| About Gifford Pinchot National Forest |
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| Bluff Mountain Trail |
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Usage:
Light
High Point:
3,200 Feet
Length:
6.0 Miles
Low Point:
3,100 Feet
Trail Number:
172
Difficulty:
Difficult
Reservation:
No
Season:
July - October
From Yacolt, Travel southeast on NE Railroad Avenue for 2.4 miles to NE Sunset Falls Road. Follow NE Sunset Falls Road to the forest boundary. At the boundary, follow Forest Route 41 southeast past Forest Routes 4104 and 4109. There is parking for the trail on 41 that is two miles from the trail. Visitors with four-wheel drive vehicles can access the trailhead by continuing on Forest Route 502.
Location Information
On the Bluff Mountain Trail, hikers can choose between two routes east toward Silver Star Mountain along the ridge. The eastbound trail follows the ridge and intersects Starway Trail #175 after about the 0.5 mile. Proceeding along the ridge, the trail offers excellent views of the Portland/Vancouver metro area. After two miles, the trail drops down and runs south of Little Baldy Mountain. Continuing downhill, the trail turns north after approaching Bluff Mountain, then climbs steeply and follows an old road bed to Forest Route 41. Special Features: This trail winds through a forest that grew back after the Yacolt Burn of 1902 which consumed 238,900 acres. Because the area had been burned a number of times, there were large areas where trees would not grow back. In the 1960s, many areas along the trail were terraced and replanted in a huge reforestation effort. As you hike, you will see pockets of noble fir interspersed with open areas that offer some amazing wildflower displays.
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