Tanner Cutoff Loop Hike
From Portland Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Tooth Rock Trailhead
- End point: Tooth Rock Trailhead
- Trail Log: Trail Log
- Hike Type: Dogbone (Out to Loop and Back)
- Distance: 14.4 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 3700 feet
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Seasons: Apr-Nov
- Family Friendly: No, too long
- Backpackable: Yes
- Crowded: No
Contents |
Hike Description
This is an alternate hike to Dublin Lake.
From the Tooth Rock Trailhead, there are a number of confusing trails at the beginning.
To take the shortest route, go east on the paved bicycle road from Toothrock Trailhead, past the electrical substation. After about a quarter mile, watch for a single path track going uphill to the right. There is a sign, but when this was written, it was damaged. Go up that trail for at least a quarter mile and watch for another trail going off to the right again, more steeply uphill. A signs says that it leads to Trail 400. When you get there shortly, it is a dirt road. Turn right going uphill (there is also a right going downhill) and very shortly (a couple hundred yards), there is a different road cutting left - this is Road #777. There is no sign here. Take it for over a mile to the old Tanner Butte Trail #401 Trailhead. You used to be able to drive your car to here. There's a couple signs here mentioning Tanner Butte and Wauna Point.
The route logged on most of the hikes here is easier, although slightly longer. The route goes all the way on road #777. From the parking area, walk back on the road you drove in on less than 0.1 mile to the gated closed road #777. There's some sort of old structure (water tower?). Walk up this road for about two miles. There are number of spur roads and trails, but if you stay on the main road, you'll be okay. At mile 2, 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. There's a 1/2 mile side trip here to Dublin Lake for the interested.
This hike follows Tanner Cutoff Trail down and we mean DOWN. This trail drops 2500 feet in about 3 miles of at least 18 switchbacks. At the bottom, you'll reach Tanner Creek Trail #431. Turn right and in less than half a mile, you'll reach the end of Tanner Creek Road. Walk down the closed road back to familiar territory.
Note: 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. Alternatively, you can start at Eagle Creek Trailhead and hike west on Trail 400 for about 1.2 miles to Mile 0.7 on Road 777. Either of these alternatives will add about a mile to your round trip distance. There's a third alternative from the first Eagle Creek parking lot where caretakers sit all summer. You can hike the Historic Columbia River Highway Trail west, which here is only the glorified shoulder of I-84. Go up the Eagle Creek Staircase. At the top, right next to the stop sign, 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.
Maps
- Latitude: 45.63099
- Longitude: -121.95407
- Maps: Portland Hikers Maps Google Earth
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- Northwest Forest Pass required at trailhead
Trip Reports
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Related Discussions / Q&A
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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
Contributors
- Stevefromdodge (creator)