier from Yocum Ridge ''(bobcat)'']]
[[Image:Yocummeadow.JPG|thumb|300px|Meadow from the viewpoint near the end of the Yocum Ridge Trail ''(Jerry Adams)'']]
+
[[Image:Mt. Hood from the Sandy River Trail.jpg|thumb|250px|Mt. Hood from the Sandy River Trail ''(bobcat)'']]
[[Image:Yocumend.JPG|thumb|300px|From the end of the official Yocum Ridge. Theoretically you could continue up the ridge to the Mount Hood summit ''(Jerry Adams)'']]
+
[[Image:Ramona Falls.jpg|thumb|250px|Ramona Falls ''(bobcat)'']]
 +
[[Image:Pond, Yocum Ridge.jpg|thumb|250px|The pond just off the Yocum Ridge Trail ''(bobcat)'']]
 +
[[Image:Yocummeadow.JPG|thumb|250px|Meadow from the viewpoint near the end of the Yocum Ridge Trail ''(Jerry Adams)'']]
 +
[[Image:Yocummthd.JPG|thumb|250px|Mount Hood from the viewpoint near the end of the Yocum Ridge Trail ''(Jerry Adams)'']]
 +
[[Image:Head of the Muddy Fork, Yocum Ridge.jpg|thumb|250px|The head of the Muddy Fork from Yocum Ridge ''(bobcat)'']]
 +
[[Image:YocumRidgeMap.png|thumb|600px|The long route to Yocum Ridge (not a GPS track) ''(bobcat)'' Courtesy: ''Caltopo/USFS'']]
  
 
{{Start point|Ramona Falls Trailhead}}
 
{{Start point|Ramona Falls Trailhead}}
* End point: [[Yocum Meadow]]
+
* End point: [[Yocum Ridge]]
 
* Trail Log: [[Yocum Ridge Hike/Log]]
 
* Trail Log: [[Yocum Ridge Hike/Log]]
{{Distance|18.3 miles}}   
+
{{Distance|18.4 miles}}   
 
{{Elevation gain|3880 feet}}
 
{{Elevation gain|3880 feet}}
* High point:
+
* High point: 6,825 feet
 
{{Difficulty|Difficult}}
 
{{Difficulty|Difficult}}
 
* Seasons: July through October
 
* Seasons: July through October
 
* Family Friendly: No
 
* Family Friendly: No
 
* Backpackable: Yes
 
* Backpackable: Yes
* Crowded: as fas as [[Ramona Falls]]
+
* Crowded: as far as [[Ramona Falls]]
  
 
=== Hike Description ===
 
=== Hike Description ===
What's nice about Yocum Ridge is that it's so remote. There aren't any other alpine areas on [[Mount Hood]] as far away from a trailhead. The early sections of this hike are among the busiest around the mountain, but after four miles, you'll start on the Yocum Ridge Trail, and you'll enjoy some of the best solitude the region can offer! Start the hike early, and you can get [[Ramona Falls]] to yourself. Also, the early brisk air helps you up all those switchbacks to [[Yocum Meadow|Yocum Ridge]]. Here you'll enjoy an alpine panorama unmatched on the mountain. A couple of benches off the ridge offer campsites.
+
What's nice about [[Yocum Ridge]] is that it's so remote. There aren't any other alpine areas on [[Mount Hood]] as far away from a trailhead. The early sections of this hike are among the busiest around the mountain, but after four miles, you'll start on the Yocum Ridge Trail, and you'll enjoy some of the best solitude the region can offer! Start the hike early, and you can get [[Ramona Falls]] to yourself. Also, the early brisk air helps you up those switchbacks to [[Yocum Ridge]]. Here you'll enjoy an alpine panorama unmatched on the mountain. A couple of benches off the north side of the ridge offer campsites.
  
