Looking north to Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier, and Mount Adams near McNeil Point Summit on a bluebird day.
McNEIL POINT |
ELEVATION: 6930 ft at McNeil Point Summit; 6100 ft at McNeil Point shelter; with vertical gains of about 3000 ft, and 2100 ft
DISTANCE: 5 mi up the standard route, 10 mi round-trip; 12 mi round-trip including the summit and Bald Mountain scenic loop spur (subtract almost 3 mi round-trip from all routes using super-steep shortcut under McNeil Point both ways)
DURATION: 2½–3 hours to McNeil Point, 4–5 hours round-trip; another ½ hour one way up to the summit boulder
DIFFICULTY: Mix of strenuous (long, decent grade, possible steep snow fields) and very challenging for the summit and/or the shortcut (very steep to extremely steep, slick, dusty, exposure on summit boulder)
TRIP REPORT: One of the finest summer gems and not much of a secret is this fantastic hike with waterfall sightings, babbling brooks to cross easily, wildflowers, inspiring views, beautiful ridges, and a very doable grade for most day hikers on the NW slopes of Mount Hood. The hardest part will be waiting until late July or August when the snow finally melts enough in the high country and you won’t have to cross dangerously steep or icy snow fields near the point. Listed below are the briefest routes from the TH and the best options to and above McNeil Point. Northwest Forest Pass required, and a portable outhouse is present during summer months.
Looking north to Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier, and Mount Adams near McNeil Point Summit on a bluebird day.
TRAILHEAD: Top Spur TH. Take US-26 E from Portland 16¼ mi E of Sandy, turn left (NE) across from the Zigzag Inn and Zigzag Ranger Station on E Lolo Pass Road 4 mi (FR-18), fork right on Muddy Fork Road (FR-1825) ¾ mi, stay straight (as opposed to crossing the bridge) 2 mi on FR-1828 (Top Spur Trail 785 sign), fork right 3½ mi on the main road (all previously paved), fork right 1½ mi on FR-118 over rough gravel and a few potholes to the signed TH on the right with parking on the left (55 mi, less than 1½ hours from Portland).
ROUTE: Begin across the road N on Top Spur Trail 785, then quickly SE for ½ mi to the end. Turn right (SE) on PCT 2000 for 100 ft to a major intersection, information board, and mandatory free self-issue Wilderness Permit station. Continue left (SE) on Timberline Trail 600 for ½ mi through the woods more directly to a faint juncture with the Bald Mountain loop near a saddle, or you could walk right (SW then SE) to stay on the PCT for 1 mi with incredible views traversing down and up a bit around Bald Mountain. If you stay on the PCT, look for a spur path (and cairn) left at a small saddle E of Bald Mountain, and then walk N briefly off the PCT and more easily through the forest to meet the Timberline Trail again.
Turn right (NE) on Trail 600 and pass McGee Creek Trail 627 on the left (N). Hike more SE as the solid Trail 600 meets the wider section of Bald Mountain ridge through the lovely forest over a comfortably steady grade. At 2½ mi from the TH (if you took the scenic PCT Bald Mountain loop spur), the ridge narrows as the views become even grander. You’ve got waterfalls in the Muddy Fork River Canyon up to the Sandy Glacier under Mount Hood, and McNeil Point (shelter barely discernible) straight ahead with the ridge to the summit boulder in the background.
Descend a bit on Trail 600, then climb steeper up a few turns to begin a northerly traverse from the bottom of an open narrow meadow (5400 ft). This skunk cabbage-covered (in summer) meadow on the right at 3 mi from the TH holds the ½-mi-long bushwhack trail and shortcut scramble directly to the McNeil Point shelter. The detailed description is for the descent only. It is not recommended for most, and although not exposed, it is extremely steep, loose, rocky, and fairly tracked out ESE up what quickly becomes the thin ridge section S of the cliff band below McNeil Point. For the scramble from the McNeil Point shelter, you would head W straight down the most prominent thin path through bushes seemingly off the cliff at first. You would stay left (S) of the cliff descending just left or on the narrow, broken ridgeline itself following the most worn path rather abruptly down the boulders and obstacle course with loose scree and pumice until near the bottom.
From Timberline Trail in the open narrow meadow (5400 ft) on the more attractive main route, it’s 2 mi farther to McNeil Point’s old rock shelter. Easily negotiate around five little streams on the traverse N and then cross a large scree field. Proceed up 2 switchbacks and cross two more tiny creeks before leveling off at the first of two tarn ponds in a sizable clearing. The main trail heads into the woods steeper between the ponds, but take a moment to check out the reflection from the second pond into McNeil Point and Mount Hood. Another option is the bushwhack path in the clearing which peters out up at a juncture with Mazama Trail 625 (moving NW down Cathedral Ridge) and curves right (SE) up a rise to meet the Timberline Trail 600 again. On Trail 600, cross another clearing and revegetating area, then hike steeper up 3 switchbacks to the small McNeil Point sign on the right in another clearing. Leave Timberline Trail and the route to Cairn Basin, Eden Park, Wy’East Basin, Barrett Spur, and Elk Cove.
Hike McNeil Point Trail 600M steeply SE up the clearing (or snowfield depending), catching a few tight switchbacks in the thin trees near the top. Soon meet and climb the N ridge of McNeil Point Summit for ¼ mi more to the S, mostly in the open with a few boulders and then pines. Soak in the vistas of Mount St. Helens, Lost Lake, Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, and of course Mount Hood.
Droves of Western pasqueflower tickle the senses near McNeil Point shelter in mid-August.
Begin to traverse right (SW) on Trail 600M more than ½ mi over to the shelter on the bluff by crossing wildflower-covered meadows, boulder fields, and snowfields (carefully), finally descending a few feet over to the doorless, old, stone shelter where there are many fine picnic spots scattered about. Return the same way; or use the super-steep shortcut described above; or continue to McNeil Point Summit, nestled between several glaciers, nearly 900 ft more up the open ridge to the best views of the day.
For the summit, and more of a workout, it’s ¾ mi farther SE up the steep path. Move up the meadow, then slowly and very steeply gain the rounded ridge crest past the stunted wind-blown trees (krummholz). Finish up slick pumice to the boulder at the top. There are two routes side by side from the S for confident, experienced hikers that work 25 ft up the giant boulder (Ho Rock) seen from far below. It’s airy but quite exciting on top. From the base of the boulder, walk around to the right finding a makeshift camp and flat spot on the side. Notice the continuation of the narrow, jagged ridge up to another challenging rocky bump (Co Rock) ¼ mi away, if you haven’t had enough yet. See the long Glisan Glacier to the left (E) and the sizable Sandy Glacier to the S with Yocum Ridge W and S of that.
