Not for novice hikers! This loop hike at Oregon’s second-largest state park, two hours east of Portland, involves off-trail scrambling, descending a steep ravine, traversing angled slopes, straddling basalt boulders, and the like. Be tick-safe, rattlesnake-aware, and wind-ready. For our efforts, we’ll see bighorn sheep, windmills, and lots of John Day River geology. 

Activity Notes

Cottonwood Canyon's Gooseneck Loop is an off-trail, make-your-own adventure hike. It involves scrambling over rocks, and I've taken slightly different paths every time I've hiked there. This time I aim for and will deliver more scrambling than my most recent hike there. While this is a Mazamas Trail Trip, it's best for folks with off-trail scrambling experience. We will travel about 6.5 miles, of which the first half will be most interesting. Our return route is on a bike trail along the John Day River. The skies are always interesting in eastern Oregon, and on this hike we frequently view bighorn sheep. 

Other Information
Driving Distance from Portland 122 miles
Driving Time from Portland 2 hours
Distance - Round Trip 8 miles
Expected Duration Car to car in one day
Interesting Features Basalt Columns, Spectacular Views
Relevant Books PDX Hiking 365
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