Trail

Rimrock Trail #704

A 2.4-mile trail around Mount Mitchell in the Roaring River Wilderness between two forest roads, with an extension to Cottonwood Lake.

Representative photo, not this exact spot. Photo: Liz Lauren via Pexels ยท Pexels License

Mount Mitchell is the centerpiece of Rimrock Trail #704, which crosses part of the Roaring River Wilderness between two forest roads: Road 4635-140 on the west and Road 5830 on the east. The west trailhead is at the end of Road 4635-140, reached from Highway 224 by way of Pint Creek Road and Road 4635.

From the west end the trail climbs 0.6 mile to the wilderness boundary, eases along to the base of Mount Mitchell, then curves around its north side to the high point at about 4,960 feet. Steep switchbacks drop 0.6 mile to Road 5830. Turn back there, or cross the road onto Cottonwood Meadows Trail #705, which reaches Cottonwood Lake in 0.7 mile.

Trail map & elevation

Length2.3 mi one way
Climb613 ft up, 607 ft down
Elevation4,362 to 4,975 ft
DifficultyHard
4,3004,6505,0000 mi2.3 mi
Elevation (ft) along the trail
Trail class
Class 2 of 5
Typical grade
12-20%
Surface
Native material
Tread width
18-24 inches
Ranger district
Clackamas River

More about the Roaring River 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 Portland, OR

  1. Travel east on US Hwy 26 to Sandy.
  2. Turn right (southwest) on OR Hwy 211 and travel 6.1 miles to OR Hwy 224.
  3. Turn left (southeast) on OR Hwy 224 and travel 30.1 miles to Pint Creek Road (Forest Road 4631), approximately 0.4 miles south of milepost 49.
  4. Turn left (east) on Pint Creek Road and travel 4.1 miles to Forest Road 4635.
  5. Follow Forest Road 4635 for 7.5 miles to Forest Road 4635-140.
  6. Turn right (southeast) on Forest Road 4635-140 and travel 2.2 miles to the trailhead at the end of the road (approximately 0.5 mile beyond the junction with Forest Road 4635-146).
  7. Walk east to the end of the road to access the trail.

From the Forest Service

Rules and restrictions

Wilderness restrictions apply.

Details from the official Forest Service page, a public-domain U.S. government source.

Trails nearby

Last checked November 4, 2026