2. Larch Mountain Loop

Summary

Length                               6.1 miles (plus 0.3 one-way to Sherrard Point)

Difficulty                            Moderate

Season                              Late spring to autumn

Elevation range                2,780 feet – 4,056 feet

Human imprint                 High (high visitor use at the top, hikers and mountain bikers)

Information                      Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

Primary old growth features

Lovely old growth close to Portland, including an impressive stand of very old and large Douglas-fir, western hemlock and noble fir.

Description

An extensive patch of old growth lies sheltered in the crater of Larch Mountain, a misnamed but popular destination less than 40 miles from Portland. Early lumbermen from the Lake States marketed the noble fir found near the mountaintop as larch because of the high quality of the noble fir wood, and it's been called Larch Mountain ever since even though there are no larch in the area. Although the mountain receives heavy use on weekends, most visitors drive to the top for the view and leave the trails to the more energetic.

It's worth the time to walk out to Sherrard Point first for unobstructed and wide-ranging views of Cascade peaks from Mount Rainier to Mount Jefferson. The aftermath of the Eagle Creek Fire (2017) is also plainly visible as a long strip of snags along the south canyon walls of the Columbia Gorge.

Return to the parking lot and head northwest down the Larch Mountain Trail (441) in mostly younger forest, coming to a small pocket of noteworthy old western hemlock and noble fir a mile or so down the trail. Cross over the ridge onto east-facing slopes and continue downhill across a gravel road until reaching a junction with the Multnomah Creek Way Trail (444) approximately two miles from the parking lot. Turn right (southeast) on the Multnomah Creek Way Trail (444) at the junction, and stay right on the Multnomah Creek Way Trail at the junction with the Multnomah Spur Trail (446) a quarter mile later.

Start the climb back uphill through a superlative stand of ancient Douglas-fir, western hemlock, and noble fir, including some approaching 6 feet in diameter. Most of the old growth in the basin is approximately 250-300 years old, but the next mile or so traverses a much older and grander forest originating over 500 years ago.

The trail skirts the marshy remains of a post-glacial lake and continues uphill through old forest until crossing a secondary ridge and joining an old logging road in younger forest. The Multnomah Creek Way Trail ends at a junction with the Oneonta Trail (424) on the main ridgeline. Turn right and follow the Oneonta Trail back to the Larch Mountain Road. The parking lot is another 1/3 mile back up the highway.

30 Years of change

The forest along the trail has slowly aged, but is largely unchanged. The view from the top is dramatically different, however, due to the Eagle Creek Fire (2017). A long strip of snags along the Columbia River attests to the high intensity of the fire across large areas.

How to get there

Exit off Interstate 84 (Corbett, exit 22) 13 miles east of the I-84/I-205 junction and turn right onto NE Corbett Hill Road. Turn left onto the ‘Historic Columbia River Highway’ (Oregon 30) after 1 1/3 miles, and then stay right onto the Larch Mountain Road after approximately 1 ¾ miles. This road is paved to the top where there is a large parking lot just over 14 miles later.