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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. 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.
Activity Notes
This is the second hike in a 4-hike series offered to help 2026 BCEP applicants improve their fitness for BCEP team hikes. This scenic hike to the summit of Hamilton Mountain in the Columbia Gorge, is approximately 8 miles, with roughly 2,000 feet of elevation gain. Because of a washout close to the usual trailhead, we’ll start from a slightly different location. Also there is erosion on the trail in a few spots, so care and a little agility is needed.
Once you have submitted a BCEP application, you are welcome to sign-up for any or all hikes in this series. We will carpool from the MMC parking lot departing at 7.30am sharp, or you can meet us at the trailhead parking area at 8.15am. A Washington Discover Pass is needed to park at the trailhead.
Other hikes in this series can be found on the calendar by looking for “Pre-BCEP." The actual hike and location may change depending on conditions, but each hike series will begin with an easy to moderate hike and then progress with increasingly more challenging hikes. These hikes will give you an opportunity to improve your fitness and test out your hiking gear and clothing in winter conditions. They will also be an opportunity to practice proper layering to match the weather and pace of the hike and maintain a consistent body temperature to avoid overheating or getting chilled.
For this hike and most others in the winter or in alpine environments, microspikes or other traction devices, and hiking poles, could be helpful. We will update conditions, trailhead information and equipment needs the week of the hike.
