Mt. Hood view from the Rimrock Trail, above the trailhead (bobcat)

Seasonal lake on the Cottonwood Meadows Trail, below the trailhead (bobcat)

• Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
• Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
• Latitude, Longitude: 45.1096, -121.9712
• Elevation: 4360 feet
• Driving time from Portland: 110 minutes

Hikes including this trailhead

• Mount Mitchell-Cottonwood Meadows Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)

Fees and Regulations

• Sign in at Wilderness Permit box if heading to Mount Mitchell Viewpoint.

Driving Directions

Driving south on I-205, take Exit 12A for Highways 224 and 212E, Clackamas and Estacada.

From the merger with Highway 224, drive 3.3 miles and turn right on Highway 224E for Carver and Estacada.

Go 15.3 miles, passing through Carver and Estacada. On the east side of Estacada, at the junction with Highway 211 for Molalla and Woodburn, keep straight on Highway 224 for the Upper Clackamas River and North Fork Lake.

From here it’s 25.5 miles on 224E past the Ripplebrook Guard Station. After crossing a bridge, FR 57 goes off to the left for Timothy Lake.

Turn left here and drive 7.5 miles on paved FR 57 and then make a left turn onto narrow, paved FR 58.

Drive uphill 3.1 miles and turn left onto FR 5830 for Hideaway Lake and Shellrock Lake.

Drive this gravel road for 5.4 miles, keeping to the main track, and pass the turnoff on the left for Hideaway Lake Campground.

Keep right here for another 2.3 more miles to a pullout on the side of the road for the Cottonwood Meadows Trail, which leads east from the trailhead (The Rimrock Trail to Mt. Mitchell leads up the slope to the west from here).

Page Contributors

• bobcat (creator)