Hiked in later in the day and passed others on their return trips. Got to the top just in time to set up camp, cook dinner, and enjoy watching the sun set behind Mt. Hood. Woke up the next morning, hiked down to Badger Lake, and back out.
Jerry L - Sep 6, 2012 2:14 pm Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2012
did it
Standing on the summit as I sign this. Awesome views.
C-Dizzle - Aug 4, 2008 11:55 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2008
Great for kids
It's not easy to find a great location for kids backpacking trips. This "summit", accessed via the High Prairie Trail, is the perfect collision of ease and lots to keep kids happy once they get there. Camping out on the summit is a nice treat, and it instilled a new appreciation for the wilderness in my "Generation Spongebob" kids (ages 6, 6 and 8). Go during the Perseids if you can. Great spot for watching them.
bmwboarder7 - Aug 31, 2007 12:43 am Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2007
Birds
Good views of Hood. I guess Iaccidentally took one of the easier routes. I'll probably be back for more though. We saw lots of different birds on this hike too.
Mgross - Aug 22, 2007 10:50 pm Date Climbed: Aug 22, 2007
High Prairie Horse Trail
Great little hike for the kids. Lots of flowers and great views all around. Unusually rewarding for how easy the hike is.
A fun winter snowshoe with huge views at the top. The gentle summit doesn't feel like the tallest mountain in Hoodland. Is that a snowmobile I hear in the distance?
wrassleman07 - Aug 16, 2007 1:41 pm Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2007
hike
although we think we might have taken the wrong trailhead to get up there, it wasnt the lengthy hike we were hoping for, just over a mile and half, but again, we think we took the wrong trailhead. the view is spectacular, and as goin with a group intersted in bird watching, there was many variety of birds to see too. Just one of those places you can sit at for hours
BSPclimber - Aug 13, 2007 1:22 am Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2007
High Prarie trail #493
Nice short hike, great views and a good ridgewalk option. Was smokey due to nearby fires, so the views wern't as good as they could have been. I recommend it.
awilsondc - Apr 18, 2006 2:46 am Date Climbed: Jul 17, 2005
Route Climbed: Divide Trail via Fret Creek Trailhead Date Climbed: 7-17-05
Fairly easy hike (I think 3/5 mi. & 2000 ele.) from this trailhead off Forest Road 4420. Great views of the Cascade Volcanos from the top and a .3 mi side trip to Palisade Point on the way back offered some extra scenery. Good times.
Route Climbed: High Prairie Trail 493 Date Climbed: September 24, 2005
It was an excellent escape from my first month of labor at Reed College. The incredibly beautiful scenery, clear skies, and cool breeze washed away all my stresses about school.
Route Climbed: the easiest one Date Climbed: September 21, 2004
I joined up with the elusive CMC56789 and tackled this beast with bluebird skies. We made our way through the thick woods via a road that we could have drove up. When we reached the summit, I was rewarded with views from the Sisters all the way up to Rainier. It was pretty sweet. We took in the beautiful views along with a few celebratory beverages and then headed back to the Couv.
cmc56789 - May 20, 2004 3:37 am Date Climbed: Feb 1, 2009
Route Climbed: both Date Climbed: January, 2003 ; May 19, 2004; September, 2004
January, 2003 - My first snowshoe hike ever! Started from Highway 35 and hit snow at Gumjuwac Saddle. snowshoed the rest of the way via road 3550, and saw a nice sunset.
May, 2004 - hiked to the trailhead from snowline on road 4410, which added another 2.4 miles each way. I had the whole mountain to myself. great views of Hood, Adams, and Jefferson. I could also see the sisters and broken top. very cloudy to the northwest.
September 21, 2004 - Took the High Prairie trail to show, my cousin Jason Moore a nice easy view of the Cascades. We could see from Broken Top to Rainier. A few patches of fresh snow along the trail.
February 1, 2009 - carried snowshoes up from Highway 35, but not needed due to hard snow. Nice sunset! Hood was obscured by the clouds.
Route Climbed: From Hwy. 35 up via Gumjuwack Saddle Date Climbed: January 19, 2003
It's hard to imagine more ideal weather conditions. Windless and sunny; views stretching from Rainier (possibly Glacier - not sure?) to the Three Sisters. Did the hike with my wife & two of our friends. Upper part (above the saddle) done on snowshoes.
PS The route up I mention above can be found in Oregon Snowshoe Trails book by Shea Anderson (?).
Route Climbed: High Prairie Trail 493 Date Climbed: November 26, 2002
Easy hike. Had to be... It was my first. Some snow on the trail, but nothing that would slow you down. I brought the whole family, including my 1 1/2 yr-old. Beautiful clear skies gave way to great views of the cascades all the way to St. Helens and Rainier.
Route Climbed: High Prairie Trail 493 Date Climbed: 10/27/01
Easy hike to the top. Have hiked this one before from the Badger Creek Trail earlier in the year and there are some awesome rock pinnacles and cliffs. Hiked further down the summit this time to Oval Lake and climbed around the pinnacles on and near Palisade Point. Beautiful area. Ran into a snowstorm on the return hike. Winter is here!
Dundeel - Jul 31, 2021 8:03 am Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2021
Wedding CrasherFound a wedding going down at the summit. There was also a family camped on top for meteor viewing. Nice easy loop hike with great views.
climber46 - Oct 24, 2016 8:13 am Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2007
Great viewHiked this peak in August 2007 with a friend to enjoy the volcano views. Nice easy hike after summiting Mt. Adams the previous day.
pj_hammer - Jul 27, 2015 3:02 pm Date Climbed: Sep 14, 2013
Unbeatable sunset viewsHiked in later in the day and passed others on their return trips. Got to the top just in time to set up camp, cook dinner, and enjoy watching the sun set behind Mt. Hood. Woke up the next morning, hiked down to Badger Lake, and back out.
