Table Mountain
Table Mountain's dramatic south face and pyramid profile beckon the adventurous hiker ready for a strenuous climb that is good training for summer summit attempts to come. The top features one of the best panoramas of the Columbia River Gorge, as well as views of Mt. St. Helens, Rainier, Hood and Adams. Carry a guidebook with good route information as there are a couple of options to the summit and signage may be lacking.
The standard route begins at the Bonneville Trailhead off of Hwy 14 opposite the Bonneville Dam. From the trailhead follow the Tamanous Trail #27 for 0.6 miles to the junction with the PCT. Turn left onto the PCT and follow it NW for 1.9 miles to Gillette Lake. Continue on the PCT for another 5.5 miles to the junction with the Eastway Trail (also known as Heartbreak Ridge). A second route to the summit off of the PCT, the Westway Trail is another 0.4 miles further. Both Eastway and Westway trails join near the summit to the final 0.3 mile Overlook Trail that leads to the southern face of the mountain. Many hikers make a loop by ascending the Eastway Trail and descending the Westway Trail. Portlandhikers.org has a hiking guide with a detailed trail log of this area. A popular, less difficult version begins from the Bonneville Hot Springs Resort and Spa and is described in 60 Hikes within 60 miles of Portland, 3rd Edition, Menasha Press. It shortens the roundtrip distance by about 5 miles. Since this option includes a power line access roads and non-designated trail, I highly recommend that you hike it with someone who knows the route, or with guidebook in hand.
Driving Directions:
From Seattle Take I-5 south to Vancouver. Then take Hwy 14 east, Continue past Beacon Rock State Park. At mp 39.8 look for the Bonneville Trailhead on the left, opposite Bonneville Dam. It is approximately 40 miles east of Vancouver. Recent Trip Reports
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Table Mountain, Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Section H - Bridge of Gods to White Pass
— Mar 28, 2013
— evhendy14
Day hike
Issues:
Snow on trail
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I started from the hotsprings resort and took the one mile trail to Aldrich Butte Road. The table mo...
I started from the hotsprings resort and took the one mile trail to Aldrich Butte Road. The table mountain trail splits off from the road in about 100 yards. Most of the hike is through the woods with minimal views, but there are a few things to take your mind off the climb. I passed the heartbreak ridge trail and continued on to the steep trail at the second information booth. This trail is very steep and I could barely hike it on my previous attempt at the summit on February 25th. This time the snowline was much higher and I was able to scamper up the trail and wind my way up the rocky ridgeline. I could see a group of hikers slowly ascending the steep talus slope on the heartbreak ridge trail. There are good views of the summit, the hills to the north, and Bonneville Dam to the south. I eventually reached the snow line and the trail disappeared but I spied two people hiking above me and decided to make a quick ascent through steep, deep snow to reach the trail. They turned out to be a young kid and his dad with a dog and they had made a different approach from the north. Our dogs played in the snow for a bit and then I made my way through the trees until I found the trail along the flat to the cliff edges. Here I met the group of hikers who I had seen going up the talus slope. I took some pictures and then made my way down using the heartbreak ridge trail.
Table Mountain
— May 19, 2012
— Seth Dunlap
Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming
Issues:
Blowdowns | No water source
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This is a beautiful hike made more difficult by last year's winter storms, although not so difficult...
This is a beautiful hike made more difficult by last year's winter storms, although not so difficult that kids and the elderly couldn't hike it. Be sure to check out the views from the precipice (hidden--to the left of the trail about 1/3 of the way to the summit--with a steep trail down) but watch your step...a fall would be deadly!
This trail was used by Indians as part of their Spirit search...there are rock nests at the top and a "gorge"ous view to the West of the Columbia River, The Bridge of the Gods, and Beacon Rock...if it weren't for the other Cascades you could probably see all the way to Portland, OR. Day hike
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with photos
I parked at Bonneville Hot Springs and followed the directions in the Romano guide to ascend the Eas...
I parked at Bonneville Hot Springs and followed the directions in the Romano guide to ascend the Eastway trail and descend the Westway trail. Bringing a copy of the guidebook map is strongly suggested and you might want to mark junctions with some sticks to avoid hiking a couple extra miles in the dark like I did. Although the ground was frozen most of the way, there was only a dusting of snow near the top.
The wind was blowing from the east about 30 mph at the trailhead, and by the time I started down the Westway ridge at sunset, it sounded like a freight train coming through the trees. At a couple spots where the trail is next to cliffs, I got down on my butt and crawled/slid down the steep rocky trail because I was afraid I would get blown over the side. The Eastway section is steeper and involves a talus slope, but at least one would only risk getting knocked down by a strong gust. I definitely plan to go back when conditions are more benign in order to enjoy the views and the simple joy of walking upright.
Pacific Crest (South Cascades) #2000,Table Mountain #18,Dog Mountain #147
— Dec 30, 2006
— Ken and Juliet Mondal
Day hike
Issues:
Blowdowns | Snow on trail
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My wife and I decided to find some ""year-round"" hiking in order to
celebrate the New Year. We tho...
My wife and I decided to find some ""year-round"" hiking in order to
Table Mountain #18
— Mar 31, 2005
— toadlicker
Day hike
Issues:
Snow on trail
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I parked at the Bonneville trailhead, but if anyone is interested, one can cut several miles of hik...
I parked at the Bonneville trailhead, but if anyone is interested, one can cut several miles of hiking by taking the trasnmission line road. Most of this hike follows the PCT, with some camping options at Gillette Lake, and a nice camp site about 1 mile beyond the lake at a creek crossing. The EAST trail up Table Mountain is closed, and for good reason. The west trail is the only trail to the summit now, and it's easier and more scenic anyway. About 350 feet shy of the summit the snow begins (as of March 31) but the trail is easy to follow and fairly safe (if the snowline is a few hundred feet lower, the trail could be very dangerous is a slip occurs). |
 Morning light on the south face of Table Mountain. Tim Lawson
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