Thunder Mountain Trail #543 is a day hike to a summit with views across the surrounding mountains. It leaves Sandstone Road (Forest Road 4620) at about 4,240 feet and climbs roughly 1.2 miles, with four switchbacks that grow a bit steeper toward the top, to its end near 5,040 feet.
There it meets Skookum Lake Trail #542, and a 150-foot spur leads to the summit itself. To keep going, follow #542 downhill 1.2 miles to Skookum Lake, which has several campsites. The drive comes in from Highway 224 by way of Forest Road 46 and Collawash Road (Forest Road 63).
Trail map & elevation
- Trail class
- Class 2 of 5
- Typical grade
- 12-20%
- Surface
- Native material
- Tread width
- 18-24 inches
- Ranger district
- Clackamas River
Connects to: Skookum Lake Trail #542
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.
- Take the right fork onto Forest Road 46 and travel 3.7 miles to Collawash Road (Forest Road 63).
- Turn right onto Collawash Road and travel 3.3 miles to Forest Road 6320.
- Follow Forest Road 6320 1.3 miles to Forest Road 6322.
- Turn right onto Forest Road 6322 and travel 5.9 miles to Forest Road 4620.
- Take the left fork onto Forest Road 4620 and travel 3 miles to the trailhead on the right (west) side of the road.
