Indian Point is a basaltic spire jutting out from the main cliffs of the Nick Eaton Ridge. The Point is just east of the Oregon town of Cascade Locks. To get here, you have to hike, gaining almost 3,000 feet in just under four miles. Your rewarded with one of the best views of the Columbia River from on high on the Oregon side. A local newspaper outdoor writer rated it as the Seventh best viewpoint to hike to in the State. The view of the eastern end of the Gorge is magnificent and well worth the efforts taken to reach the point. It ranks in among the best views of the Gorge with Dog Mountain, Wind Mountain, Hamilton Mountain and Table mountain all being on the Washington side.

ACCESS

The starting point for a hike up to Indian Point is the Herman Creek trailhead. Find the trailhead along the Old US 30 highway just a couple miles east of Cascades Locks. Coming from the west – Portland – you use Exit 44 and drive through the town. Turn left onto Forest Lane just east of the town hall or continue straight going under the freeway and head towards Oxbow Fish Hatchery with a sign also for Herman Creek. About a mile east of Cascade Locks is the Herman Creek Campground and trailhead both found up a short road.

The campground was geared to equestrian as opposed to foot traffic. At present, the campground and trailhead are closed while the Forest Service repairs the campground due to many trees suffering from root rot making them unstable and unpredictable. By closing the trailhead, cars have to park along Old US 30. On weekends, the line of cars stretches for some distance. The good thing about parking on the road is the USFS charge of $5 per day – also good with a $30 annual Forest Pass – is waived. The bad thing is you have an extra half mile of pavement to walk.

Plus, you have to climb over the gate – more of a problem when you are tired at the end of a hike. The trailhead parking is scheduled to reopen sometime in May 2022.

BEGINNINGS

There is a pit toilet next to the trailhead, the trail is the Herman Creek trail #406. You start out with several easy switchbacks up through the forest crossing onto a road underneath powerline for a short distance. The trail, actually a former road, heads up on the south side of a forested ridge. A trail branches off as you head around the south side descending to Herman Creek below. That path leads south over to the Pacific Crest Trail on the other side of the creek.

Your road keeps going up through the woods to an flat area, formerly a camping area. Here, there is a trail junction. The Herman Creek trail heads to the right and the Gorton Creek trail #408 branchs to the left. Going left, the trail wastes little time before the climb continues.

FIRE DAMAGE

The climb heads up through a forest impacted by the 2017 Eagle Creek fire. Many trees burnt, many survived despite fire damage to bark on the bottom of the trunks. You walk in and out of sections not affected, as well.

Higher and higher, the trail gradually ascends. Passing through a basin of second growth over a couple of normally dry creeks, you switchback up through ghost forest with views through the dead trees getting better as you climb.

THE POINT

Just before the trail junction with trail #437 Ridge Cutoff, is a boot path. The path leads off a few yards to the left. Here you can get a view of the basaltic pinnacle of Indian Point.

About 30-40 yards past the trail junction is an unsigned boot path to the left. Many people miss the path, though it is pretty obvious. Possibly, it is because the path descends so steeply down a couple hundred feet. Step carefully and you come out onto a narrow ridge leading to Indian Point. There is a wide spot under wind shortened trees. Here you can rest and eat some lunch just before the cockscomb leading over to the point itself.

Flat area for lunch and tying up mountain corgis before venturing further out on Indian Point. For full 360 effect click and hold with mouse.

protestations

Ollie, the mountain corgi, was with me on this hike. He is a bit impetuous and stubborn. This means even though he can attain amazing heights especially considering four inch legs, he is not entirely trustworthy in such terrain. So, I tied him up to a tree root before pushing further.

The wind blows hard here – 25-35 miles per hour this day. The wind and a mountain corgi protesting loudly about not accompanying me further, made me forget the reasonably easy scramble to the top of the point beyond. If you do climb the Point, tread carefully. That is three thousand feet below you.

360 view from the narrow ridge leading out to Indian Point. Mountain corgi is protesting being left behind. For full 360 effect click and hold with mouse.

A quick venture onto the cockscomb and then a quick retreat to silence the protests.

RETREAT

We then downhiked the same way we climbed up. You can go further reaching Deadwood Camp – water available – by traversing on the Gorton Creek trail for another 0.8 miles. It is possible to make loops with either the Ridge Cutoff or back on the Deadwood trail #422 to the Nick Eaton Ridge trail #447. The Nick Eaton trail takes you back down – there is a good viewpoint over Herman Creek canyon and Bonneville Dam – to the Herman Creek trail just past where you ventured up the Gorton Creek trail from. Or, better, if you are doing the loop, go counter clockwise heading up the Nick Eaton and coming back on the Gorton Creek. The Nick Eaton trail ascends over 2,000 feet in two miles so easier on the knees going up than down.

As usual with a Gorge hike, the last stop is Thunder Island Brewery. The obligatory replenishing IPA after an eventful outing.