Portland, OR: Chinidere Mountain
Trail to Chinidere Mountain. This is a fairly easy trail that offers great views of Mt. Hood as well as several other Oregon and Washington mountains.
This trail up to the top of Chinidere Mountain is an fairly easy hike except for the last 0.1 mile or so. The trail starts at the Whatum Lake parking lot and skirts the East side of the lake. There were a decent amount of wildflowers on the trail as of late July but the best part about this hike were the views. Mt. Hood was amazingly close and there is an unobstructed 360 degree view. Eastern Oregon can be seen from the top as well. Definitely well worth the drive to get to this trail.
Trail Facts
- Distance: 3.9
- Miles from city center: 88
Waypoints
Chinidere trailhead sign.
Location: 45.577112, -121.792948
Trailhead sign.
Wilderness Boundary
Location: 45.578142, -121.792475
Mark O. Hatfield wilderness boundary sign.
Dry creek bed
Location: 45.585959, -121.804926
Trail passes through dry creek bed.
PCT junction
Location: 45.585609, -121.807421
Pacific Crest trail junction.
Chinidere Cutoff
Location: 45.58413, -121.808887
Cutoff trail that is a short cut back to the Whatum lake parking lot.
Right at fork
Location: 45.583953, -121.809661
Trail splits here, take the right fork uphill.
Chinidere Mountain Summit
Location: 45.58625, -121.811788
Summit of Chinidere Mountain.
Trailhead sign.
Location: 45.5772223, -121.7928886
Trailhead sign with area map.
Parking lot
Location: 45.576982, -121.7928457
Whatum lake parking lot.
Wilderness Boundary
Location: 45.5782736, -121.7923307
Mark O. Hatfield wilderness boundary sign.
Whatum lake
Location: 45.5791447, -121.7919874
View of Whatum lake through the trees.
PCT junction
Location: 45.5856325, -121.8072653
Trail junction with the PCT.
Cutoff trail
Location: 45.5842509, -121.8087673
Chinidere cutoff trail, this is a shortcut back to the parking lot.
Rock outcropping
Location: 45.5856925, -121.8112135
View of some rock outcroppings near the summit.
Whatum lake view
Location: 45.5863232, -121.8116856
View of Whatum lake from the top of Chinidere Mountain.
Mt Hood view
Location: 45.5863833, -121.8116856
View of Mt. Hood from the summit of Chinidere Mountain.