McCall Point Hike
From Portland Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Rowena Crest Trailhead
- End point: McCall Point
- Trail Log: Trail Log
- Hike Type: Out and back
- Distance: 3.6 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 1070 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Seasons: Year round, better in spring
- Family Friendly: No
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: No
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Hike Description
This is a hike filled with views, both near and far.
From the Rowena Crest Trailhead, the trail crosses a flat area for 1/10 of a mile then picks up a faint old road. The old road is followed for another 2/10 of a mile to an intersection with another old road. This second old road shows a lot of construction effort as it circles a small point and begins to slab along the base of a rockfall. There are places where the road has been blasted out of the underlying rock. This is probably a remnant a wagon road that was built from The Dalles to Hood River in the 1870s. There are amazing views to the east including the Historic Columbia River Highway and a continuation of this wagon road, switching down the opposite side of the valley.
After a little more than half of a mile, you'll come to a sign labeling the "Tom McCall Point Trail". The trail leaves the wagon road here and after a short climb comes to the Rowena Plateau. Here, you'll have your first view to the west, including the arched highway bridge and Mount Defiance. From here, the trail gets steeper as it switchbacks, alternating through forests of scrub oak and open grassy areas. This part of the trail is populated with poison oak and ticks. Be sure to wear long pants and long sleeves. As the trail climbs, the views of the river and the plateau get better and better.
The summit is marked by the kind of marker more commonly seen next to the freeway. You've still got the same beautiful river views and now there's a great morning view of Mount Hood, as well.
For those with a little wind left in their lungs, a fainter trail continues south dropping steeply into a little saddle and climbing up the peak beyond. This part of the trail is narrower, steeper and more prone to poison oak than the first part. After about another half mile, you'll reach the second summit marked by a small rock cairn. The area is covered is small oak trees, but there are open viewpoints here and there in all directions.
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
Regulations or restrictions, etc
- No passes required. There is a donation box at the Rowena Plateau Trailhead.
- Dogs are prohibited
- No campfires, camping, flower picking or walking off the trails.
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Guidebooks that cover this hike
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Contributors
- Stevefromdodge (creator)