Huxley Lake to Grouse Point Tr517

Crossing the Roaring river drainage makes the OAB Grouse Point Tr517 hike quite challenging, with about a 5000' gain/loss. The Mt Goat reputation of this trail is due to the 2mi, 2600' Roaring river drainage ascent to the Dry Ridge Tr518 intersection, a virtually unclimbable 25% grade over some very tight switchbacks. The Roaring river can be impassable until July, depending on snow pack and rainfall, and as an OAB, this too-steep terrain must be covered coming and going.

Anyone willing to tackle the Roaring river drainage may also want to include a Serene Lake Tr512 CW Loli, so that is included in the ride description below.

Due to the extreme vertical and lack of additional nearby trails, Grouse Point Tr517 doesn't get much use and so may be in poor condition well into the hiking season.

Be sure to ask the forest service about trail conditions prior to tackling this one and be ready to deal with some treefall.

As a shuttle ride or an OAB from the Hideaway Lake campground, the ascent is merely intense.

Cripple Creek Tr703 ascends 2650' in 2.7mi over two 20% stages.

SR224 shuttle option: Dry Ridge Tr518 descends 3300' in 6mi, through a series of tight switchbacks over an overall 10% grade, and would be a good trail to use for a shuttle hike from the Hideaway Lake campground. Dry Ridge Tr518 passes through areas of old growth trees, dogwood, and white iris to a view of the Clackamas canyon.

Serene Lake Tr512 can be combined with Grouse Point Tr517 to form a CW loop without adding any length to the hike.

Described below, an intense 16mi (3600' ascent, 7% grade) Mount Mitchell to Frazier Mountain CW loop consists of Rimrock Tr704, Cache Meadow Tr702, Grouse Point Tr517, Serene Lake Tr512 and Shellrock Lake Tr700. Cache Meadow Tr702 passes through mature sub-alpine timber and passes two meadows and two seasonal lakes before ending at Cache Meadows.

There are a number of good camping sites in the area. The Frazier Turnaround or Hideaway Lake campground would make a good base-camp, with reasonable access to other trails in the area.

 

Rimrock to Serene Lake CW Loop

TH: From the Hideaway Lake campground, go left on FR5830 and gradually ascend to the Rimrock Tr704 intersection.

2.6mi: Go left onto Rimrock Tr704 and hike the switchback ascent of Mount Mitchell, reaching the summit at 3.4mi. Descend just as steeply until the trail merges with FR140 at 4.5mi.

6.1mi: go right onto Cache Meadow Tr702 just before reaching the Cripple Creek quarry, then cross Cripple creek. Pass a small lake at 7mi.

7.7mi: Go left on Grouse Point Tr517 and hike through .9mi of switchbacks to the second summit, then descend to the Serene Lake Tr512 intersection.

9.6mi: Go right onto Serene Lake Tr512 and continue the uneven descent, passing Serene Lake at 10.6mi then riding around a ridgeline before crossing a tributary of the South Fork Roaring river at 12.3mi. Near a small lake in the Rock Lakes Basin, go right at a T intersection, then go left at the next T intersection, while ascending to the Frazier Turnaround campground.

13.3mi: Go right onto Grouse Point Tr517 at the Frazier Turnaround campground, ride .2mi then go left onto Shellrock Lake Tr700 and descend to the Hideaway Lake campground.

 

From the Indian Henry CG TH, Clackamas River Tr715 passes through old growth forest with some views of the Clackamas River and the 100' Pup Creek Falls along the way to the Fish Creek CG TH.