The hike starts at the Herman Creek Campground on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge. Once you’ve climbed about 1,000 feet, a choice must be made: a shorter, steeper path or a longer, more gradual one. Take the steeper path up and the easier path down. Your knees will thank you.

The two-mile trail to the top of Nick Eaton Ridge (steeper than a cow’s face) climbs almost 2,000 feet, offering scenic views at higher elevations. When you see the Gorton Creek Trail cutoff, consider bushwhacking the last quarter-mile to the 3,200-foot summit of Nick Eaton Ridge. Return to the path and hike half a mile south along the ridge in the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness to the Deadwood Camp cutoff.

After a half-mile descent through the mature forest, you’ll find the old campsite on the top of the 2,500-foot cliffs above the Gorge. With a nearby cold, clear stream, it’s hard to imagine a better place to camp in the summer.

Indian Point

It’s time to start the return loop. After a mile, you’ll find a detour to Indian Point, which requires a steep 200-foot descent on a rough, scrambling path. However, the reward is well worth it – Indian Point is a rock formation (resembling a large, upright thumb) on the cliffside over 2,400 feet above the Columbia River. You’ll feel like you have a front-row seat to the best views of the mid and eastern Gorge.

Once you’ve taken in the views, head back to the main trail and take the relatively easy four-mile walk back to the starting point. In total, the hike is 10.5 miles long with a total elevation gain of 3,600 feet.