| About Mount Hood National Forest |
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| Surveyor's Ridge Trail |
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Difficulty:
Moderate
High Point:
4,280 Feet
Length:
11.7 Miles
Low Point:
2,650 Feet
Trail Number:
688
Reservation:
No
Season:
June - October
From Hood River, North End: Follow Hwy. 35 south for 14 miles to Pinemont Drive (Forest Service Rd. 17), about 1/2 mile south of Hanel's Lumber Mill. Turn left on Pinemont and continue five miles to Rd. 630 (spur road immediately south of the power lines). Turn right onto 630 and follow to parking area. South End: Follow Hwy. 35 south for 26 miles to Forest Service Rd. 44. Turn left and follow 44 for 3 1/2 miles to Rd. 620. The trail crosses Rd. 620 a few yards from the junction with 44. Parking is limited.
Location Information
Surveyor's Ridge Trail rolls along a ridge top, resulting in a mixture of steep up and downhill areas as well as flat sections. The landscape varies from open grassy slopes and meadows, to rocky outcroppings, to abandoned logging roads. The trail can be joined from access points along road 17 for shorter hiking and biking trips. A strenuous 35 mile loop bike ride can be made in either direction by using the trail, road 17, Highway 35 and road 44. Gibson prairie campground, a 4-site campground designed especially for those traveling with horses, can be reached by this trail of road 17. In addition to magnificent views of Mt. Hood and the Hood River Valley, points of interest include: A climb to the top of Rim Rock (a former lookout tower site), a passage through Cook's Meadow, and a look at an aqueduct that once contributed water to the Dalles watershed. In the spring and summer, the section of the trail between Forest Service Road 640 (continuing past the trailhead) up to Bald Butte offers outstanding wildflowers. With enough time and energy, the climb to Bald Butte is worth it due to its unsurpassable views.
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