Take the wide, sandy trail leading up from the southeast corner of the parking area. You will be hiking among stunted mountain hemlock, Douglas-fir, and lodgepole pine on a carpet of moss, pinemat manzanita, and reindeer lichen. Beginning in about 1780, pyroclastic flows from [[Mount Hood]] buried the Sandy River, which continues to change its course as it carves through the soft strata. Pass the first of at least three glacial river crossing signs warning about safe passage when waters are high. (There has been more than one drowning death in the area). Come to the [[Sandy River-Ramona Falls Trailhead Trail Junction]], and proceed past a large boulder to a stop sign, where you’ll need to fill out a free wilderness permit.
+
Take the wide, sandy trail leading up from the southeast corner of the parking area. You will be hiking among stunted mountain hemlock, Douglas-fir, and lodgepole pine on a carpet of moss, pinemat manzanita, and reindeer lichen. Beginning in about 1780, pyroclastic flows from [[Mount Hood]] buried the Sandy River, which continues to change its course as it carves through the soft strata. Pass the first of at least three glacial river crossing signs warning about safe passage when waters are high. (There has been more than one drowning death in the area.) Come to the [[Sandy River-Ramona Falls Trailhead Trail Junction]], and proceed past a large boulder to a stop sign, where you’ll need to fill out a free wilderness permit.
  
Hike onward through the trees, where the trail has been moved back away from the river after sections that were too close to the riverbank washed away. At 1.1 miles reach the bank of the river and then descend to the [[Sandy River Crossing]]. A bridge is no longer provided here, so you’ll need to pick one of the logs strewn across the water or attempt a ford (see [[Tips for Crossing Streams]]). This crossing is easiest from mid-summer to early fall. The trail picks up on the opposite bank and winds through an alder-colonized debris fan. Drop in and out of a gully, and head up parallel to the river in shady woods. Come to the [[Pacific Crest-Sandy River Trail Junction]], and go left. The trail soon reaches [[Ramona Creek Bridge on Pacific Crest Trail|a footbridge over Ramona Creek]] and heads up the bank of the creek. At the well-signed [[Ramona Falls-Pacific Crest Trail Junction]], keep right.  
+
Hike onward through the trees. The trail has been moved back away from the river after sections that were too close to the riverbank washed away. At 1.1 miles reach the bank of the river, and then descend to the [[Sandy River Crossing]]. A bridge is no longer provided here, so you’ll need to pick one of the logs strewn across the water or attempt a ford (see [[Tips for Crossing Streams]]). <b>This crossing can be dangerous and is easiest from mid-summer to early fall.</b> The trail picks up on the opposite bank and winds through an alder-colonized debris fan. Drop in and out of a gully, and head up parallel to the river in shady woods. Come to the [[Pacific Crest-Sandy River Trail Junction]], and go left. The trail soon reaches [[Ramona Creek Bridge on Pacific Crest Trail|a footbridge over Ramona Creek]] and heads up the bank of the creek. At the well-signed [[Ramona Falls-Pacific Crest Trail Junction]], keep right.  
  
Pass through a stile (no horses are permitted on the Ramona Falls Trail) and head up through the shady woodland that has revegetated the pyroclastic flows. Cross a log footbridge, and hike up along lovely, burbling Ramona Creek, which flows through the duff carpet and mossy stones. Look left to note the wonderful pink and sandy andesite cliffs across the creek. Leave the stream to pass above a gully, and keep rising through mountain hemlock, western hemlock, Douglas-fir, western red-cedar, lodgepole pine, rhododendron, and Sitka alder. Reach the junction with the Timberline Trail, and stay right to admire [[Ramona Falls]]' splashing veil from the footbridge that spans the creek here. There are plenty of places to sit and contemplate a while under the shady canopy although on a summer weekend, there may be throngs that have the same idea.
+
Pass through a stile (no horses are permitted on the Ramona Falls Trail) and head up through the shady woodland that has revegetated the pyroclastic flows. Cross a log footbridge, and hike up along lovely, burbling Ramona Creek, which flows through the duff carpet and mossy stones. Look left to note the wonderful pink and sandy andesite cliffs across the creek. Leave the stream to pass above a gully, and keep rising through mountain hemlock, western hemlock, Douglas-fir, western red-cedar, lodgepole pine, rhododendron, and Sitka alder. Reach the junction with the Timberline Trail, and stay right to admire [[Ramona Falls]]' splashing veil from the footbridge that spans the creek here. There are plenty of places to sit and contemplate a while under the shady canopy although, on a summer weekend, there may be throngs that have the same idea.
  
