Hike of the Day: Three Fingered Jack, Oregon
This challenging, 12.2-mile trek ascends the spiny, volcanic ridge of Three Fingered Jack for dizzying views across the Cascade Mountains.
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A challenging trek for hikers and climbers alike, this 12.2-mile out-and-back leads to the top of Three Fingered Jack, a striking shield volcano in the Cascades. From the trailhead, hike north on the Pacific Crest Trail. The path travels through fire-burnt forest before veering right onto an unmarked climber’s trail that leads up Jack’s south ridge (avoid the tempting surplus of side trails along the way). At mile 5.6, the trail crests the ridge and turns north over scree and loose gravel; Three Fingered Jack’s spiny ridge rises above.
Roughly 6 miles into the hike, the route traverses “The Crawl,” an exposed and narrow ridgeline just below the summit… Check out more turn-by-turn details at backpacker.com/hikes/247247.
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Kris Wagner, map editor