Portland: Rooster Rock
This 3.9-mile loop provides a quick escape from the city, offering miles of sandy shoreline, wooded trails, and magnificent vistas.
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Mapped by Joe Kurmaskie
Trail Facts
- Distance: 4.3
Waypoints
RRT001
Location: 45.5446510314941, -122.248748779297
Hike onto the boardwalk jutting out into the lagoon for a full view of Rooster Rock, a large column of basalt closed to climbing. Next, turn R and cross wide meadow
RRT002
Location: 45.546932220459, -122.236297607422
Pick up trail across road from ranger station (sign @ trailhead marks spot)
RRT003
Location: 45.5474510192871, -122.229446411133
Trail fans into three directions. Take middle trail into forest
RRT004
Location: 45.5477981567383, -122.227546691895
Path climbs into old stand of oaks, maples, alders. Lots of moss, too. Below to L, see Columbia River, white beaches
RRT005
Location: 45.5484657287598, -122.224800109863
Quick climb to high rock bench. First vista (500 ft. above river), picnic spots
RRT006
Location: 45.548900604248, -122.222663879395
R @ Y; fern forest and canyon walls on R
RRT007
Location: 45.5494995117188, -122.218032836914
Turn R @ T. Blackberries crowd the edges of the trail as it works its way toward the sandy beach. Trees grow shorter and terrain transitions to swordgrass meadow
RRT008
Location: 45.5500984191894, -122.211547851562
Pass young bamboo forest before reaching endpoint @ water’s edge. Try to spot Sand Island and Beacon Rock. Retrace steps .2 mi. to take beach route back
RRT009
Location: 45.549732208252, -122.216384887695
Keep R to stay along beach. Windsurfers glide over choppy whitecaps in gorge. Note: Part of this beach is clothing-optional
RRT010
Location: 45.5481986999512, -122.228553771973
Veer L and then rejoin trail near WPT 4. Backtrack to car