Gumjuwac Saddle & Bennett Pass Road

Approach

The trail head (TH) is located 28 miles south of Hood River, OR on Oregon Hwy. 35 few hundred yards south (and across the highway) of Robinhood Campground. Shea Andersen's "Snowshoe Routes Oregon" book recommends "parking right on the shores of the East Fork of the Hood River" (runs parallel to hwy. 35 in this area) and walking across a wooden trestle bridge to find the TH. Another alternative is to go south a few hundred yards past the TH and park on the right hand side of the highway immediately after the bridge. This looks like a turn around point for plows and is not an official snow park (no pass required).

Route Description

Hike up the switchbacks through a dense forest gaining 1600' in 2.5 miles (from 3600' to 5200') to Gumjuwac Saddle. The trail levels off (and runs straight) for the last 0.75 miles of this distance ending at a forest road (Bennett Pass Rd.). There you'll find a billboard with a brief history behind the name "Gumjuwac" and a distance marker pointing left to Lookout Mtn. (another 2.25 miles distant and 1200' above your current elevation). Hike the road for about 0.75 miles or until you come to an open meadow with a great view of Mt. Hood. At this point you can hike x-country directly up the "hill" ahead of you (this is the choice route when snow covered) to reach the ridge top on Lookout Mtn. OR follow the road a bit further till you catch the High Prairie Trail (take it right) which will take you to the summit.

Essential Gear

This is a trail hike in summer and a snowshoe in winter. Presence of highly consolidated snow and the possibility of ice could warrant bringing along crampons/ice ax.

Miscellaneous Info

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