Devils Peak from Hunchback Mountain Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Hunchback Mountain Trailhead
- End point: Devils Peak
- Hike Type: In and out
- Distance: 18 miles
- Elevation gain: 5940 feet
- High Point: 5,045 feet
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Seasons: Summer into Fall
- Family Friendly: No
- Backpackable: Yes
- Crowded: No
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Hike Description
This is a big elevation wilderness hike that switchbacks up and up and then undulates along a high, forested ridge: every time you descend, however, means you will have to go up even more! The final destination is the lookout and viewpoint atop Devils Peak, but along the way you will encounter woodland wildflowers in season, some rugged, rocky viewpoints, and unlogged montane woodland with a variety of habitats.
The Hunchback Mountain Trail #793 begins on the south side of the parking area under Douglas-fir, western red-cedar, western hemlock, and big-leaf maple on a carpet of lady fern, deer fern, sword fern, and salal. The trail switchbacks at a spring house and rises to another switchback at the new wilderness sign and a small cistern/dam. There are two more switchbacks and then a traverse before another switchback. The trail levels at a ridgecrest of Oregon grape and sword fern and then drops to a saddle. From here, the trail heads up and switchbacks, traverses, switchbacks, and then passes under mossy ramparts. There are three short switchbacks at another rocky outcropping. Pass a campsite and then wind up before switchbacking five times to more mossy ramparts. There are three more switchbacks to higher rocky palisades and then a traverse along the slope through rhododendrons. Wind up to the ridge crest, then drop slightly to traverse the western slope of the ridge through a carpet of salal. There’s a short, steep drop down an open manzanita slope. A spur left leads to a viewpoint over the Still Creek valley. The trail drops past an andesite outcrop and then winds steeply up to the breccia/rimrock cliffs. From here, the top of Mount Hood is visible on a clear day.
The trail drops and traverses up the east side of a steep slope under Douglas-fir, hemlock and cedar. A sign points to the Rockpile Viewpoint on the right, which offers a vista of Mount Hood. The trail drops below a talus slope and switchbacks twice at a second talus field before reaching the ridge crest. Now the path undulates along, passes spur to a helispot viewpoint, and produces encounters with some interesting rock outcrops. Traverse the east side of the slope, where silver firs now enter the forest mix. Head up to a rocky crest, and make another east side traverse before reaching the crest again and a narrow andesite catwalk. Rise steeply, drop, and then ascend steeply again before reaching the sign for the Great Pyramid. Head out along this steep-sided promontory and make a couple of little scrambles to reach the end, where you can look down on the lush green cleft of the lower valley of the Salmon River.
From the Great Pyramid, wind down steeply among rhododendrons, bear-grass, and Oregon grape, switchback, and descend to a long, grassy clearing on the ridge crest. Now undulate along in Douglas-fir/hemlock woods, sometimes encountering large boulders of volcanic breccia with significant overhangs. Then wind up through a vine maple/devil’s club clearing under large silver firs and Douglas-firs and into a copse of cedars. Reach the ridge crest, descend, and then rise steeply. Hike on the level for a short distance, then drop before rising to the Hunchback Mountain-Green Canyon Way Trail Junction.
Keep left and make several drops and rises along the ridge. Tiger lilies bloom here in the summer and the forest floor sprouts coral root and bear-grass. This upper part of the Hunchback Mountain Trail may be unmaintained late into the season and there could be a fair amount of blowdown to negotiate. Pass through a couple of sunny meadows blooming with lupine, paintbrush, woolly sunflower, mariposa lilies, buckwheat, and cinquefoil. Keep rising, skirting a Sitka alder and thimbleberry thicket to reenter a forest of silver and noble fir. Pass a spring area and drop over the right side of the ridge. Head up to the ridge crest again below rocky outcrops, and then drop below the crest immediately. Again, regain the ridge crest. A spur left leads past a campsite and down to a spring. Come to the junction of the spur trail to Devils Peak and go right.
It’s a few yards up to the lookout. The Devils Peak Lookout is maintained by volunteers and is open to all-comers, first-come, first-served. The expansive views have shrunk somewhat over the years as trees have grown up around the summit. Walk down from the lookout tower to viewpoints over the wilderness and south to Olallie Butte, Mount Jefferson and Three Fingered Jack. There’s a great view north to Mount Hood and, on a clear day you should be able to see the Washington mountains from here. The peak is fringed with a forest of Douglas-fir, subalpine fir, noble fir, and mountain hemlock. Common juniper forms mats among the rocks blooming with paintbrush, lousewort, penstemon, and phlox.
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
- Green Trails Maps: Government Camp, OR #461
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness, Bull of the Woods Wilderness, Opal Creek Wilderness, Opal Creek Scenic Recreation 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
- Adventure Maps: Mt. Hood Area
Regulations or Restrictions, etc.
- First-come, first-served for an overnight at the lookout
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Devils Peak from Hunchback Mountain Hike
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Devils Peak from Hunchback Mountain Hike
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- 100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon & Southwest Washington by William L. Sullivan
More Links
- Hunchback Mountain Trail #793 (USFS)
- Hunchback Mountain (Summit Post)
- Devils Peak (Summit Post)
- Devil’s Peak Fire Lookout (Forest Lookouts)
- Hike 15 - Hunchback Mtn & Devil's Peak (GoalTech)
- Portland, OR: Devils Peak Lookout via Hunchback Mountain Trail (Trimble Outdoors)
Contributors
- justpeachy (creator)
- bobcat