High on a plateau above the Gorton Creek drainage in the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness, Plateau Cutoff Trail #412 links two routes: Gorton Creek Trail #408 to the west and Green Point Ridge Trail #418 to the east. Its ends sit at 4,260 and 4,360 feet.
From the Rainy Lake Trailhead on Dead Point Road out of Hood River, walk 0.6 mile on Rainy Lake Trail #423A and 0.5 mile west on North Lake Trail #423 to a junction. Trail #408 then reaches the west end in 1.4 miles (2.5 in all), and Trail #418 reaches the east end in 1.5 miles (2.6 in all). Routes from the north via Nick Eaton #447 and Wyeth #411 also reach it.
Trail map & elevation
- Trail class
- Class 2 of 5
- Typical grade
- 12-20%
- Surface
- Native material
- Tread width
- 18-24 inches
- Ranger district
- Hood River
Connects to: Green Point Ridge Trail #418, Gorton Creek Trail #408
More about the Mark O. Hatfield 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
- travel south on OR Hwy 281 Dee Highway (it goes past the Hood River airport) approximately 11 miles to Dee.
- Take the right fork and cross the East Fork of the Hood River.
- Turn right again to stay on Punchbowl Road and go 1.2 miles until it crosses the West Fork of the Hood River.
- The road becomes Dead Point Road (Forest Road 2820) here.
- Follow Dead Point Road 11 miles until you get to Rainy Lake Campground and Trailhead.
From the Forest Service
Rules and restrictions
Wilderness restrictions apply.
Ranger office
Hood River Ranger District
Address: 6780 Highway 35 Parkdale, OR 97041
Phone: 541-352-6002
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed 12 to 1 for lunch. (Closed on federal holidays)
Trails nearby
Green Point Ridge Trail #418
5 mi
809 ft
Moderate
Gorton Creek Trail #408
7.4 mi
1,454 ft
Hard
Wyeth Trail #411
5.4 mi
1,063 ft
Hard
Nick Eaton Trail #447
5 mi
1,750 ft
Hard
North Lake Trail #423
2.8 mi
695 ft
Moderate
Rainy Lake Trail #423A
1.2 mi
119 ft
Easy
Casey Creek Trail #476
3.6 mi
2,428 ft
Hard
Bear Lake Trail #413A
1.4 mi
276 ft
Easy
Mt. Defiance Trail #413
5.8 mi
2,245 ft
Hard
Herman Creek Trail #406
16 mi
4,520 ft
Very hard
Mitchell Point Trail #417
4 mi
1,222 ft
Moderate
Herman Cutoff Trail #410
4.4 mi
1,523 ft
Hard