Seizing upon the increasingly rare nugget of a dry, quasi-sunny day, we hit what I call the Palisades Loop-- an excellent 15-mile RT workout, as well as a beautiful and varied hike. Elevation gain is 2800 feet, the highest point circa 5300.
Our route: parked at the Camp Shepard lot (large, off-highway lot with decent, TP-stocked outhouse) and found our way to the White River trail heading west towards the junction with Palisades trail. (From the parking lot, hit the main TH, pass the miniature ampitheater within about 3 minutes, and then hang a sharp left to pick up the White River trail heading west. You'll know you're on the right path when you soon pass Camp Shepard's various playfields and buildings to your left). About 1.5 miles along this trail, reach a sign that says Palisades. (You'll have hit another junction previous to this, saying Snoquera and White River trail (confusingly), but this is not the right trail. Wait till the second junction). At the Palisades junction, hang a right and be on your way. After 6.6 miles on Palisades, reach the junction with Little Ranger Peak trail, then turn right and head back down 4.8 miles to the White River trail. Turn right, then it's 2 miles back to the lot.
Trail details: having hiked this route in the opposite direction, I prefer the one we did today. Hiking up Palisades is steep in the first mile or so, as well as the last, but much of the way is actually rather gentle. Because you're relatively fresh on the way up, you can better absorb the beauty of the maples in the lower portions, in full fall regalia at the moment, as well as the series of outcroppings higher up, with their tremendous views towards Rainier and the surrounding peaks and valleys. There are about four or five excellent viewpoints along the way, dramatic (and windy!) promontories. Palisades' steepest portions are in the Dalles Falls area, especially going up the staircase (see pic). Once you're within about a mile and a half of the junction with Little Ranger, the trail gets more weather-beaten. Presently, some sort of cottony weed (?) is lying across parts of the trail up here, and cotton is wafting through the air. My husband looked like a partially unstuffed teddy bear as he emerged from the trail to meet me at the junction. This part of the trail requires route-finding in the snowy or winter months because the trail is not as clearly defined here as in other parts. There's no problem keeping to the trail now, but an inexperienced hiker could get confused as the seasons deposit fallen leaves, larger windfall, and snow.
Fall colors: Beautiful right now! Maples along the lower portions of both the Palisades and Little ranger trails are resplendent with brilliant orange and yellow!
Minor Obstacles: Little Ranger is a straightforward trail, heading down for nearly five miles from the Palisades junction. This portion of the trail, as well as parts of the Palisades, is a favorite for mountain bikers. We saw two today, both friendly enough as they passed by. The obstacles? The switchbacks between the L.R./Palisades junction and the Little Ranger Peak viewpoint junction (two miles down) are extremely churned up. After a summer of bikers charging down the trail, these switchbacks have eroded into loose, formless, steep cascades of dirt. Soon they will turn to pure mud or freeze with ice, and they will be treacherous little areas indeed-- invitations to a broken bone. I have attached a picture, but my phone cannot capture the angle of these switchbacks, which I'd say is about forty-five degrees for several of them. Lower down the trail, below the viewpoint, bikers have simply cut away from the trail altogether, driving deep grooves across ground cover, mosses, and, I'm sure, seedlings as they blast down to the next switchback. Very irresponsible, selfish and ignorant. Grrrrr.
Solitude: we saw no other hikers today, only the two individual bikers on the LR part of the trail. It's a lovely hike right now, but bring layers and poles, and wear shoes with traction. Happy hiking, Everyone!
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