Mitchell Point Hike

Overview

NOTICE: As per Oregon State Parks: "The I-84 Exit 58 offramp that leads to Mitchell Point Overlook and Mitchell Point Trailhead will be closed until 2023 while ODOT rebuilds the historic Mitchell Point Tunnel." There are other "backwoods" ways to get to Mitchell Point, but the usual approach as described here is closed. The short hike on state park land to Mitchell Point, known to Native Americans as Great Storm King, covers a lot of scenery in just 2.6 miles. The trail is often steep and rugged, so you'll feel like you made a longer trek, especially when you consider that you will gain nearly 1,300 feet in that short distance! However, the rewards make the trip well worth the effort—lots of views, wildflowers, and interesting terrain throughout the hike. Note that the 0.3 mile side trip to Mitchell Spur is included in the mileage and elevation totals for this hike. Like most eastern Gorge trails, this route has several patches of poison oak that you'll need to watch for, and you should check for ticks when you get home. Long pants are recommended for this trip. The very top of Mitchell Point's summit ridge is exposed and can be very windy - not the place for small children or dogs. The trail can get crowded in spring, so for a quieter route back to the trailhead you can make a loop using the powerline corridor. The trip begins at the Mitchell Point Trailhead, located at Exit 58 on Interstate-84 eastbound. Walk out to the overlook, reconstructed in 2012, on the north side of the parking area. You'll get a view across the Columbia to Chemawa Hill, Drano Lake, the Highway 14 tunnels, and the remains of the Broughton Flume. To your right, a cliffside fence extends along the former route of the old highway where a viaduct took it into the "Tunnel of Many Vistas," constructed in 1915 by engineer John A. Elliott through Mitchell Spur with five arched windows offering vistas across the river. The construction of the freeway in 1955 at a much lower level made the tunnel obsolete, and as its condition deteriorated, i

Trail Stats

Photos

MitchellPointMap.jpg

MitchellPointMap.jpg

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TKO put tools to trail here.png

TKO put tools to trail here.png

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