Three Corner Rock — Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015

Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA

Recent logging activities has obliterated the trail for a short segment. The first 5 miles along Stebbins Creek valley are lovely, lots of green, the trail is in great shape. The ford of Stebbins Creek was easy. After the Stebbins Creek ford the trail goes uphill along a tributary valley for 3/4-1 mile, then, upon reaching a minor ridge, you come out of the forest and enter a large clear cut and a logging road. The continuation of the trail from here is gone. The trail is still there in the forest, but it's tricky to find. To find it, walk up the logging road for 300-400 or so yards, leave the road and cut downhill on the left side of the ridge, fighting over and across a torn up debris field of fallen and cut limbs and stumps, and find the trail after descending about 200 yards. If you find the trail, the tread heading on towards 3 Corner Rock is surprisingly in good shape. If you choose not to find the trail, then you can do what I did. I stayed on that logging road, which is going uphill along that minor ridge. Stay on the road, which has some small curves, and after about 3/4 mile the road starts to bend to the right, then notice a very old road bed turning at a sharp angle off the new road. This old road looks more like a single track trail once you're on it, but you can see it is an old road. It goes for about 1/4-1/3 long, then it encounters the gravel FS road. Follow this FS road downhill northward for about 3/4-1 mile, and when it dips down to a small creek and culvert, you will see the trail (on the left side of the road and before the culvert the trail is the continuation from the logging area, on the right and after the culvert is the trail up to 3 Corner Rock). The next section of trail is the real climb, a nice trail, in good shape. I was stuck in rain-turned to cold snow and wind for my summit climb and snack break at the summit of 3 Corner Rock (no views for me). I continued on to the PCT and quickly found a tent spot by turning north on the PCT and walking about 1/4 mile.