Then return to the Timberline Trail, and begin an ascending traverse in a shady old-growth forest of cedar, Douglas-fir and western hemlock. Numerous seeps and springs drip from the mossy, maidenhair fir-draped andesite rock faces. Cross a footbridge over a boggy spring. Mature noble firs and silver firs enter the mix in lush woods with deer fern, huckleberry, devil’s club, and bunchberry forming the understory. At the nose of the ridge, the [[Timberline-Yocum Ridge Trail Junction|Yocum Ridge Trail #771]] heads up to the right, four miles from the trailhead.  
+
Then return to the Timberline Trail, and begin an ascending traverse in a shady old-growth forest of cedar, Douglas-fir, and western hemlock. Numerous seeps and springs drip from the mossy, maidenhair fir-draped andesite rock faces. Cross a footbridge over a boggy spring. Mature noble firs and silver firs enter the mix in lush woods with deer fern, huckleberry, devil’s club, and bunchberry forming the understory. At the nose of the ridge, the [[Timberline-Yocum Ridge Trail Junction|Yocum Ridge Trail #771]] heads up to the right, four miles from the trailhead.  
  
At mile 5.0 (4480'), just before the first switchback that goes left, watch for a faint trail heading right. You'll discover a great viewpoint overlooking Mount Hood, the Sandy River, and the Zigzag Ridge. There is a small flat area here, just big enough for a tent.  
+
The trail heads up the south side of the ridge. At this end, there are a number of wind-snapped snags and large rock outcroppings in the forest above. Then the trail rises again and crosses a talus slope rimmed with Sitka alder and vine maple. Massive noble firs stand sentinel at this clearing’s edges. At 5.0 miles, watch for a faint trail heading right. You'll discover [[Yocum Low Viewpoint|a great viewpoint]] overlooking [[Mount Hood]], the Sandy River, and the Zigzag Ridge. There is a small flat area here, just big enough for a tent. Switchback to pass more large noble firs in an understory of bear-grass and silver fir saplings. Reach the rim of the Muddy Fork’s canyon and hike upward. Mountain hemlocks become more common. The trail drops slightly along the south side of the ridge and switchbacks in a sunny bear-grass and huckleberry clearing above a talus slope squeaking with pikas. At the ridgecrest again, the trail passes [[Yocum Pond|a small pond]] in a meadow. A spur left leads to the sphagnum shores. Keep heading up in mountain hemlock and silver fir stands with a bear-grass carpet. Lovely glades with bloomed-out avalanche lilies, lupine, groundsel, and false hellebore appear. At 6.7 miles, a spur right leads to a small stream in a willow thicket. This is your last reliable year-round water source.  
  
Return back to the main trail, and start up the switchbacks - gaining elevation moderately for the next two miles. At mile 6.3 (5180') is a small pond. It's too dirty for drinking water or anything. You might see some wildlife.
+
The main trail swings left across the ridge above a wet meadow potholed with small ponds. You're now on the north side of the ridge above the Muddy Fork, and views of the Washington volcanoes ([[Mount Saint Helens]], [[Mount Rainier]], [[Mount Adams]]) open up across the wide valley of the West Fork Hood River. The trail keeps rising and switchbacks to the edge of the Muddy Fork Canyon with more views of the Washington mountains, as well as [[Lost Lake]] and [[Mount Defiance]]. Then cross a talus slope giving views across [[Zigzag Mountain]]. Subalpine fir now in the mix tells you that the trail is nearing the timberline. A traverse of several meadows offers great views across the Sandy River Canyon to [[Paradise Park]]. [[Mount Jefferson]] also becomes visible far to the south. The trail heads above a talus slope and across a meadow blooming with asters. Pass above a spring which runs dry in the summer and then, at 8.0 miles and 6,000 feet, head up a wide meadow to go right on a spur to [[Yocum Meadow|a spectacular viewpoint]]. This looks across the Sandy Canyon’s void to waterfalls gushing down from the Reid Glacier; also in view are Illumination Rock, [[Yocum Ridge]], [[Paradise Park]], and [[Zigzag Mountain]]. Looking west on a clear day, a good eye can see as far out as Portland and the mountains of the coast range, including [[Elk Mountain]] and [[Saddle Mountain]].
  
