I started doing this hike for spring conditioning during the '70s when we first moved to the Portland area. I now prefer doing the loop trail. Always enjoy, but I don't prefer the $5 parking fee recently imposed.
Took advantage of the great March weather and decided to go for a hike. The road up to the trail head was closed but I parked across from the ranger station and walked the short distance up. It was very windy in the parking lot but once I was on the trail it was pretty calm. However, I could barely stand up against the wind when I got to the top. I have experienced gorge winds before, but this was in a class of its own. I spent very little time on the top before looping back around and down on the old road back to the trail.
Took advantage of the unsesaonably good weather and was treated with an unobscured view of Mount Adams. Was glad that I had decided against doing the hike while sitting in the car park in teeming rain 17 days earlier.
Returned with my parents in mid-April. It was cooler with a couple of quick showers and the view wasn't so great, but the increased intensity of the waterfalls made up for that.
Route Climbed: Hamilton Mountain trail Date Climbed: March 16, 2005
I did this one to kick off my spring break from classes. It was pretty windy, at times the rain was blowing sideways, and I nearly lost my footing in a few of the treeless areas. No views this time, but on the bright side I had the mountain and some refreshing beverages to myself! I saw one hiker coming down about a third of the way up. Pretty cold and wet considering the summer in march conditions we have been having.
Route Climbed: Hamilton Mtn Trail Date Climbed: Mar 12, 2005
Made the 165 mile drive to the TH for this one today. Lotsa people on this summerlike day in March. Unbelievable weather. An enjoyable hike with nice views of Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams and did I mention tons of people. If you'd like solittude on a nice weekend, this isn't the trail.
330 miles for 8 miles of trail. Yup, it was worth it.
Route Climbed: Loop Trail Date Climbed: March 5, 2005
This is a nice little jaunt. Me and a buddy hit the trail at 1:30pm and returned to the car at 5:30pm with an hour-plus at the falls, summit, and cliffy areas. It was a wonderfully sunny day with little to no wind, affording fews of Adams, Hood, and the Gorge peaks. The wild flowers are begining to come out.
Hit this one at non-peak times to avoid the masses. It was a circus on the way up to the falls, but the decent was surprisingly quiet.
Route Climbed: Standard trail Date Climbed: March 3rd, 1985
I think I may have climbed this one earlier than 1985 but the first time I logged it was 3/3/85. I've done it at least 18 times since (that I've written down) and it's always a great trip, especially challenging in snow or with an east wind blowing!
Route Climbed: Standard (with and w/o the loop) Date Climbed: 4X (I think?)
Guess I'll be the first to sign the log on this one...
We've done this great hike a total of 4 times I think in the 4 years we've been in Oregon. Always fun! The summit is a bit brushy & I think the best views can be had from a couple of spots below the summit.
Bob Bolton - Dec 7, 2005 1:21 am
Route Climbed: Trail Date Climbed: NumerousI started doing this hike for spring conditioning during the '70s when we first moved to the Portland area. I now prefer doing the loop trail. Always enjoy, but I don't prefer the $5 parking fee recently imposed.
velodurt - Sep 9, 2005 7:12 pm
Route Climbed: Hamilton Mountain Trail Date Climbed: May 2001Great hike! I especially liked the views from the false summit...which is a great climb in itself. Made the summit with BP, Lizbit, and Pick.
Natural Born Hikers
Meredith Rose - Jun 17, 2005 9:47 am
Date Climbed: March 2005Took advantage of the great March weather and decided to go for a hike. The road up to the trail head was closed but I parked across from the ranger station and walked the short distance up. It was very windy in the parking lot but once I was on the trail it was pretty calm. However, I could barely stand up against the wind when I got to the top. I have experienced gorge winds before, but this was in a class of its own. I spent very little time on the top before looping back around and down on the old road back to the trail.
charlatan - Jun 12, 2005 11:09 pm
Date Climbed: 21 February 2005Took advantage of the unsesaonably good weather and was treated with an unobscured view of Mount Adams. Was glad that I had decided against doing the hike while sitting in the car park in teeming rain 17 days earlier.
Returned with my parents in mid-April. It was cooler with a couple of quick showers and the view wasn't so great, but the increased intensity of the waterfalls made up for that.
Pawkala - May 15, 2005 2:38 pm
Date Climbed: February 2005Took advantage of the beautiful weather we had here in February. Was my first time up and down. Nice hike with great views of the Columbia.
roger3k - May 6, 2005 7:55 pm
Route Climbed: Ham Mt. Trail Date Climbed: May 6, 2005Made the loop, Hamilton up and Hardy Falls down. 3 other people, not bad for a Friday. (BTW my GPS read 2396 at the summit marker)
cmc56789 - Mar 16, 2005 11:02 pm
Route Climbed: Hamilton Mountain trail Date Climbed: March 16, 2005I did this one to kick off my spring break from classes. It was pretty windy, at times the rain was blowing sideways, and I nearly lost my footing in a few of the treeless areas. No views this time, but on the bright side I had the mountain and some refreshing beverages to myself! I saw one hiker coming down about a third of the way up. Pretty cold and wet considering the summer in march conditions we have been having.
Dean - Mar 12, 2005 11:04 pm
Route Climbed: Hamilton Mtn Trail Date Climbed: Mar 12, 2005Made the 165 mile drive to the TH for this one today. Lotsa people on this summerlike day in March. Unbelievable weather. An enjoyable hike with nice views of Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams and did I mention tons of people. If you'd like solittude on a nice weekend, this isn't the trail.
330 miles for 8 miles of trail. Yup, it was worth it.
Soup - Mar 7, 2005 10:50 am
Route Climbed: Loop Trail Date Climbed: March 5, 2005This is a nice little jaunt. Me and a buddy hit the trail at 1:30pm and returned to the car at 5:30pm with an hour-plus at the falls, summit, and cliffy areas. It was a wonderfully sunny day with little to no wind, affording fews of Adams, Hood, and the Gorge peaks. The wild flowers are begining to come out.
Hit this one at non-peak times to avoid the masses. It was a circus on the way up to the falls, but the decent was surprisingly quiet.
Brian Jenkins - Feb 23, 2005 9:55 pm
Route Climbed: Hamilton Mountain Trail Date Climbed: Multiple9/16/01 with Theresa, only went to the Falls
4/5/03 solo, snowy and cloudy up top. Up in about 1 hour 15 minutes. Called my Dad and wished him a Happy Birthday from the summit.
May 2008-Up reg route, down Hardy Creek Trail-rainy but lots of wildflowers.
4/12/09 With Luna, up reg route, down Hardy Creek and took the old shortcut trail. Rainy but fun.
2011 with Jim and Luna and a bunch of snow. Too many Mazamas training on the route.
Summer 2017 with Diane. Hiked north as far as the trail went until it petered out somewhere near Hardy Ridge.
Don Nelsen - Feb 23, 2005 8:55 pm
Route Climbed: Standard trail Date Climbed: March 3rd, 1985I think I may have climbed this one earlier than 1985 but the first time I logged it was 3/3/85. I've done it at least 18 times since (that I've written down) and it's always a great trip, especially challenging in snow or with an east wind blowing!
rpc - Feb 23, 2005 7:48 pm
Route Climbed: Standard (with and w/o the loop) Date Climbed: 4X (I think?)Guess I'll be the first to sign the log on this one...
We've done this great hike a total of 4 times I think in the 4 years we've been in Oregon. Always fun! The summit is a bit brushy & I think the best views can be had from a couple of spots below the summit.