Observation Peak
Moderate (from Road 5800)
5.6 miles round trip
1390 feet elevation gain
Open June to mid-November
Difficult (from Gov’t Mineral Springs)
15-mile loop
3200 feet elevation gain
Halfway between the Columbia River and Mt. St. Helens, the Trapper Creek Wilderness is a warren of hiking paths along woodsy creeks and ridges. Several trails climb 6 miles or more to reach the old lookout site at Observation Peak, with views from Mt. Jefferson to Mt. Rainier, but a little-known trailhead gets you there in less than 3 miles—and allows explorers to take a side trip to a higher, better viewpoint atop Sisters Rocks.
To find this back-door trailhead, drive …
Other Options
The area’s best viewpoint, at Sisters Rocks, requires …
This chapter taken from the book 100 Hikes/Travel Guide: Northwest Oregon & Southwest Washington.