Catherine Creek West Loop Hike
From Portland Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Catherine Creek Trailhead
- End point: Rowland Lake Viewpoint
- Trail Log: Trail Log
- Hike Type: Loop
- Distance: 2.5 miles
- Elevation gain: 700 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Seasons: Year round
- Family Friendly: Yes
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: Yes
|
|
Contents |
Hike Description
This hike starts at the Catherine Creek Trailhead. Head up the hill to the left, on the closed road marked "015". The first part of this trail is gently uphill straight across a rocky plain. In spring, you'll start seeing flowers right away, but the prettier stuff is beyond the first push, where you'll find several seasonal ponds brimming with Grass Widows, Prairie Stars or Camas, depending on the exact time of your visit. After a bit the trail changes from an old road to a single track, but the trail is always obvious. The trail crosses a couple of intermittent streams that support flowers and moss. After the watered section, the trail climbs a bit to the first viewpoint of Rowland Lake. From here, the trail works up the west side of the ridge, with continous views of the lake, Mount Hood and the Columbia River Gorge. There's a side trail down the mountain at about mile 0.9, but you'll want to stay on top of the ridge. At mile 1.0, there's a particularly interesting view, we've called the Rowland Lake Viewpoint. An extra feature here is a huge snag, covered with lichen and moss. This is a great place eat lunch, watching birds of prey hunt for their own meal.
Continue up the trail for another mile or so, until you see a set of powerlines off to your left. The trail continues up the west side of the ridge, but there's really nothing new to see. When you draw level with the first powerline tower, head straight up the hill the short distance to the tower. From here head east, roughly beneath the powerlines. The ground here is pretty uneven and thick grass and flowers cover a few loose stones. Just before you reach a second tower, you'll see the faint scar of a long-closed road crossing under the powerlines. Head eastward on this track, down the hill, past the tower. The old road works its way down the hill, becoming a bit clearer as it does. Parts of this road form streambeds in the spring and the entire thing is quite rocky. Enjoy Grass Widows here a little later than rest of the area, since the ground here gets less sun and thus a later start. Watch for poison oak here, as well.
The old road meanders this way and that, eventually heading west through an old cut and then switching back toward the east. Soon after you cross a couple of downed trees, you'll reach a small forested section. At our last visit, (March 2008), this area was becoming rapidly overgrown with poison oak. When you reach the nearly impassable section, look to the right for a footpath through the trees. This 50 foot path has its own poison oak, but it's not as bad as the old road. As you emerge from the trees on either path, you'll be at the wet area on the incoming trail. Turn left and return down the hill to your car.
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
Regulations or restrictions, etc
- None
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Catherine Creek
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Catherine Creek
Guidebooks that cover this hike
More Links
Contributors
- Stevefromdodge (creator)