Day & Section Hikes Pacific Crest Trail: Washington. Adrienne Schaefer

      1 Gillette Lake

      SCENERY:

      TRAIL CONDITION:

      CHILDREN:

      DIFFICULTY:

      SOLITUDE:

      DISTANCE: 5 miles

      HIKING TIME: 2–3 hours

      GREEN TRAILS MAP: Bonneville Dam 429

      OUTSTANDING FEATURES: Access point to Table Mountain, a good early-season hike close to Portland and Vancouver. Hood River, Oregon, just 20 minutes away, offers great grub at its many cafés, wineries, and brewpubs.

      ALTHOUGH NOT THE MOST AESTHETIC hike that runs along the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in Washington, this is one of the first to melt out in the spring, and its proximity to Portland and Vancouver makes it an easy half-day getaway. This trail is also the access point for Table Mountain, one of the more prominent features on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge.

       This hike can begin a couple of ways. Those interested in hiking on the PCT the entire time can begin from a small parking pulloff just south of the Bridge of the Gods on WA 14 (look for the large PACIFIC CREST TRAIL sign). This option adds 1.4 miles to the overall hike and begins on an old, somewhat overgrown power line road that parallels the highway. In a little less than a mile, the trail works its way up a couple of switchbacks before joining Tamanous Trail, your second option for beginning this hike.

      Tamanous Trail is the standard approach for Gillette Lake and begins from the well-established Bonneville Trailhead, as shown on the map. The hike leaves from the far end of the lot, making a leisurely ascent on a well-trodden trail. In less than 0.25 mile, you get a nice view of the Columbia River. A short distance on, the trail turns north and gains a small ridge, where an abandoned clear-cut offers open views to the northwest.

      A half mile from the trailhead, the path intersects the PCT. From this junction, head north. Approximately 0.1 mile on, you should see a small pond tucked in a stand of trees when you look downslope. These ponds, scattered throughout the area, are easy to miss if you aren’t paying attention.

      The next mile is a mixture of clear-cuts and forests—a good reminder of what the majority of this area would look like if numerous conservation groups had not worked hard to preserve much of the land around the Columbia Gorge. As you meander along, you might also notice that there’s a mix of public and private land through this section. The property owners have allowed access, so please be respectful and stay on the main trail.

      In 1.3 miles, the trail enters a thick forest that offers welcome shade on a hot summer day. As you stroll along, take note of the fern-covered knolls and large mossy boulders, remnants of a massive landslide that tore down the southern slopes of Table Mountain between 250 and 900 years ago. The slide traveled more than 5.5 miles on its journey to the Columbia River, where it created a 200-foot-high earthen dam. Native Americans referred to the site as “Bridge of the Gods.”

      In less than 1 mile, the trail climbs slightly before popping you out on a utility road that serves three sets of Bonneville Dam power lines. Try to ignore the loud buzzing noise because the view from here isn’t too shabby. Table Mountain’s scarred south face looms in the distance, helping you appreciate how big the Bonneville Landslide actually was.

      Pick up the trail to Gillette Lake on the far side of the service road, where you can glimpse the lake’s blue-green waters. Continue downhill; just before you reach the lake’s seasonal inlet, a spur trail branches off to the left, to a nice shoreline lunch spot. If the lake is busy, you’ll find a couple more good break spots as you head upstream along the inlet.

      Although the lake is modest in size, it’s a tranquil place to spend an afternoon fishing (the lake is stocked with golden trout), swimming, reading, or just relaxing. Once you’re rejuvenated, simply retrace your steps to the trailhead.

      For those of you looking for something slightly more ambitious, you can continue up the PCT to West Table Mountain Trail. Be prepared for a long, strenuous day. Table Mountain Trail is 15.8 miles round-trip and gains 3,350 feet, mostly in the last few miles.

      If you find yourself with a couple hours to kill but don’t quite have the energy to climb Table Mountain, consider taking a self-guided or ranger-led tour of Bonneville Dam, built in 1938 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and still managed by them. There are visitor centers on the Washington and Oregon sides of the dam. For more information, call 541-374-8820.

      PERMIT INFORMATION Northwest Forest Pass ($30/year) required; see tinyurl.com/northwestforestpass for more information.

      DIRECTIONS

      FROM PORTLAND: From I-84 just east of I-205, head east 40 miles to Cascade Locks. Take Exit 44 and keep right at the exit to reach the toll booth for Bridge of the Gods. Pay the toll and cross the