Pacific Crest Viewpoint–Collins Lake, 4 sights
15.5 mi · ▲ 4,215 ft · 7 hr 16 min
Pacific Crest Viewpoint–Collins Lake, 4 sights is a 15.5-mile out-and-back in Mount Hood Wilderness near Government Camp, OR. The route passes Collins Lake and Pacific Crest Viewpoint. It climbs 4,215 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 59/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Pacific Crest Viewpoint–Collins Lake, 4 sights
15.5 mi · ▲ 4,215 ft · 7 hr 16 min
Elevation 3,797–5,981 ft
Out & Back · Mount Hood Wilderness
Trailhead: Skiway Trail #755B · 45.30467, -121.76305
Weather Sep 4: Heavy drizzle, high 52°F / low 42° · precip 55% · wind 2 mph · sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 7:41 PM
Transit-accessible: Best Western-Gov’t Camp stop 243 m from the trailhead
- Start on Skiway Trail #755B, heading NW.
- 50 ftPass Collins Lake.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto Crosstown Trail #755, heading NE.
- 250 ftBear left onto Timberline To Town Trail #756, heading N.
- 50 ftBear left onto Glade Trail #661, heading N.
- 2.7 miSharp left onto Timberline To Town Trail #756, heading NE.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading W.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading N.
- 3.4 miPass Pacific Crest Viewpoint.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Paradise Park Trail #778, heading SW.
- 0.4 miReach Pacific Crest Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading S.
- 3.4 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.4 miBear left onto Timberline To Town Trail #756, heading SE.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto Glade Trail #661, heading E.
- 2.7 miBear right onto Timberline To Town Trail #756, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear right onto Crosstown Trail #755, heading SW.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Skiway Trail #755B, heading SW.
- 0.6 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 4.0 mi in (~164 min). Leave by 4:37 PM for the 7:41 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:33 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Best Western-Gov’t Camp stop 243 m from the trailhead
Get outside more
A wild hike near Government Camp, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Government Camp, Oregon