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| AllTrails map |
Getting There
Take WA Hwy 14 out from Washougal. Take a left (north) at Smith-Cripe Road, about half way between Prindle and Franz Lake. The trailhead parking lot is about 0.5mi up the road. There's room for 10-15 cars if everyone parks responsibly (i.e. perpendicular or angled).This time there were 4 cars when I got there so I parked parallel. I geared up and set out.
The Hike
Length: 5.88 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,490 feet
Type: Dual out-and-back treks
My intention was to hike to the lookout by Archer Creek and then hit Arrow Point on the way back.
When I got to the meadow, I could see the lookouts above. It's still amazing to be able to climb up there.
The first section down to the creek crossing is getting better with overgrowth. Many people have whacked the bushes out of the way. Lots of black berry but also ferns and broad-leafed maple. I saw some poison oak but tried to steer clear.
I really enjoy the switchbacks, they're difficult but you gain a lot of elevation quickly and views. I encountered a couple and their two dogs when the trail sort of levels off a bit. One doggo was protective. LOL. Maybe it was my big hat.
I stopped at Scott Point for a bit. It was windy on the outcrop so I went back into the trees to cool off. My stomach started to bother me. I thought "no, I don't want to have to take #2 out here" I had baby wipes but ugh.. The feeling went away. Thank goodness.
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| Scott Point |
I continued up to Archer Mountain. I had plenty of phone battery so keep looking at the map. When I got to the turn for the Archer Creek lookout, it was totally overgrown. Someone had put a lot across the opening. I pushed through a few feet to see if it cleared up. Nope. I wasn't up for bush whacking for a mile or more.
I changed my goal to Arrow Point. I needed the map to find the turn for the point. You could see light from the Gorge through the trees as I got closer to the edge.
Holy cow. The trail to Arrow Point is literally on a knife's edge of rock. I reached a point where it was too sketchy to continue but looks like someone had made a trail to go right to the tip of the rocky point. Nope.
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| Arrow Point |
I took in the view for a few minutes then continued on my journey. I had hopes that the cutoff to the Creek was only blocked on the lower section. I saw on the map that there is another leg from Archer Mountain.
The hike up to Archer Mountain was crazy steep. You really have to look at the elevation changes on the map. I looks like a nice little jaunt out the the view spot.. LOL.
My trail coming up were so overgrown. Unless you're using GPS and/or map, you'd never see it. The place needs a bunch of work with a machete. I could see the Archer Creek trail on the map but not on the ground. Oh well.
I started back down the the TH.
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I got to the Y in the meadow. I wasn't sure I was up for this 2nd section. I decided to go as far as I could and loosely to start back at a certain time.
I took a wrong turn which bypasses the easier switchbacks. holy cow. I figured if I were to turn back, I wasn't going to take the other route, I'd go back to the car so I kept going. I pulled out my phone to see where I was. I was close to rejoining the trail.
When I got there I was pretty gassed. I put a tree branch across the trail so I didn't take it on the way down. I could see daylight and the start of the scramble. "Alright, I got this." I took a couple of swigs of water and forged on.
When I reached the top, I knew I was within striking distance. I knew I had plenty of sunlight for the descent. It was high in the sky but I had to check the height of the neighboring mountain.
I got to the tree where you start going up. I packed my hiking poles. I recalled the last time I was there.
At the top I was hot and tired. The shade where I'd gone before looked appealing. My first priority was to get into the shade and take off my pack. My shirt was dripping with sweat.
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| Secret spot :) |
It's amazing how much I perspire. The rag I had tucked in my waistband was saturated as was the shirt. At least my pants weren't as wet as they were during and after the Phlox climb. I put on my dry shirt after walking around shirtless for a bit. The breeze felt good.
[ I have had a couple of times where I slipped pretty good. My confidence is also making me a little complacent. However, things would have been worse if I'd been hiking without poles. Because I had more that two points (my feet) on the ground I avoided a harder fall. ]
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| Sunny spot in the trees on my descent |
I'm not sure if micro-spikes would really help me. It's loose gravel/rocks that I'm slipping on. It's really about the angle of force. It should be directly down or a little prone (forward) and not at a backward angle.
I had put a stick across another wrong turn. I found it and soon I was emerging into the meadow by the TH.
I was last car in the parking lot. I felt good to put on my sandals.