At mile 6.7 (5370') keep your eyes open for a creek just to the right. This is your last reliable year-round water source. There are some campsite possibilities to the left of the trail at this point. There is another water source about a mile beyond this one, about 10 feet downhill from the trail -- but it tends to dry up by late summer.
+
Back on the main trail, go right. The trail then switchbacks to the left and begins a gradual ascent to traverse up lush meadows still blooming with asters. The route drops below a rock outcropping, traverses through mountain hemlock copses, crosses another meadow, and comes to a viewpoint over the Muddy Fork’s canyon and across to [[McNeil Point]]. Now the trail heads up the north side of [[Yocum Ridge]] above lush benches. Pass a campsite on the right. (There are a couple of others below on the benches, and there may be running water coming out of the snowfields.) The tread reaches a steep rubbly slope and effectively peters out. Cross the unstable rubble, heading upward under a snowfield. Then reach the ridgecrest and keep ascending, passing mountain hemlock, white bark pine, and subalpine fir krummholtz. Maple-leaf currant, common juniper, and Sitka mountain ash are the main alpine shrubs here. [[Yocum Ridge]] levels at a grassy meadow. Paintbrush, cinquefoil, and lupine bloom down by a snowfield. There are expansive views from [[Mount Rainier]] to the [[Three Sisters]] and [[Broken Top]]. You can see to a wide bench below the present terminus of the Sandy Glacier.  
  
Continue climbing another mile or so until you reach the 6000' mark (8.0 miles). The trail opens up to a nice meadow. Here you are treated to a fabulous viewpoint - with Mount Hood and the Zigzag Ridge in front of you. Turn around looking westward, and you can see as far out at Portland - and on a clear day - the mountains of the coast range. A good eye can spot [[Elk Mountain]] and [[Saddle Mountain]].
 
 
Look for a possible spot for a campsite to the right of the trail.
 
 
This is where this "Yocum Ridge Hike" ends, but if you still have energy you can continue a little further. The trail reaches Yocum Ridge at mile 8.5 (6150'). The trail gets a little more primitive and continues up the ridgeline and gains elevation. At mile 8.7 (6290') the trail finally levels out and crosses another meadow. There is a nice campsite right near the trail, and you likely can find a good spot to make camp in the meadow itself further to the right. There's another possible campsite to the north, down the slope, about 0.1 mile and 300 feet lower.
 
 
There is a stream for drinking water about 1/4 mile to the East, in the direction of Mt Hood. You have to go down a slope, and then cross a boulder field. This stream may dry up late in the summer.
 
 
Above here the "trail" traverses a rocky slope. There's no obvious trail. The rocks are unstable at places. Continue up to the top of the ridge, where the trail can be found again.  This spot melts out very late in the summer.  There is a slope of steep snow with rocks and a clif below it.  I think someone was on this snow and slid into the rocks, breaking their leg.
 
 
An alternate is to go down a little bit, and go up the gentler snow slope to the left.  Go up this 0.1 or 0.2 mile until you can find a better place to get onto Yocum Ridge proper.  The advantage here, is if you slide on the snow, it runs out to a gentle slope rather than into rocks and a cliff.
 
 
The highest I've gone is mile 9.7 and 7400 feet elevation.  You have to go to the right of the ridge and up a snow slope.
 
  
 
=== Maps ===
 
=== Maps ===
 +
{{HikeMaps|latitude=45.3786|longitude=-121.7416}}
 +
* Green Trails Maps: ''Government Camp, OR #461'' and ''Mt Hood, OR #462''
 +
* Adventure Maps: ''Mt. Hood Area''
 +
* U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: ''Zigzag Ranger District''
 +
* Discover Your Northwest: ''Mt. Hood National Forest North: Trail Map & Hiking Guide''
 +
* U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: ''Mt. Hood National Forest''
 +
* National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: ''Mount Hood''
 +
* National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: ''Mount Hood Wilderness''
  
 
=== Fees, Regulations, etc. ===
 
=== Fees, Regulations, etc. ===
Line 66: Line 66:
 
* Wilderness rules apply
 
* Wilderness rules apply
  
{{TripReports|Yocum}}
+
{{TripReports|Yocum Ridge}}
 +
* [https://www.oregonhikers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=29822  Yocum Ridge -- 07/04/21]
 +
* [https://www.oregonhikers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=29161  McGee Creek to Yocum Ridge - The Iceman Goeth? (Aug 5-6)]
  
