Ruckel Ridge Loop Hike

Overview

NOTICE: This trail is closed until further notice because of damage from the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire. Please check the list of Columbia Gorge closures before you plan for a hike. Ruckel Ridge. The Ruckel Ridge. Widely recognized as the most treacherous day-hike in the Gorge, this is not a climb for inexperienced hikers, dogs, or children. You'll need good boots, good route-finding skills, a lot of stamina, and dry weather. The Benson Plateau is normally covered with snow during the winter and early spring and finding the initial descent route along the Ruckel Creek Trail can be difficult in these conditions. First-time hikers should not attempt this hike in winter without companions who are familiar with the terrain. Soloists (at any time) also should exercise due caution, because this is one outing that's best done with companions. But don't worry too much, because if you're in reasonably good fitness, you'll probably find the ascent more "fun" than strenuous, as the route presents a series of hand-over-hand obstacles that keeps everything going at a reasonable pace. Where stamina becomes an issue is the final 1,000-foot ascent to the Benson Plateau (3,700 ft.), and then the descent on the Ruckel Creek Trail, which is an actual USFS-maintained route (unlike the ascender, which is definitely "user maintained"). Down-climbing Ruckel Ridge isn't a good option, so start early in the day and plan on completing the entire nine-mile loop. The trail begins in the Eagle Creek Campground, near Campsite 5. Start your hike by heading up the paved campground road, until you see a sign for Gorge Trail 400. Follow the Gorge Trail as it climbs to the top of a bluff, then travels next to a protective fence for a ways. Just before the trail drops down hill, take the fork to the right. Follow the path around the perimeter of the campground, passing an old amphitheater. You will pass a metal sign for the Buck Point Trail between camp sites 5 and 6. The sign says it's 3/4 of a mile to Buck Point, but it's closer to 0.4 miles.

Trail Stats

Photos

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400px-Ruckel_Ridge_Loop

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188px-Basaltpillars_ruckel

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188px-RuckelRidge01_rsdw

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250px-Dam_from_ruckel

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400px-Ruckelridge02_rsdw

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