Powell Butte Loop Hike

Overview

The Powell Butte Nature Park is traversed by a network of trails; the system was extensively refurbished during the construction of Reservoir #2 on the butte and the new trail system was completed in 2015. All trail junctions are now clearly marked with painted metal posts. This loop takes you around the perimeter of the park and mostly covers trail sections not visited in the Powell Butte West Loop Hike. The view from the summit of this 10 million-year-old Boring volcano includes Mount Saint Helens, Mount Adams and Mount Rainier as well as Clackamas Butte and Mount Scott to the immediate south and Gresham Buttes to the east. Mount Jefferson and Olallie Butte can also be distinguished on a clear day. A mountain finder circle located at the summit points out all of the visible summits and lists all of their elevations and distances. There are restrooms on the west side of the new Visitor Center and a display of various pipe sizes in front, including a 90-inch diameter hoop you can walk through. From the drinking fountain in front of the Visitor Center, go left on the Anderegg Trail. Pass a couple of picnic tables and drop down through a field of lupine to turn right on the Wildhorse Trail. This path heads up the slope in the meadow and crosses the gravel East Access Lane. A few yards later the Conduit 5 Lane drops down the slope to Anderegg Loop. Switchback and continue ascending to keep left at a junction with the universal access Mountain View Trail. Switchback again in a grove of alders. The Wildhorse Trail snakes up through a meadow of thistle, lupine, and goldenrod offering expansive views north to Silver Star Mountain, Mount Saint Helens, and beyond. Hike across the meadow summit area of Powell Butte to reach the junction with Summit Lane. Take a right and walk towards the walnut/apple orchard at the summit of Powell Butte. Immediately to the south, you’ll see Clackamas Butte across Johnson Creek, while to the southwest, the large Boring volcano with the communication towers is Mount Scott. Reach the mo

Trail Stats

Photos

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