{{RelatedDiscussions|Yocum}}
+
{{RelatedDiscussions|Yocum Ridge}}
  
 
=== Guidebooks that cover this hike ===
 
=== Guidebooks that cover this hike ===
 +
* ''PDX Hiking 365'' by Matt Reeder
 +
* ''Off the Beaten Trail'' by Matt Reeder
 +
* ''Day Hikes in the Pacific Northwest'' by Don J. Scarmuzzi
 +
* ''100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon & Southwest Washington'' by William L. Sullivan
 +
* ''Afoot & Afield: Portland/Vancouver'' by Douglas Lorain
 +
* ''100 Classic Hikes in Oregon'' by Douglas Lorain
 +
* ''Hiking Oregon's Mount Hood & Badger Creek Wilderness'' by Fred Barstad
 +
* ''105 Virtual Hikes of the Mt. Hood National Forest'' by Northwest Hiker
 +
* ''Oregon Hiking'' by Sean Patrick Hill
 +
* ''Hiking Oregon'' by Donna Lynn Ikenberry
 +
* ''100 Oregon Hiking Trails'' by Don & Roberta Lowe
 +
* ''70 Hiking Trails: Northern Oregon Cascades'' by Don & Roberta Lowe
 +
* ''62 Hiking Trails: Northern Oregon Cascades'' by Don & Roberta Lowe
  
 
=== More Links ===
 
=== More Links ===
 +
* [https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mthood/recarea/?recid=53472  Sandy River Trail #770 (USFS)]
 +
* [https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mthood/recarea/?recid=53460  Ramona Falls Trail #797 (USFS)]
 +
* [https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mthood/recarea/?recid=53506  Timberline National Historic Trail #600 (USFS)]
 +
* [https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mthood/recarea/?recid=53532  Yocum Ridge Trail #771 (USFS)]
 +
* [http://www.nwhiker.com/MHNFHike22.html  Yocum Ridge Hike (Northwest Hiker)]
 +
* [https://paulgerald.com/portland-hikes/yocum-ridge-ramona-falls-great-mount-hood-hike/  Yocum Ridge: Up Past Ramona Falls Lies A Great Mount Hood Hike (Author Paul Gerald)]
 +
* [http://www.deanmyerson.org/yocum-ridge  Mt Hood: Yocum Ridge (Dean Myerson)]
 +
* [http://goaltechhikes.blogspot.com/2016/08/hike-26-yocum-ridge.html  Hike 26 - Yocum Ridge (Goal Tech)]
 +
* [https://evergreenhiker.wordpress.com/2013/08/19/yocum-ridge-vis-ramona-falls/  Yocum Ridge via Ramona Falls (Evergreen Hiker)]
 +
* [https://www.roaminglog.com/hikes/yocumridge.php  Yocum Ridge (Roaming Log)]
 +
* [https://www.eyehike.com/2016/yocum-ridge-or/  Yocum Ridge, OR (EyeHike)]
 +
* [https://www.jessb.org/yocum-ridge-hike/  Yocum ridge hike (jessB)]
 +
* [https://www.outdoorproject.com/united-states/oregon/yocum-ridge  Yocum Ridge (Outdoor Project)]
 +
* [https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/yocum-ridge-trail  Yocum Ridge Trail (All Trails)]
 +
  
 
=== Contributors ===
 
=== Contributors ===
 
* [[User:retiredjerry]] (creator)
 
* [[User:retiredjerry]] (creator)

Revision as of 18:19, 15 July 2021

The Reid Glacier from Yocum Ridge (bobcat)
Mt. Hood from the Sandy River Trail (bobcat)
Ramona Falls (bobcat)
The pond just off the Yocum Ridge Trail (bobcat)
Meadow from the viewpoint near the end of the Yocum Ridge Trail (Jerry Adams)
Mount Hood from the viewpoint near the end of the Yocum Ridge Trail (Jerry Adams)
The head of the Muddy Fork from Yocum Ridge (bobcat)
The long route to Yocum Ridge (not a GPS track) (bobcat) Courtesy: Caltopo/USFS

Contents

Hike Description

What's nice about Yocum Ridge is that it's so remote. There aren't any other alpine areas on Mount Hood as far away from a trailhead. The early sections of this hike are among the busiest around the mountain, but after four miles, you'll start on the Yocum Ridge Trail, and you'll enjoy some of the best solitude the region can offer! Start the hike early, and you can get Ramona Falls to yourself. Also, the early brisk air helps you up those switchbacks to Yocum Ridge. Here you'll enjoy an alpine panorama unmatched on the mountain. A couple of benches off the north side of the ridge offer campsites.

