PLEASE NOTE:

This is an unmaintained trail with scrambles.
Much of the way with has no trail at all.
DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS HIKE UNLESS YOU ARE ENTIRELY EQUIPPED AND EXPERIENCED FOR SUCH AN ADVENTURE.

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Here is another fantastic gem located with the Yakama Indian Reservation. Remember, a pass is required and can be purchased along the road to Bench Lake.

At about 1/4 mile the trail drops steeply and crosses Hellroaring Creek on a newly constructed bridge. The trail begins to climb, but junctions shortly after the bridge. Bear left and begin the steep climb to the crest of the ridge.

At about 1.3 miles the trail passes a clearly visible trail marker and it is at this point that I recommend a cross-country scramble following the ridge line above you.

Little Mt Adams is in sight almost all the time, so it is not difficult to scramble your way below the ridge you are following to the base of the mountain. When you reach the base on the north side you will see a trail that others have used to reach the summit.

Be sure to drop down into the crater itself and look around for great vistas of Bench Lake, Heart Lake, and of course Hellroaring Canyon and the gorgeous Mt Adams which looms over you.


Ridge of Wonders sramble:

Anytime a person climbs Little Mt. Adams, it is almost impossible to resist hiking over to the Ridge of Wonders and discovering the incredible beauty and raw wonder that this ridge provides.

There is kinda a user's trail from the base of Little Mt. Adams over to the ridge, but even if it isn't obvious, the trek over to the ridge is basically a common sense scramble. I figure if you kinda follow the route indicated on the map, it is about a mile and a quarter to the end of the ridge, then if you just use Little Mt. Adams as a landmark, you can just walk straight back to the mountain, cutting off a bit of the original distance.


Another wonderful benefit for hiking over the ridge, is the high likelihood that you will encounter mountain goats. I've inserted a photo I took of some goats at another time on the Ridge of Wonders, but they didn't pose very well, yet you'll get the idea.

From Portland, OR
From Portland, travel east on Interstate Hwy 84 to Exit 64 at Hood River. Turn left, and pass under the freeway and cross the toll bridge ($1.00) into Washington state. Turn left onto SR14 and drive approximately 1.5 miles to state road 141 Alt. Turn right onto SR141 Alt. and follow it another 2 miles and merge bearing left onto SR141. Then travel north on SR141 for another 19 miles to Trout Lake and the junction to Mt. Adams Road, which heads north to other hike destinations.

from Trout Lake, WA
Bear right and forward onto Mt. Adams Road for about 1.3 miles and you come to the junction with Forest Road 23. Bear right and continue on Mt. Adams Road, which is also Forest Road 82, for another half mile or so, and when you come to Forest Road 80, bear again to the right and stay on FR82. To reach the Bird Creek Meadows area, just stay on FR82 for another 8.3 miles past FR80. At this point, FR82 turns into the Bureau of Indian Affairs Road 285 as well as FR8290.

Continue on BIA285 for another 4.2 miles and you will come to Mirror Lake and the junction of BIA304 which takes you to Bird Lake. Continue another mile and you will pass the parking area and trailhead for Bird Creek Meadows on your left. BIA 208 now becomes extremely challenging, and heads down a steep rough grade for about a mile and a half to the entrance of the Bench Lake camping area. The road may be a one-way drive, so bear to your right and drive around the lake to the obvious trailhead parking area on the north side of the lake. As you drive around the lake, be sure to stop for a moment and walk down to the lake and enjoy the incredible view of Mt. Adams and Little Mt. Adams as seen from the lake.

Click on the link below to see a map taking you to the trailhead.

Map Directions Vicinity Map To contact the Gifford Pinchot NF for current information: Click Here.