Camp Benson Falls–Historic Columbia River Highway State Viewpoint, 3 viewpoints
12 mi · ▲ 4,626 ft · 6 hr 19 min
Camp Benson Falls–Historic Columbia River Highway State Viewpoint, 3 viewpoints is a 12-mile out-and-back in Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness near Cook, WA. The route passes Lindsey Pond and Historic Columbia River Highway State Viewpoint before reaching Camp Benson Falls at the turnaround, 6 miles in. It climbs 4,626 ft, with sections as steep as 32% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 50/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Camp Benson Falls–Historic Columbia River Highway State Viewpoint, 3 viewpoints
12 mi · ▲ 4,626 ft · 6 hr 19 min
Elevation 92–3,845 ft
Out & Back · Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness
Trailhead: Mt. Defiance Road · 45.65107, -121.69710
Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 52°F / low 42° · precip 46% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 7:41 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Warren Lake Trail #417A, heading N.
- 0.4 miSharp right onto Mitchell Point Trail #417, heading NE.
- 4.2 miSharp right onto Mount Defiance Trail #413, heading N.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miPass Lindsey Pond.
- 0.6 miPass Historic Columbia River Highway State Viewpoint.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
- 0.5 miReach Camp Benson Falls, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.4 miBear right onto Mount Defiance Trail #413, heading E.
- 0.1 miSharp left onto Starvation Ridge Trail #414, heading E.
- 4.2 miSharp left onto Warren Lake Trail #417A, heading SW.
- 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.1 mi in (~76 min). Leave by 6:05 PM for the 7:41 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:30 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Mt. Defiance Road Trailhead
- White Horse Spring–Lower Green Point Reservoir, 4 sights 3.4 mi · ▲ 612 ft
- Mount Defiance–Mitchell Point Trail #417 Loop, 4 sights 3.8 mi · ▲ 1,186 ft
- Mt. Defiance Road & Warren Lake Trail #417A 4.5 mi · ▲ 638 ft
- Larch Mountain Road (Deprecated)–Mt. Defiance Road, 3 sights 6.5 mi · ▲ 981 ft
- Starvation Ridge Trail #414 7.4 mi · ▲ 3,304 ft
- Mount Defiance–North Lake, 4 sights 9.3 mi · ▲ 2,693 ft
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