Parklands above the South Climb Trailhead (bobcat)

Parking at the South Climb Trailhead, Mt. Adams (bobcat)

Trailhead, South Climb Trail, Mt. Adams (bobcat)

Alpine buckwheat (Eriogonum pyrolifolium) (bobcat)

• Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
• Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
• Latitude, Longitude: 46.13623, -121.49754
• Elevation: 5555 feet
• Driving time from Portland: 2 hours

Hikes starting here

• Mount Adams Summit Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)
• Mount Adams Loop Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)

Hikes including this location

• A.G. Aiken Lava Bed Loop Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)

Driving Directions

Drive I-84 east to Exit 64 for Highway 35, White Salmon, and Government Camp.

Turn left at the Stop sign and drive straight for 1.2 miles, passing through another Stop sign and the toll booth at the Hood River Bridge.

When you reach the junction with Highway 14W on the Washington side of the Columbia River, turn left for Stevenson and Vancouver. Drive 1.5 miles and make a right onto Highway 141 Alt. for Trout Lake and the Mt. Adams Recreation Area.

Wind up for 2.2 miles above the White Salmon River to the junction with Highway 141N. Turn left here for BZ Corner, Trout Lake, and Glenwood.

Drive north for 19.2 miles to a Y junction in Trout Lake. (If you’re picking up the required climbing permit, bear left here and drive 0.9 miles to the ranger station to fill out the forms and pay the fee).

For Mt. Adams, bear right at the Y junction for Randle and the Mt. Adams Recreation Area.

After 1.3 miles, keep right at the junction with FR 23 for the South Climb, Bird Creek Meadows, and Sno-Parks (FR 82).

In 0.6 miles, turn left for The South Climb Trail #183. This road becomes FR 80.

It’s 3.7 miles to a junction with FR 8040. Turn right here for the South Climb Trail #183.

Head up on this gravel road for 5.4 miles as it narrows and enters the Cascade Creek Burn. Come to a junction at the Morrison Creek Forest Camp.

Here go right on the 500 spur for the South Climb Trail. It’s another 2.8 miles on a narrow road to the trailhead parking areas at Cold Springs.

There are restrooms and an information kiosk at the trailhead.

Fees and Regulations

• $3.50 toll each way at Hood River Bridge
• Northwest Forest Pass (or America the Beautiful Pass) required to park at the trailhead
• Sign in at Wilderness Permit box
• If you are climbing to the summit, purchase a Mt. Adams Climbing Activity Pass ($15 weekend; $10 week days as of 2023) from Recreation.gov.

Other information

• Two trails begin here, the South Climb Trail #183 from the west end of the parking lot, and the Cold Springs Trail #72 from the east end.
• There is a small campground here, the Cold Springs Campground.
• The Cascade Creek Fire (2012) burned all around the trailhead, killing many trees and scorching others. Hazardous trees have been felled.
• The upper sections of the access road are dusty, narrow, and sometimes potholed, but passenger cars can drive them at low speeds.

Contributors

• bobcat (creator)