Benson-Ruckel Trail #405A–Buck Point Trail #439, 3 sights is a 9.9-mile out-and-back in Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness near Fort Rains, WA. It climbs 3,944 ft, with sections as steep as 42% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 59/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi144 – 3,963 ft · steepest grade: 42%10.0 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Gorge Trail #400 45.64141, -121.92555
Nearest town Fort Rains, WA
Directions
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Benson-Ruckel Trail #405A–Buck Point Trail #439, 3 sights
9.9 mi · ▲ 3,944 ft · 5 hr 16 min
Elevation 143–3,963 ft
Out & Back · Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness
Trailhead: Gorge Trail #400 · 45.64141, -121.92555
Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:42 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Gorge Trail #400, heading NW.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Eagle Creek Campground Loop, heading E.
- 400 ftTurn right onto Ruckel Ridge Trail, heading SE.
- 3.5 miSharp right onto Ruckel Creek Trail #405, heading SE.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Benson Way Trail #405B, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left onto Ruckel Creek Trail #405, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Benson-Ruckel Trail #405A, heading E.
- 0.8 miReach Buck Point Trail #439, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.8 miTurn right onto Ruckel Creek Trail #405, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Benson Way Trail #405B, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left onto Ruckel Creek Trail #405, heading NW.
- 0.4 miSharp left onto Ruckel Ridge Trail, heading NW.
- 3.5 miTurn left onto Eagle Creek Campground Loop, heading N.
- 350 ftBear left onto Gorge Trail #400, heading W.
- 0.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
99% dirt1% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:34 AMSunset 7:42 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.5 mi in (~84 min). Leave by 5:58 PM for the 7:42 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:33 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Gorge Trail #400 Trailhead
- Lower Ruckel Creek Falls via Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail 2.2 mi · ▲ 290 ft
- Adult Fish Holding Ponds–Adult Ponds, 8 lakes 4.5 mi · ▲ 1,221 ft
- Wauna Viewpoint–Gorge Trail #400, 3 sights 4.6 mi · ▲ 1,338 ft
- Upper Munra Falls & Gorge Trail #400 via Forest Road 8400-777 4.7 mi · ▲ 1,325 ft
- Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness Viewpoint–Adult Fish Holding Ponds, 9 lakes 8.5 mi · ▲ 2,285 ft
- Lower Ruckel Creek Falls–Buck Point Trail #439, 4 sights 8.6 mi · ▲ 4,012 ft
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