Dublin Lake Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
| This page is marked as a Closed Hike. Some or all of this hike has been closed by a governing body and hikers may be liable for fines or even arrest. At least part of this route may be dangerous and hard to follow, or it may cross areas with sensitive plant life or wildlife habitat. Trailkeepers of Oregon does not endorse or recommend hiking this route. When restrictions are lifted, this notice will be removed. |
- Start point: Tooth Rock Trailhead
- End point: Dublin Lake
- Trail Log: Trail Log
- Hike Type: Out and Back
- Distance: 13.8 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 3780 feet
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Seasons: Apr-Nov
- Family Friendly: Too long
- Backpackable: Yes
- Crowded: No
Contents |
Hike Description
NOTICE: This trail is closed until further notice because of damage from the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire. Please check the list of Columbia Gorge trail closures before you plan for a hike.
This is a long hike with a lot of elevation gain. You get some views at the beginning, but the rest of the hike is through forest. Dublin Lake is a small nondescript lake without any views but several campsites. You're so far away from the road you won't see too many other people. This is a rare source of drinking water on the Tanner Butte Trail.
From the Tooth Rock Trailhead, start by walking east on the paved Historic Columbia River Highway Trail. After 2/10 of a mile, you'll come to a junction with a trail going up to the right marked by a sign that says "Tanner Butte Trail." Start up the hill for another 4/10 of a mile until the trail splits. Follow the trail to the right. At this junction is a sign marked "Trail 400/Wauna Pt/Tanner Butte Tr."
Head up this steep trail for roughly 100 feet to Tanner Creek Road. This is a 4-way junction. Look for a sign that says "Gorge Trail 400" with arrows pointing left and right. Follow the trail (which is as wide as a road and goes uphill) to the right. When this road splits, bear left (the road on the right will have two signs marking it trail #400 and 034). After that, you will cross several service roads. Continue straight on the road you're on (Road 777) until you reach the old Tanner Butte Trail #401 trailhead.
Take Trail 401 up the hill. The trail passes four unnamed waterfalls as it climbs. There aren't a lot of views as payback for your effort, but you'll cross a power line twice, offering a a bit of open air. Above the power line look for orchids blooming in June, mostly varieties of coralroot. 2.2 miles from road #777, you'll come to a junction with the unmaintained Wauna Point Trail #401D. There's a campsite here, as well.
Continuing on, the climb moderates somewhat, but it continues up into rhododendron territory. You'll cross the wilderness boundary and 2 miles farther you'll come to a junction with Tanner Cutoff Trail #448. This trail leads steeply west down the mountain to the Tanner Creek Trail. 0.1 miles further is a junction with Dublin Lake Trail #401B Topozone incorrectly shows #448 and #401B joining the Tanner Butte Trail at the same place. Dublin Lake Trail starts out mellow, but soon turns to steep switchbacks. Fortunately, the trip is short and in less than a half mile, you'll reach the Lake.
On the return trip, you can return the way you came, or for a little variety, drop down Tanner Cutoff Trail to Tanner Creek Trail, turn right and pick up Road #777 at its end. The side trip adds 1.6 miles to your total.
The Tooth Rock Trailhead creates the easiest and shortest version of this hike, but overnight parking is not allowed. Also, Tooth Rock Trailhead has a higher incidence of car prowling than other nearby trailheads. You can access this hike from the Wahclella Falls Trailhead by hiking about 1.5 mile of Trail 400 from there to Mile 1.1 on Road 777. From the Eagle Creek Trailhead, you can hike west on Trail 400 for about 1.2 miles to Mile 0.7 on Road 777. From the first Eagle Creek parking lot, you can walk along the road going west along the highway to the Eagle Creek Staircase. At the top, to your left, is a hidden junction with the old Portage Road. Hike up the Portage Road to its crest, where you'll find a short use path heading up the hill. This leads about 100 yards to Road 777 at mile 0.7.
These alternatives are explored (with maps) in the Many Ways to the Tanner Butte Trailhead.
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- Northwest Forest Pass required at trailhead
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Dublin Lake
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Dublin Lake
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- Afoot and Afield Portland/Vancouver, by Douglas Lorain
- 35 Hiking Trails, Columbia River Gorge, by Don & Roberta Lowe
- Columbia River Gorge, 42 Scenic Hikes, by Don & Roberta Lowe
- Hiking the Columbia River Gorge - 1st and 2nd Editions, by Russ Schneider
- 100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon - 3rd Edition, by William L Sullivan
More Links
- See more information at Describe the link here
Contributors
- Stevefromdodge (creator)
- User:retiredjerry