3.5 hr
Overview
NOTICE: The 400 Trail from the John B Yeon Trailhead is closed until further notice due to a large landslide at Elowah Falls. The Gorge Trail #400 between the John B. Yeon State Scenic Corridor and Tanner Creek runs close to the freeway, and the highway noise is only drowned out when you are tucked up McCord Creek viewing Elowah Falls. However, those looking for a low elevation winter hike may want to take this one in their stride. The completion of a section of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail between the John B Yeon Trailhead and Moffett Creek in 2013 has allowed a loop of sorts although the paved trail is even more closely married to the freeway than the 400. This section is best done by bicycle, which you can leave locked near the Tanner Creek Bridge or Wahclella Falls Trailhead for the ride back. The wide trail heads up from the parking area to switchback at a wooden water tank which seems to be permanently dispensing its contents. The 2017 Eagle Creek Fire burned down to the freeway here, and you’ll notice fire-scarred alders and maples right away. There’s a somewhat tangled understory of thimbleberry and trailing blackberry. Pass the junction with the Nesmith Point Trail, which has been closed since the 2017 fire. Once you enter the Douglas-fir forest, you’ll see that most of the conifers on this section survived the fire even though the flames blackened the lower reaches of their trunks. Through the trees, there are views to Pierce Island, Beacon Rock, and Hamilton Mountain. After rising steadily up a slope, you’ll come to the Gorge-Upper McCord Creek Falls Trail Junction. Keep left at this junction unless you want to make the side trip to Upper McCord Creek Falls (see the Upper McCord Creek Falls Hike). The trail drops along a scree slope under the Douglas-fir canopy. Past a small basalt pinnacle, the trail turns to offer a glimpse of Elowah Falls. Sword fern, Oregon grape, and saxifrage line the trail. Switchback down twice, getting a view of the McCord Creek Bridge. On your left,
Trail Stats
11.4 km
250 m
102 m
0 m
—
Photos
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
500px-McCordTannerCreeksMap
500px-McCordTannerCreeksMap
250px-McCord_Creek_Bridge%2C_Historic_Columbia_River_Highway_Trail
250px-McCord_Creek_Bridge%2C_Historic_Columbia_River_Highway_Trail
250px-Hamilton_Mountain_from_the_Moffett_Creek_Bridge%2C_Historic_Columbia_River_Highway_Trail
250px-Hamilton_Mountain_from_the_Moffett_Creek_Bridge%2C_Historic_Columbia_River_Highway_Trail
250px-Big_scree_slope%2C_Gorge_400_Trail
250px-Big_scree_slope%2C_Gorge_400_Trail
250px-Beacon_Rock_from_the_Gorge_400_Trail
250px-Beacon_Rock_from_the_Gorge_400_Trail
260px-Elowah_Falls
260px-Elowah_Falls
TKO put tools to trail here.png
TKO put tools to trail here.png