Take the wide, sandy trail leading up from the southeast corner of the parking area. You will be hiking among stunted mountain hemlock, Douglas-fir, and lodgepole pine on a carpet of moss, pinemat manzanita, and reindeer lichen. Beginning in about 1780, pyroclastic flows from Mount Hood buried the Sandy River, which continues to change its course as it carves through the soft strata. Pass the first of at least three glacial river crossing signs warning about safe passage when waters are high. (There has been more than one drowning death in the area.) Come to the Sandy River-Ramona Falls Trailhead Trail Junction, and proceed past a large boulder to a stop sign, where you’ll need to fill out a free wilderness permit.

Hike onward through the trees. The trail has been moved back away from the river after sections that were too close to the riverbank washed away. At 1.1 miles reach the bank of the river, and then descend to the Sandy River Crossing. A bridge is no longer provided here, so you’ll need to pick one of the logs strewn across the water or attempt a ford (see Tips for Crossing Streams). This crossing can be dangerous and is easiest from mid-summer to early fall. The trail picks up on the opposite bank and winds through an alder-colonized debris fan. Drop in and out of a gully, and head up parallel to the river in shady woods. Come to the Pacific Crest-Sandy River Trail Junction, and go left. The trail soon reaches a footbridge over Ramona Creek and heads up the bank of the creek. At the well-signed Ramona Falls-Pacific Crest Trail Junction, keep right.

Pass through a stile (no horses are permitted on the Ramona Falls Trail) and head up through the shady woodland that has revegetated the pyroclastic flows. Cross a log footbridge, and hike up along lovely, burbling Ramona Creek, which flows through the duff carpet and mossy stones. Look left to note the wonderful pink and sandy andesite cliffs across the creek. Leave the stream to pass above a gully, and keep rising through mountain hemlock, western hemlock, Douglas-fir, western red-cedar, lodgepole pine, rhododendron, and Sitka alder. Reach the junction with the Timberline Trail, and stay right to admire Ramona Falls' splashing veil from the footbridge that spans the creek here. There are plenty of places to sit and contemplate a while under the shady canopy although, on a summer weekend, there may be throngs that have the same idea.

Then return to the Timberline Trail, and begin an ascending traverse in a shady old-growth forest of cedar, Douglas-fir, and western hemlock. Numerous seeps and springs drip from the mossy, maidenhair fir-draped andesite rock faces. Cross a footbridge over a boggy spring. Mature noble firs and silver firs enter the mix in lush woods with deer fern, huckleberry, devil’s club, and bunchberry forming the understory. At the nose of the ridge, the Yocum Ridge Trail #771 heads up to the right, four miles from the trailhead.

The trail heads up the south side of the ridge. At this end, there are a number of wind-snapped snags and large rock outcroppings in the forest above. Then the trail rises again and crosses a talus slope rimmed with Sitka alder and vine maple. Massive noble firs stand sentinel at this clearing’s edges. At 5.0 miles, watch for a faint trail heading right. You'll discover a great viewpoint overlooking Mount Hood, the Sandy River, and the Zigzag Ridge. There is a small flat area here, just big enough for a tent. Switchback to pass more large noble firs in an understory of bear-grass and silver fir saplings. Reach the rim of the Muddy Fork’s canyon and hike upward. Mountain hemlocks become more common. The trail drops slightly along the south side of the ridge and switchbacks in a sunny bear-grass and huckleberry clearing above a talus slope squeaking with pikas. At the ridgecrest again, the trail passes a small pond in a meadow. A spur left leads to the sphagnum shores. Keep heading up in mountain hemlock and silver fir stands with a bear-grass carpet. Lovely glades with bloomed-out avalanche lilies, lupine, groundsel, and false hellebore appear. At 6.7 miles, a spur right leads to a small stream in a willow thicket. This is your last reliable year-round water source.

