MITCHELL POINT
Note: The Mitchell Point Trailhead is closed while ODOT rebuilds the Historic Columbia River Highway through this area. The trailhead has been closed since 2021 but is expected to reopen sometime in 2025. See this page for more updates.
Looking west from the summit of Mitchell Point
Mitchell Point Stats:
Distance: 2 miles out and back
Elevation Gain: 1,000 feet
Trailhead elevation: 100 feet
Trail high point: 1,200 feet
Season: all year
Best: April – May
GPS Track: March 2021
On the traditional lands of: the Grand Ronde, Siletz, and Warm Springs peoples
Directions:
From Portland, drive east on Interstate 84 to Exit 58, and a sign pointing to the Mitchell Point Overlook.
Exit the freeway here and drive into the parking lot below Mitchell Point. This is the trailhead.
Note: The Mitchell Point Trailhead can only be reached from eastbound Interstate 84. If you are coming from Hood River, drive to the Viento Exit 56; turn around here and head east to Exit 58.
Drivetime from Portland: 65 minutes
Calypso orchids (Calypso bulbosa) along the Mitchell Point Trail
The steep trail to the summit of Mitchell Point
Hike: Mitchell Point gives you a lot of bang for your buck. In less than an hour you can climb a solitary trail to a superb viewpoint of the Columbia River Gorge. In April the upper reaches of the trail are covered in wildflowers, among them balsamroot and the lovely pink calypso orchid. You can easily do this trip in two hours and have time to do another hike afterwards; alternately, this makes a great sunset hike if you come after work. The view cannot be beat! Keep an eye out for poison oak along the trail as it can be profuse in some spots.
From the south end of the parking lot, look for a trail heading south towards the cliffs. The trail climbs gently through lovely forest following a small creek before climbing away, becoming steeper and steeper as it works its way up Mitchell Point. Eventually the trail reaches a talus slope framed dramatically by white oak and great views of the west end of the Gorge. After cresting above the talus, the trail winds through some nice older forest. In April the forest floor here is carpeted with the lovely pink calypso orchid. Freshly-risen orchids give off an incredible perfume that only lasts for a day or two – you may need to get down on your hands and knees and sniff a great number of flowers until you find one that is scenting – you won't regret it! At 0.8 mile from the trailhead, reach a set of powerlines at an open saddle.
Look to your left up at the green ridgeline of Mitchell Point and follow the steep trail up through meadows 0.2 mile to the top of the ridge. In April and May look for grass widows, desert parsley, larkspur, balsamroot and other Gorge wildflowers. When the ridge narrows into an exposed summit with a 180-degree panorama of the Columbia River Gorge, stop and take in the views; you might just want to stay awhile. Return the way you came.
