Riley Camp

Name: Riley Camp
Rating: 3.2

South Cascades > Mount Adams Area

46.2172, -121.6344 Map & Directions

Length: 10.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 2,280 feet
Highest Point: 5,800 feet
Calculated Difficulty About Calculated Difficulty: Hard

Riley Meadows with Mt. Adams. Photo by R.Ojerio

Mountain views
Wildflowers/Meadows

Saved to My Backpack

This route is the perfect gateway to Mount Adams' spectacular high country on its less-visited western side. It climbs through dense forests, past a small lake, then across Riley Meadows (great campsites!) before joining the PCT. From there, you can continue on to Sheep Lake or head off-trail to check out Crystal Lake at the edge of the tree line. Continue reading

Rating

3.17 out of 5

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22 trip reports for this trail

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Hiking Riley Camp

The trail starts out climbing at a pretty steep grade. After the first mile, you're about 1,000 feet higher in elevation and the pitch flattens out at the wilderness border. Then it climbs again, passing a small lake at about 5,200 feet. The trees start to thin out and are broken by small openings with ephemeral ponds and some small meadows.

Once you reach Riley Meadows, Mount Adams comes into view. Look for posts to guide you across the meadows and stay to the south side of Riley Creek to follow the trail. The route traverses Riley Creek across a broad rock-strewn wash. Again, look for posts (installed by WTA volunteers) to lead the way. The last 1/8 mile climbs up to the junction with the PCT.

WTA volunteers restored a section of trail heading across Riley Meadows in 2009.

Riley Camp

Map & Directions

Trailhead

Co-ordinates: 46.2172, -121.6344 Open in Google Maps

Before You Go

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WTA Pro Tip: Save a copy of our directions before you leave! App-based driving directions aren't always accurate and data connections may be unreliable as you drive to the trailhead.

Getting There

Follow I-84 east from the Portland/Vancouver Metro Area towards Hood River. Take exit 64 and cross the Hood River Bridge. Turn left on Hwy 14 and go 1.5 miles. Turn right (north) on WA-141 and go 19 miles to Trout Lake. From the intersection entering Trout Lake at the Chevron Station, go right onto Mt. Adams Road. Head north for 1.3 miles then bear left on Forest Service Rd 23 (Buck Crk Road). Follow Forest Service road 23 for about 17.5 miles and look for a possibly unmarked trailhead between mileposts 38 and 37 (they decrease going north).

Trailhead

South Cascades > Mount Adams Area

Riley Camp (#64)

Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Mount Adams Ranger District

Guidebooks & Maps

Green Trails 366

Mount Adams West

Mt. Adams

Indian Heaven

Trapper Creek Wilderness

US Forest Service

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Washington Trails Association

Riley Camp