Trailhead parking lot, on the right side of the road. Note: You’ll pass the PCT trailhead pulloff just after you cross the Bridge of the Gods.
FROM VANCOUVER: Head east about 33 miles on WA 14 just east of I-205. After you go through the town of North Bonneville, keep an eye out for the Bonneville Dam, on your right. Just past the dam is the Bonneville Trailhead parking lot, on the left side of the road.
GPS TRAILHEAD COORDINATES N45° 39.110' W121° 55.888'
2 Bunker Hill
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DISTANCE: 3.6 miles
HIKING TIME: 2–3 hours
GREEN TRAILS MAP: Wind River 397
OUTSTANDING FEATURES: Old-growth Douglas-fir trees, a historical interpretive trail, and a chance to stand atop an old volcanic plug
IF YOU’RE LIKE ME, you find spring in the Pacific Northwest an antsy time of year. While you patiently wait for the upper-elevation hikes to melt out, consider burning some energy with an early-season leg burner to the top of Bunker Hill. This steady climb gains 1,200 feet in less than 1.5 miles along a series of switchbacks that zigzags its way up the hillside. Views from the top are limited, but the feeling of accomplishment makes it worth the effort.
Continue through the meadow, and in less than 0.25 mile the trail enters a stand of deciduous trees whose leaves rustle even in the lightest of breezes. In another 0.25 mile, the trail reaches the signed turnoff for Bunker Hill. From this point on, you’ll remain in the forest.
Older guidebooks talk of sweeping views from the top of Bunker Hill, probably from when it was still used as a fire lookout, but I ate lunch on the top in a thick stand of second-growth trees with little to no view. As you hike up the hillside, you occasionally catch glimpses of the surrounding ridgelines, but the views are limited.
As you begin your climb up Bunker Hill, you’ll soon see large, old-growth Douglas-fir and hemlock trees scattered throughout this second-growth forest. The Douglas-fir, in particular, played an important role in the history of this area and the way in which the United States manages forests today. The Wind River area is just one of 77 experimental forests in the United States. The Wind River branch was established in 1932; however, Thornton T. Munger, who later became the first director of the Pacific Northwest Research Station, began to conduct the relevant research for the U.S. Forest Service back in 1909.
A flowering meadow at the base of Bunker Hill
This forest was originally used to study the great Douglas-fir forests of the Pacific Northwest, and many of the practices for studying, cultivating, and managing forests were developed during this period. Today the research facility is used primarily to study the ecosystem of Douglas-fir forests and research old-growth tree and wildlife habitats.
Continuing your climb, you’ll notice that the first few switchbacks are relatively long and gradual. In less than 1 mile, the switchbacks tighten up and become a bit steeper as you inch closer to the summit. When you reach the last switchback, at 1.7 miles, you’ll notice a path that branches off to the right, your only chance to see open views of the Wind River valley. Be careful: getting to this viewpoint is tricky, and a slip could be fatal. The U.S. Forest Service strongly encourages folks to stay on the main trail.
As you hike beyond the viewpoint, the trail makes one last, steep push to the top before reaching the summit of Bunker Hill (2,383'). The big clue that you’ve reached your final destination is the remnants of an abandoned U.S. Forest Service fire lookout. A few remaining foundation blocks make for a nice place to sit and have lunch. Once you’ve recovered from your ascent, simply retrace your footsteps the 1.8 miles to the start of the hike.
If you find yourself with a little extra time when you arrive back at the trailhead, check out Whistle Punk Interpretive Trail. To get there, walk 0.25 mile up Forest Road 417 to the trailhead parking area, on the right side of the road. The trail itself travels along a railroad grade that dates to 1913. Informative signs and a brochure tell the story of the Wind River Logging Company and the forest management practices associated with railroad logging. The trail also wanders through an old-growth forest, an old Wind River Nursery field, and past a wetland area. Choose between the 0.75- or the 1.5-mile loop.
PERMIT INFORMATION Northwest Forest Pass ($30/year) required. See tinyurl.com/northwestforestpass for more information.
DIRECTIONS
FROM PORTLAND: From I-84 just east of I-205, head east 40 miles on I-84 to Cascade Locks. Take Exit 44 and keep right at the exit to reach the toll booth for Bridge of the Gods. Pay the toll and cross the Columbia River into Washington. Once over the bridge, turn right (north, then east) onto WA 14 and follow it 5.8 miles to the Carson exit.
FROM VANCOUVER: Drive east about 41 miles on WA 14 just east of I-205 to the Carson exit.
FROM WA 14: From the Carson exit, continue north 14.3 miles on Wind River Highway to Hemlock Road (you’ll see a sign for the Wind River Work Center). Turn left on Hemlock and continue 1.5 miles to FR 43—this road, which is just to the right of the Wind River Work Center, is easy to miss if you aren’t paying attention. Turn right onto FR 43 and drive 0.5 mile to FR 417. Turn right onto FR 417 and, just as you crest the hill, keep an eye out for the southbound PCT, on the left side of the road about 100 yards from the turnoff. Continue driving, and when the road makes a somewhat sharp turn to the left, you’ll see the trailhead for the northbound PCT on the right side of the road.
GPS TRAILHEAD COORDINATES N45° 48.455' W121° 56.417'
3 Lemei Lake
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