Short and steep, Ruddy Hill Trail #714 leaves the Pacific Crest Trail #2000 at about 5,560 feet and climbs 0.3 mile to the top of Ruddy Hill at 5,910 feet, in the Olallie Lake Scenic Area. From the summit, Mount Jefferson stands to the south and Mt. Hood to the north.
Start at campsite #5 in Horseshoe Lake Campground, off Skyline Road (Forest Road 4220). Horseshoe Saddle Trail #712 heads west 0.8 mile to the PCT. Turn right for 0.2 mile, then left onto this trail, which gets steep right away and follows the hill’s north ridge to the top. It is about 1.3 miles from camp to summit.
Trail map & elevation
- Trail class
- Class 1 of 5
- Typical grade
- 12-20%
- Surface
- Native material
- Tread width
- 18-24 inches
- Ranger district
- Clackamas River
Connects to: Pacific Crest Trail (Clackamas RD)
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
- Travel east on US Hwy 26 to Sandy.
- Turn right (southwest) on OR Hwy 211 and travel 6.1 miles to OR Hwy 224.
- Turn left (southeast) on OR Hwy 224 and travel 30.6 miles to Forest Road 46.
- Turn right on Forest Road 46 and travel 14.8 miles to Forest Road 42.
- Turn left onto Forest Road 42 and travel 4.3 miles to Forest Road 4220 (Skyline Rd.).
- Turn right onto Forest Road 4220 and travel 15 miles to Horseshoe Lake Campground.
- The trail leaves from camp site #5.
- Follow the trail description to get the beginning of this trail (#714).
Trails nearby
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Top Lake Trail #725
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Monolallie Trail #732
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Olallie Lake Trail #731
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Red Lake Trail #719
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Fish Lake Trail #717
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