Cougar Rock–Lower Multnomah Falls, 5 summits is a 12.6-mile out-and-back in Benson State Recreation Area near Cruzatt, WA. The route passes Wahkeena Rearing Lake, Lower Multnomah Falls and Larch Mountain Trail #441 Viewpoint before reaching Cougar Rock at the turnaround, 6.3 miles in. It climbs 3,652 ft, with sections as steep as 30% grade. It scores 42/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi33 – 2,195 ft · steepest grade: 30%13.2 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Benson State Park 45.57695, -122.13123
Nearest town Cruzatt, WA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Cougar Rock–Lower Multnomah Falls, 5 summits
12.6 mi · ▲ 3,652 ft · 6 hr 2 min
Elevation 33–2,194 ft
Out & Back · Benson State Recreation Area
Trailhead: Benson State Park · 45.57695, -122.13123
Weather Sep 4: Light rain, high 66°F / low 56° · precip 64% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:43 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 50 ftPass Wahkeena Rearing Lake.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Benson State Park, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.7 miTurn right, heading E.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftPass Lower Multnomah Falls.
- 50 ftPass Larch Mountain Trail #441 Viewpoint.
- 50 ftSharp left onto Larch Mountain Trail #441, heading S.
- 1.5 miSharp right onto Wahkeena Trail #420, heading S.
- 0.8 miSharp left onto Devils Rest Trail #420C, heading S.
- 0.7 miTurn left, heading S.
- 300 ftTurn left onto Multnomah Basin Road, heading SW.
- 1.5 miSharp left onto Larch Mountain Trail #441, heading E.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto High Water Trail, heading SW.
- 250 ftTurn right onto High Water - Cougar Rock Connector Trail, heading W.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Cougar Rock Trail, heading W.
- 0.9 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 200 ftReach Cougar Rock, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.9 miTurn right onto High Water - Cougar Rock Connector Trail, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn left onto High Water Trail, heading S.
- 250 ftSharp left onto Larch Mountain Trail #441, heading S.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto Multnomah Basin Road, heading SW.
- 1.5 miTurn right, heading W.
- 300 ftTurn right onto Devils Rest Trail #420C, heading W.
- 0.7 miSharp right onto Wahkeena Trail #420, heading NE.
- 0.7 miSharp left onto Larch Mountain Trail #441, heading NE.
- 1.5 miSharp right, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.7 miTurn right onto Benson State Park, heading W.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
51% dirt13% paved1% gravel35% unspecified
Weather
Light rainTemperature 66°F56°
Precip64%Wind5 mphUV6Humidity76%
Rained 0.2″ 2 days ago
Hourly temperatureRain chance
70°55°
Sunrise 6:34 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:43 PM
Sat
69°54°
28%
Sun
76°55°
39%
Mon
74°52°
32%
Tue
82°55°
Wed
93°59°
Thu
82°62°
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Benson State Park Trailhead
- Fairy Falls–Lower Multnomah Falls, 7 sights 7.3 mi · ▲ 2,610 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Cruzatt, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Cruzatt, Washington