Tracy Hill Loop Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Views · Wildflowers

From the Catherine Creek Trail, follow the Catherine Creek Trail to a junction with another closed road, marked "021". This is the start of the trail to Tracy Hill. Follow the "21 Trail" as it crosses the creek (on a small wooden bridge) and heads upstream. The trail soon passes the Catherine Creek Arch, then works its way through oak trees and flower-laden meadows. At 0.4 miles from the Catherine Creek Trail, you'll come to a fork. Go left (northwest) here and climb up under some powerlines. After swinging briefly to the west, the trail starts a steady, but gentle, climb up the slope of Tracy Hill. The views become increasingly expansive as you ascend. This whole area is covered with coloful wildflowers in the spring (April - May).

At 1.6 miles from its junction with the Catherine Creek Trail, this trail makes a sharp turn to the right (east), climbs past the junction with another use trail, and comes to an old stock pond high on Tracy Hill. This pond is ephemeral, so don't count on it as a water source. But it's a good place to stop for lunch as the views - particularly of Mount Hood and the Columbia River - are magnificent on a clear day.

From the pond, follow the trail northeast into some trees and across a gully to where it makes a sharp turn to the right (southeast) and starts down the hill. This hill also offers excellent views and is also covered with coloful wildflowers in the Spring (April - May).

At about 800 feet, the trail starts trending to the right (southwest) as it enters an intermittent drainage. Pay attention here as there are a number of other use trails. You'll want to be descending to the southwest and in about 0.5 miles should reach the fork you took on the way up. From here, retrace your steps past the Catherine Creek Arch to the trailhead.