Few people make the trip to Salmon Mountain, which makes this 1.6-mile ridge trail in the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness a good choice for solitude. Trail #787 follows the ridgeline from Plaza Trail #783 to an abandoned lookout near the top.
Reach it by hiking Plaza Trail #783 north 3.1 miles from a small parking area on Forest Road 4610, which you can drive to from Estacada or from US Hwy 26 by way of Skyline and Abbott roads. The path is narrow and rocky, with occasional steep pitches, and between 0.9 and 1.3 miles there is no tread at all. From the lookout at 4,000 feet you can see the Salmon River drainage, the Cascades and nearby peaks.
Trail map & elevation
- Trail class
- Class 2 of 5
- Typical grade
- 12-20%
- Surface
- Native material
- Tread width
- <12 inches
- Ranger district
- Zigzag
Connects to: Plaza Trail #783
More about the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness and its trails →
Line, length and trail class: U.S. Forest Service trail data. Elevation: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Difficulty is our estimate for hiking it out and back (once around for a loop), from distance and total climb. Lines can be off by a few hundred feet; carry a real map and check the official page for closures.
Getting there
From Hood River, OR
- follow Oregon Hwy 35 38.5 miles and merge right onto US Hwy 26.
- Follow US Hwy 26 8.9 miles south and turn right (west) at Skyline Road (Forest Road 42).
- Follow Skyline Road for 1.1 miles and turn right toward Forest Road 2660.
- Travel 2.5 miles and turn left (southwest) to stay on Forest Road 2660 and continue another 0.9 mile.
- Turn right at Abbott Road (Forest Road 58) and travel 10.7 miles.
- Take the right fork at Forest Road 4610 (near High Rock-the road becomes dirt here) and follow it for 8.3 miles to the small parking area and trail head on the north side of the road.
From Estacada, OR
- follow Oregon Hwy 224 south for 6.5 miles to N Fork Road (Forest Road 4610).
- Travel 7.1 miles and stay left on N Fork Road (Forest Road 4610).
- After 0.9 mile take the first right onto Abbott Road (Forest Road 4610).
- Follow Abbott Road (Forest Road 4610) for 11.1 miles to the small parking area and trail head on the north side of the road.
- Follow Plaza Trail #783 for 3.1 miles north to the beginning of this trail.
From the Forest Service
Rules and restrictions
Wilderness restrictions apply
Passes and permits
Free, self-issued wilderness permit required from May 15 through October 15 at trailheads that access wilderness areas.
Trails nearby
Plaza Trail #783
22.2 mi
7,646 ft
Very hard
Eagle Creek Trail #501
13.2 mi
4,014 ft
Very hard
Eagle Creek Cutoff Trail #504
4.2 mi
2,317 ft
Hard
Salmon Butte Trail #791
11 mi
4,551 ft
Very hard
Salmon River Trail #742
28 mi
6,927 ft
Very hard
Green Canyon Way Trail #793A
6.4 mi
3,698 ft
Very hard
Bonanza Trail #786
9.4 mi
3,662 ft
Very hard
Old Salmon River Trail #742A
3.8 mi
280 ft
Easy
Douglas Trail #781
14.2 mi
3,659 ft
Very hard
Old Baldy Trail #502
12.4 mi
4,384 ft
Very hard
Wildcat Mountain Trail #781F
0.2 mi
97 ft
Easy
Plaza Lake Trail #788
1.2 mi
592 ft
Easy