Huckleberry Mountain Trail is a 10.6 mile out and back trail located near Rhododendron, Oregon that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, nature trips, and snowshoeing and is best used from June until September. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
The park opens at 8 AM and the gate at the trailhead is closed until then.
Travel Oregon, 670 Hawthorne St, Suite 240 , Salem, OR, 97301, Phone: 800-547-7842
February 19, 2021I can’t comment on the trail, but as of 2/18/21 there is a footbridge that was washed away at a stream crossing very early on. Trail is closed.
September 26, 2020September 8, 2020The trail is lightly trafficked, and there are a few limbs and trees down along the way - though nothing that shouldn’t be expected from a hard trail. The view at the top is incredible; you can see 3 peaks from one viewpoint! It’s easy to get to the trailhead and the parking area and restrooms are very nice.
August 23, 2020Awesome hike! Yes its a challenge but totally doable. Took me 3 hours going up and just over 2 coming down.. And I'm not in that great shape.. The elevation gain is spread out so only the first mile and towards the top were really that steep. The rest of the time it was more steady incline. There is no proper summit and the end of the trail is not a summit. When you hit the large clearing with the GORGEOUS view of Mount hood, you're good. No need to do the last .3 miles because there is nothing to see. The "ending" on the alltrails map is an arbitrary spot in the woods. Other than that, highly recommend. This is such a little used trail we had the place to ourselves going up and only passed two hikers going down. On a Sunday in August! Love it!
July 23, 2020July 12, 2020Directions to the park are accurate, you can buy a parking permit with a credit car at the park. I arrived on a Saturday at 1:30 pm, the parking lot was not full. Started the hike 1:45, took me 2:30 minutes to get to the summit, I think I am In good shape so that can vary. Had lunch and rested near the summit for about 30 minutes. It took me about 2 hours to make it all the way down. I do stop and take pictures all the way up and down so someone could probably finish faster than that. Park closes at 8. It is a hard hike steady up hill for the entire time, really great workout. There are a few viewpoints on the trail that overlook smaller hills full of trees. The path is well taken care with some logs that have fallen in the way. Unbelievable healthy ecosystem lots of native plants, so many wild rhododendrons most have already bloom but there where some at the very top still blooming. There are little sections where the terrain gets more flat but most of the time is up hill. Very few groups hiking maybe 4 or 5 coming back on my way up. Complete solitude at the summit. As you are getting closer to to the summit there is a rock point on an open small field with great view where I went back to rest for lunch. It was cloudy but you could see Mt Hood from there. I don’t use poles but I could see other people needing them at least at the beginning of the trail and towards the end. The magic on this trail is on the small details the flowers the healthy forest, the old growth, the sound of the wind and birds, and some of the peaceful views of nature.
July 20, 2019trail starts at the wetland area. you don't need to do the board walk. instead after the bridge on the salmon river keep straight on paved road and at the sign where the wetlands area starts, turn right off the paved section. after 0.3 miles or so, you will come to the sign of Boulder ridge trail. soon after, a steep ascent will start. after about 5 miles or so you are supposed to take the old plaza trail, but the sign for this is so badly placed , that we walked past without noticing it. luckily we took the right turn on to the old plaza trail. honestly, I didn't see the old plaza trail coming there, so the T Junction is not very visible. when you pass the rhododendron forest, you know you are going the right way. I suggest using a GPS app, because at one point I downloaded an app because I thought we missed the plaza junction. after the junction, it's just about a mile or so to the clearing with the Rocky summit destination. you will see fantastic view of MT hood and if you go to the Rocky Cliff, you can see Mt Adams and Mt Rainer on a clear day. the plaza trail actually goes from under this Rocky point, we walked about 0.5 miles and turned around. I suspect you will have to walk longer to see Mt St Helens. anyway, the hike definitely clocked in at more than 12 miles. the gradient is moderate, except few steep switchbacks at the start of the trail. few sections with ferns and rhododendrons crowding the narrow trail, so wear full pants if that bothers you. well shaded until the clearing at the top, so good to do on a sunny day. the summit shown on Oregon hikers is the Rocky summit so trust that. didn't see old telephone cables as people mentioned. bear and mountain lion sightings in the area date to 2018.
July 19, 2019Park does not open until 8 am. So if you plan on going early, the gate is closed.
June 16, 2019Gorgeous view of Hood, shady almost all the way, great spot on top for snacking and gazing at mountains, nice workout, pretty flowers, and pretty much deserted! Trail is well maintained, very easy to follow, lots of (fee) parking at trailhead and nice bathrooms (it’s a camping area as well). Went on a Sunday and was on the trail by 9 - and saw only 2 other people the entire way out and back. There are bear and cougar warnings posted at the TH but we didn’t see anything alarming today. It is definitely a hard hike - the uphill is relentless though the grade varies, and we were tired by the time we got back, but not totally burned out. Highly recommend! Note - Garmin clocked 11.4, not 10.6, and the directions written in the AllTrails description are incorrect - follow Google Maps instead.
February 4, 2019What a beautiful hike! Tough due to mileage and gradual steady elevation gain for most the first 5 miles. Barely any snow at the last .5 miles, no need for micro spikes or snow shoes. Couldn’t have asked for better weather, wore a short sleeve shirt most the way till the summit winds.
May 28, 2018On 5/27/18 no snow. It was a training hike for me. Took us 5 1/2 hrs with some breaks. Good hike with wide, shaded trail that was easy to follow. The hike is a combination of the Boulder Ridge Trail (783a) and seamlessly transitions to the Plaza Trail (783) without any marker to the top. It has long parts along or just underneath the ridge. Great views with lots of open space at the top. Was a very comfortable hike for a hiker with height issues.
April 26, 2018Snowshoes were needed for the top hour or so (but didn't need microspikes). Knee- to thigh-deep snow; definitely wish I had at least brought the gaiters. Great views and beautiful forest.
February 14, 2018I’m not gonna lie; the trip out is pretty exhausting- 5 miles of constant uphill, a lot of it quite steep. The hike back downhill was no picnic either- make sure you leave yourself enough daylight! The trail is beautiful and very isolated and quiet, and the views of Mt Hood as you climb up are amazing.
January 1, 2017Nice hike a great elevation to get your heart rate up. bring water or a filter. you need it! I started from Lost Lake. Nice views from top. Berries YUM!
July 9, 2016Pretty cool forested hike it changes like 6 times the hike is like a cross between Larch Mt. OR. and Dog Mt. Wa. 13 long switchbacks then a long hike up hill not very much to see but the summit is cool with a 360 view of the surrounding Forrest's and mountain ranges it's a good Training Hike for Backpackers around 11 miles total took me 4 hrs total 40 lb pack
October 25, 2020October 10, 2020July 4, 2020July 2, 2020June 26, 2020March 22, 2020June 12, 2019May 12, 2019October 20, 2018August 19, 2018July 4, 2018February 11, 2018April 29, 2017September 29, 2016
