Hamilton Mountain Loop

Activity Notes

Provisional hike for Michael French (Eric Einspruch will be Hike Leader Mentor)

From: https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Hamilton_Mountain_Loop_Hike

• Hike type: Lollipop loop
• Distance: 7.5 miles
• Elevation gain: 2100 feet
• High point: 2,438 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate

This very popular trail has a feast of features for hikers, including waterfalls, craggy cliffs, deep forests, superb vistas, and a loop option for the trek. The outing can done at any time of year although you will want to pay attention to icy spots in the winter. Hamilton Mountain is really the Missoula Flood-truncated end of a basalt ridge: there are higher points on the same ridge farther north. The summit itself is thicketed and offers limited views, but a bench a few yards back gives you a vista to the east of Table Mountain and the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge. Other views come from the trail on the way up and at the Hamilton Mountain Saddle as you continue on the loop. NOTE: This trail has many switchbacks. To prevent erosion and degradation of the trail, do not shortcut these switchbacks.