The main trail swings left across the ridge above a wet meadow potholed with small ponds. You're now on the north side of the ridge above the Muddy Fork, and views of the Washington volcanoes (Mount Saint Helens, Mount Rainier, Mount Adams) open up across the wide valley of the West Fork Hood River. The trail keeps rising and switchbacks to the edge of the Muddy Fork Canyon with more views of the Washington mountains, as well as Lost Lake and Mount Defiance. Then cross a talus slope giving views across Zigzag Mountain. Subalpine fir now in the mix tells you that the trail is nearing the timberline. A traverse of several meadows offers great views across the Sandy River Canyon to Paradise Park. Mount Jefferson also becomes visible far to the south. The trail heads above a talus slope and across a meadow blooming with asters. Pass above a spring which runs dry in the summer and then, at 8.0 miles and 6,000 feet, head up a wide meadow to go right on a spur to a spectacular viewpoint. This looks across the Sandy Canyon’s void to waterfalls gushing down from the Reid Glacier; also in view are Illumination Rock, Yocum Ridge, Paradise Park, and Zigzag Mountain. Looking west on a clear day, a good eye can see as far out as Portland and the mountains of the coast range, including Elk Mountain and Saddle Mountain.

Back on the main trail, go right. The trail then switchbacks to the left and begins a gradual ascent to traverse up lush meadows still blooming with asters. The route drops below a rock outcropping, traverses through mountain hemlock copses, crosses another meadow, and comes to a viewpoint over the Muddy Fork’s canyon and across to McNeil Point. Now the trail heads up the north side of Yocum Ridge above lush benches. Pass a campsite on the right. (There are a couple of others below on the benches, and there may be running water coming out of the snowfields.) The tread reaches a steep rubbly slope and effectively peters out. Cross the unstable rubble, heading upward under a snowfield. Then reach the ridgecrest and keep ascending, passing mountain hemlock, white bark pine, and subalpine fir krummholtz. Maple-leaf currant, common juniper, and Sitka mountain ash are the main alpine shrubs here. Yocum Ridge levels at a grassy meadow. Paintbrush, cinquefoil, and lupine bloom down by a snowfield. There are expansive views from Mount Rainier to the Three Sisters and Broken Top. You can see to a wide bench below the present terminus of the Sandy Glacier.


Maps

  • Maps: Hike Finder
  • Green Trails Maps: Government Camp, OR #461 and Mt Hood, OR #462
  • Adventure Maps: Mt. Hood Area
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Zigzag Ranger District
  • Discover Your Northwest: Mt. Hood National Forest North: Trail Map & Hiking Guide
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Mt. Hood National Forest
  • National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: Mount Hood
  • National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: Mount Hood Wilderness

Fees, Regulations, etc.

  • Northwest Forest Pass (or America the Beautiful Pass) required at trailhead. Pass must be acquired beforehand as they are not sold at the trailhead.
  • Free self-issued wilderness permit
  • Wilderness rules apply

Trip Reports

Related Discussions / Q&A

Guidebooks that cover this hike

  • PDX Hiking 365 by Matt Reeder
  • Off the Beaten Trail by Matt Reeder
  • Day Hikes in the Pacific Northwest by Don J. Scarmuzzi
  • 100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon & Southwest Washington by William L. Sullivan
  • Afoot & Afield: Portland/Vancouver by Douglas Lorain
  • 100 Classic Hikes in Oregon by Douglas Lorain
  • Hiking Oregon's Mount Hood & Badger Creek Wilderness by Fred Barstad
  • 105 Virtual Hikes of the Mt. Hood National Forest by Northwest Hiker
  • Oregon Hiking by Sean Patrick Hill
  • Hiking Oregon by Donna Lynn Ikenberry
  • 100 Oregon Hiking Trails by Don & Roberta Lowe
  • 70 Hiking Trails: Northern Oregon Cascades by Don & Roberta Lowe
  • 62 Hiking Trails: Northern Oregon Cascades by Don & Roberta Lowe

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Contributors

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.