Morrison Creek: Snipes Mountain Tr11 to Cold Springs Tr72

3D view of Morrison Creek: Snipes Mtn to Cold Springs Trail #72

Overall: 7

Aerobic: 7

Technical: 7

Steepness: 6

Flow: 6

Singletrack: 98%

Near the Mount Adams wilderness and Yakima Reservation, the Morrison Creek and Cold Springs campground areas provide access to an extensive trail system, including Gotchen Creek Tr40, Snipes Mountain Tr11, Pine-Way Tr71, Cold Springs Tr72, Crofton Butte Tr73, Morrison Creek Tr39 and Buck Creek Tr54.

Type

Loop

Length

Avg: 13mi

Ascent

Moderate

Elevation Change

TH:3600'
Avg Ascent:2850'

Ascent Incline

9%

Duration

Avg: 3hr

Weather
Forecast

NOAA

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USFS

Several good loop options are created by these trails and small section of spur roads.

One loop option is 39 Trail, Crofton Butte Tr73 and Gotchen Cr Tr40.

Buck Creek Tr54 is also worth checking out, although it is a bit short for a destination ride and not to be confused with Buck Creek (DNR).

Buck Creek Tr54 is a moderate trail which parallels the White Salmon River.

The trail runs high above the river gorge, through rocky terrain and dense forest, with an undulating grade and three stream crossings.

Pine-Way Tr71 is less useful, as it crosses a cattle range and is a stock driveway which turns into a cow trail through rocky terrain, second-growth forests and open meadows.

From the upper TH, lightly used Gotchen Creek Tr40 passes through harvested forests and crosses Hole-in-the-Ground Creek, then climbs McDonald Ridge.

Near the Aiken lava bed, Cold Springs Tr72 and Snipes Mt Tr11 ascend through lava flows and young forests.

 

Hiking: Snipes Mountain Tr11 is closed to biking beyond the Pine-Way Tr71 intersection. The suggested CCW loop is Snipes Mountain Tr11 to Round-The-Mountain Tr9, then ride a small portion of Mt Adams South Climb Route Tr183 to Cold Springs Tr72 and return to the TH on Gotchen Creek Tr40.

TH: From the lower Gotchen Cr Tr40 TH, continue on FR8020 to FR150, then go left and go .7mi to Snipes Mt Tr11, then start ascending alongside the A.G. Aiken lava flow.

3.4mi: Pass the Pine-Way Tr71 intersection. The trail breaks away from the lava flow at 3.9mi, continuing to climb alongside the Gotchen Creek.

5.8mi: Go left on Round-The-Mt Tr9, at the edge of the wilderness area, reaching the loop summit at 6.4mi.

7.7mi: Go left on Mt Adams South Climb Route Tr183 and begin steep downhill to the South Climb TH.

9.1mi: Go through the Cold Springs campground and continue the descent, alongside the north side of the Aiken lava flow..

12.5mi: Reach Gotchen Cr Tr40 and go left to return to the TH.

 

Directions: FR23 to FR8000. Go left and continue 3.3mi to FR8020 (Pass FR031 at 2.8mi). Go 3.5mi on FR8020, to TH. Note: Google does not properly show FR8020 connecting to FR150 and FR8225. View Larger Map. No Map?.

Morrison Cr: Snipes Mountain to Cold Springs Trail #72 Topo Map

Loop Directions

tire shredding lava

Morrison Creek Area Topo Map

  • TH: From the lower Morrison Creek Tr39 TH, ride 1.8mi to Gotchen Cr Tr40, go left then at the next intersection go right onto Cold Springs Tr72.
  • 5.3mi: At the Cold Springs campground, descend FR500 to FR8040.
  • 9mi: Continue the descent on Gotchen Cr Tr40, to the Morrison Creek Tr39 intersection. Option: continue on Gotchen Cr Tr40 and ride OAB on Snipes Mtn Tr11.
  • 11.1mi: Go right onto Morrison Creek Tr39 and return to the TH.

 

 

Trail Index

This Ride

Cold Springs Trail 72, Gotchen Creek Trail 40, Morrison Creek Trail 39, Pine-Way Trail 71, Snipes Mountain Trail 11

Mount Adams Wilderness Hiking

Bird Creek Meadows, Crofton Butte Trail 73, Looking Glass Lake Trail 9A, Mt Adams South Climb Route Trail 183, Round-The-Mtn Trail 9, Salt Creek Trail 75, Short Horn Trail 16, Stagman Ridge Trail 12

XC Ski

Pipeline SnoPark, Pineside SnoPark, Smith Butte SnoPark

Campgrounds

Bench Lake Campground, Bird Lake Campground, Cold Springs Campground, Morrison Creek Campground, Mount Adams Horse Camp

Trail Rankings

Ranking consistently applied to all of the listed trails.

  • Overall Rating: Ride quality and challenge
  • Aerobic: Ascent challenge
  • Technical Difficulty: Terrain challenge
  • Steepness: Average incline
  • Flow: Uninterrupted riding
  • Elevation Change: Total elevation gain
  • Ride Difficulty: Terrain challenge