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| AllTrails map |
Getting There
Trailhead is off WA Hwy 14, across from the east side of the dam.
There are only about 5-6 spots for cars and a bunch of pull-through/XL spots for horse trailers.
The Hike
Avg Pace: 19:45
This was my first time on this trail so I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew from the trail map that there is much elevation change for the first few miles. The PCT junction is at 0.7 miles. The trail is in rough shape and there were a lot of mud puddles that a crew of two were clearing in a few spots. When you get into the forest, it gets better, less mud and more pine needs and firm ground.
It's pretty rocky when you get out of the forest. You come across a massive road to the quarry and one of small lakes with turquoise colored water, Gillette Lake. Surprisingly it's "a natural body of water filling a depression in the the landslide"(1). I honestly thought it was similar to Gold Creek which was a gravel pit from the construction of I-90 in Washington (Snoqualmie).
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| Gillette Lake, WA |
From the aerial photos of the building of the dam shows the area was huge construction site on the both sides of the Columbia River (WA, OR).
Once you get through that area, you cross a couple more roads but the rest of hike is similar to Cape Horn and Hamilton.
I took Two Chiefs Trail at the junction of the PCT and trail to Table Mountain. (Note: I didn't see any signage about "private" trails so presumably it's permitted to enter.) I wanted some elevation gain so I hiked up to a gooseneck in the trail but unfortunately, it's thick in the trees so no views. It would be a nice long loop back to Gillette, though you'd be hiking through the quarry, destruction of nature. Table Mountain, Aldrich Butte, and Sacagawea and Papoose Rocks are just another 3-4 miles (extra 6-8 miles r/t) but that makes a long hike from the Bonneville Trailhead.
Definitely would need to get a much earlier start. Distance and elevation gain is huge.. about 4,500 ft and about 15 miles. It's potentially hikeable through winter but who knows -- it's >1000 ft higher than Hamilton.
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(1) https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Gillette_Lake_Hike