Jerry L - Sep 6, 2012 2:14 pm Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2012
did itStanding on the summit as I sign this. Awesome views.
C-Dizzle - Aug 4, 2008 11:55 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2008
Great for kidsIt's not easy to find a great location for kids backpacking trips. This "summit", accessed via the High Prairie Trail, is the perfect collision of ease and lots to keep kids happy once they get there. Camping out on the summit is a nice treat, and it instilled a new appreciation for the wilderness in my "Generation Spongebob" kids (ages 6, 6 and 8). Go during the Perseids if you can. Great spot for watching them.
bmwboarder7 - Aug 31, 2007 12:43 am Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2007
BirdsGood views of Hood. I guess Iaccidentally took one of the easier routes. I'll probably be back for more though. We saw lots of different birds on this hike too.
Mgross - Aug 22, 2007 10:50 pm Date Climbed: Aug 22, 2007
High Prairie Horse TrailGreat little hike for the kids. Lots of flowers and great views all around. Unusually rewarding for how easy the hike is.
Rockawilliam - Aug 22, 2007 3:31 am
Hwy. 35 to Gumjuwack SaddleA fun winter snowshoe with huge views at the top. The gentle summit doesn't feel like the tallest mountain in Hoodland. Is that a snowmobile I hear in the distance?
wrassleman07 - Aug 16, 2007 1:41 pm Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2007
hikealthough we think we might have taken the wrong trailhead to get up there, it wasnt the lengthy hike we were hoping for, just over a mile and half, but again, we think we took the wrong trailhead. the view is spectacular, and as goin with a group intersted in bird watching, there was many variety of birds to see too. Just one of those places you can sit at for hours
BSPclimber - Aug 13, 2007 1:22 am Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2007
High Prarie trail #493Nice short hike, great views and a good ridgewalk option. Was smokey due to nearby fires, so the views wern't as good as they could have been. I recommend it.
awilsondc - Apr 18, 2006 2:46 am Date Climbed: Jul 17, 2005
Route Climbed: Divide Trail via Fret Creek Trailhead Date Climbed: 7-17-05Fairly easy hike (I think 3/5 mi. & 2000 ele.) from this trailhead off Forest Road 4420. Great views of the Cascade Volcanos from the top and a .3 mi side trip to Palisade Point on the way back offered some extra scenery. Good times.
thetathrees - Apr 17, 2006 8:55 pm
Easy hikeBeuatiful views, windy at the top.
Garon Coriz - Sep 24, 2005 8:30 pm
Route Climbed: High Prairie Trail 493 Date Climbed: September 24, 2005It was an excellent escape from my first month of labor at Reed College. The incredibly beautiful scenery, clear skies, and cool breeze washed away all my stresses about school.
Jason Moore - Sep 24, 2004 12:15 am
Route Climbed: the easiest one Date Climbed: September 21, 2004I joined up with the elusive CMC56789 and tackled this beast with bluebird skies. We made our way through the thick woods via a road that we could have drove up. When we reached the summit, I was rewarded with views from the Sisters all the way up to Rainier. It was pretty sweet. We took in the beautiful views along with a few celebratory beverages and then headed back to the Couv.
cmc56789 - May 20, 2004 3:37 am Date Climbed: Feb 1, 2009
Route Climbed: both Date Climbed: January, 2003 ; May 19, 2004; September, 2004January, 2003 - My first snowshoe hike ever! Started from Highway 35 and hit snow at Gumjuwac Saddle. snowshoed the rest of the way via road 3550, and saw a nice sunset.
May, 2004 - hiked to the trailhead from snowline on road 4410, which added another 2.4 miles each way. I had the whole mountain to myself. great views of Hood, Adams, and Jefferson. I could also see the sisters and broken top. very cloudy to the northwest.
September 21, 2004 - Took the High Prairie trail to show, my cousin Jason Moore a nice easy view of the Cascades. We could see from Broken Top to Rainier. A few patches of fresh snow along the trail.
February 1, 2009 - carried snowshoes up from Highway 35, but not needed due to hard snow. Nice sunset! Hood was obscured by the clouds.
rpc - Jan 20, 2003 9:23 am
Route Climbed: From Hwy. 35 up via Gumjuwack Saddle Date Climbed: January 19, 2003It's hard to imagine more ideal weather conditions. Windless and sunny; views stretching from Rainier (possibly Glacier - not sure?) to the Three Sisters. Did the hike with my wife & two of our friends. Upper part (above the saddle) done on snowshoes.
PS The route up I mention above can be found in Oregon Snowshoe Trails book by Shea Anderson (?).
Rob Salas - Dec 2, 2002 12:08 pm
Route Climbed: High Prairie Trail 493 Date Climbed: November 26, 2002Easy hike. Had to be... It was my first. Some snow on the trail, but nothing that would slow you down. I brought the whole family, including my 1 1/2 yr-old. Beautiful clear skies gave way to great views of the cascades all the way to St. Helens and Rainier.
Brian Jenkins - Oct 27, 2001 8:08 pm
Route Climbed: High Prairie Trail 493 Date Climbed: 10/27/01Easy hike to the top. Have hiked this one before from the Badger Creek Trail earlier in the year and there are some awesome rock pinnacles and cliffs. Hiked further down the summit this time to Oval Lake and climbed around the pinnacles on and near Palisade Point. Beautiful area. Ran into a snowstorm on the return hike. Winter is here!