Zigzag River Crossing
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Hikes including this location:
- Elevation: 4900 feet
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Description
The Timberline Trail (also the Pacific Crest Trail) crosses the Zigzag River at the base of the large, steep Zigzag Canyon. The creek here is fed exclusively from the Zigzag glacier, and few thousand feet of elevation uphill from here. It eventually becomes the Zigzag River, which empties into the Sandy - and out into the Columbia River near Troutdale, Oregon.
The crossing here is usually not very difficult - especially compared to other crossings along the Timberline Trail. However, it still should be respected -- especially in late spring and early summer when glacial runoff is at its peak. There's no bridge, and you have to hop rocks to keep your boots dry.
You can get drinking water from the stream, but it's a bit silty and is likely to clog your water filter. (If you're crossing in late summer or early fall, you may have better luck!). There is better source of drinking water up-trail along the Timberline Trail about 0.1 mile to the south.
This is a popular spot to stop and cool off as you wait your turn with hikers from Timberline Lodge heading to Paradise Park, PCT thru-hikers and Timberline Trail backpackers.
A little ways downhill from the creek crossing there are spots to camp - if you don't mind it's proximity to the busy trail.
It's worth noting that Mount Hood climbers using the southern route to the mountain's summit have sometimes been known to get misdirected near the canyon head in bad weather conditions. The common error has them descending the mountain via this canyon instead of the normal route past the Silcox Hut and down into Timberline Lodge.