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Hardy Ridge
Spring in the Columbia Gorge is a great time to hit the trail and train for summer’s bigger summits and backpacking trips.
Here are photos from the last two months:
The Pentaquest team on Hamilton Mountain in April.
The Pentaquest team on Hardy Ridge in June.
Today (5/16) we hiked up Hardy Ridge in the Columbia Gorge under perfect conditions. Here’s a link to photos from the hike.
Wildflowers on Hardy Ridge with Hamilton Mountain in the foreground, and the Columbia River and Mount Hood in the distance.
Hardy Ridge is one of the better hikes on the Washington side of the Columbia River and often overlooked by Dog Mountain devotees on a quest for yellow wildflowers. On the warmest day of 2018 (so far), our team of five hiked up Hardy in search of snow, adventure, and the perfect vista to sip an IPA.
Our team going up the switchbacks below the ridge.
The sky above the parking area was blue and clear as we started around 9am. The first mile through the trees brought occasional views of the Columbia to the south and the upper reaches of the ridge above us. We traveled at a brisk pace and quickly reached the start of switchbacks and snow.
Looking east towards Table Mountain to the left in the foreground, the Columbia River, and Dog Mountain in the center background.
The final mile to the summit was a beautiful slog with perfect weather as we post-holed our way in deep snow up the ridge. Mt. Hood watched over us from the Oregon side of the river, and eventually we caught glimpses of Mt. Adams and the top of Mt. Rainier to the north.
The team hiking up through the snow and nearing the summit with Mt. Hood in the distance.
After enjoying a snack in a flat area out of the wind below the high point, we descended back down the trail and retraced our steps back to the car following the same path.
Descending the ridge and heading back to the trailhead.
Overall, the day was 10: near flawless conditions, great company, and few other hikers. We didn’t encounter any other groups until after we reached the top. The snow slowed us down and presented a few navigation challenges, but added an element of adventure to the day. If you’re thinking of hitting the Gorge soon, consider Hardy Ridge.
Click here for more pictures from the hike.
By Ryan Yambra (@Ryambra)
Beacon Rock State Park is one of the most popular destinations in the Columbia River Gorge. With landmarks ranging from Hamilton Mountain to Beacon Rock, the 5,100-acre natural area has something for everyone.
But fewer people make the trek up Hardy Ridge. Tucked away at the Equestrian Trailhead, the route up Hardy Ridge gives hikers big views, spring wildflowers, and more than 2,000 feet of elevation gain without the crowds to show for it.
This particular Saturday in May was a soaker with heavy rain and low clouds. And while the views were less than spectacular, that didn't stop us from hitting the trail.
This hike begins by heading north on the Equestrian Trail. After a slow, winding climb of about a mile, the wide path meets a junction with the West Hardy Ridge Trail. To make a loop, we ignored the western path and continued along the Equestrian Trail another half mile until reaching the East Hardy Ridge Trail.
Once hitting the East Hardy Ridge Trail, which resembles a dirt road, we continued our gradual ascent. Eventually, the trail meets a junction with a connector marked ‘foot traffic only.’ As the light drizzle turned into a shower, we took the connector trail towards the top of the ridge.
After about a half mile, this well-established path meets a four-way junction. Here, you can head up towards the Hardy Ridge summit or descend back into the trees.
Normally during late spring, a trip up to the summit gives hikers amazing views with sights of nearby Hamilton and Table mountains. On a clear day, Mount Adams is also visible. Sadly, the weather was too poor to enjoy the views up top. We chose to have lunch at the junction and head back down.
To make it back, we descended under the trees on the west trail along the western side of the ridge.
After a gentle downhill trek, the path spit us back out onto the Equestrian Trail. From there, we hiked slowly back down to our cars.
Hardy Ridge has plenty to offer hikers without the crowds of other nearby destinations. On the day, our total mileage was a bit under eight miles with the trail just to ourselves. Rain or shine, Hardy Ridge should be a destination for any hiker looking to try something new.
Click here for more photos from the hike.
