Key Stats for the Grouse Point Trail - 517
About
The shelter mentioned in the info sheet was burned during hunting season 2002.
This is a very ancient route. Crossing the Roaring River can be challenging before late Summer. The descent into and climb out of the Roaring River requires much stamina. The occasional hiker probably would not enjoy the west end of this trail. It is steep and remote. Water up on the way out of the river as the route is waterless on top. There is spring water about a third of the way out of the canyon just before the big push up the hill. Trail is quite faint climbing out of the Roaring River eastbound on account of the light use this tough part of the trail gets. There is a viewpoint a quarter mile east of the Dry Ridge Trail junction. Trail is quite brushy in the Grouse Point vicinity and no one seems to be able to find the viewpoint at Grouse Point.
The west end of the trail shows correctly on the USGS maps about a third of the way east out of the Roaring River. Then it climbs a ridge west of the one indicated, returning to the route shown on the maps near the Dry Ridge Trail 518 junction. Grouse Point is bypassed by about an eighth mile. See the map for details.
From the Serene Lake Trail 512 junction trail condition improves to Cache Meadow and beyond. This is the most scenic part of the trail. Remember to keep left when leaving Cache Meadows heading east, then after the hill climb and coming to the old road, turn right to go to Frazier Turnaround.
Frazier Mountain at the east end of the trail was named for Donald Frazier, who died in 1918 in military service during WWI. He was a forest guard on the Mt. Hood National Forest. The mountain was formerly called Shellrock Mountain, one of several in the sate, and it was believed the new name would be more suitable that the duplication, as well as honor a man who died for his country.1
Directions
Northern/Western Trailhead: Travel Hwy 224 thru Estacada – approximately 6.1 miles from Estacada, turn left onto Forest Road 4610 – this is almost directly across from the Promontory Park marina. Travel approximately 7.2 miles to the Forest Road 4611. Turn right on Road 4611 and travel approximately 6 increasingly rough miles to the end of the road. Park at the end of the road and continue up the closed road another 0.3 miles. The trail takes off to your right. There may be signs or flags marking where the trail takes off.
Southern/Eastern Trailhead: Travel Hwy 224 thru Estacada to Ripplebrook. Continue thru Ripplebrook and immediately after crossing the river, turn left on Forest Service road 57. Go 7.2 miles to Forest Road 58. Turn left on Forest Road 58 and travel 7 miles to Forest Service road 4610. Turn left and follow Road 4610 approximately 1.2 miles to the junction with the 4610-240 spur. Follow 4610-240 for approximately 4.4 rough, rocky, brushy miles to Frazier Turnaround and the trailhead. The trailhead is straight ahead once you get to the turnaround. The trail used to be the continuation of the 240 spur road. There should be signs posted.
This item has comments in the Old Posts discussion archive.
1Oregon Geographic Names, McArthur, Lewis.
Map and Elevation Profile
Heading East on this trail, from Cache Meadow, the trail climbs to meet the abandoned 4610-240 road from Frazier Turnaround. To go there, you turn right. Does anyone know where this spur road to the left leads? At this junction, there is a small sign that says “Trail” that points towards Cache Meadow. There was a footpath that continued on. I theorized that it could lead to the upper Rock Lake or it could continue to the viewpoint above Serene Lake. Just curious if anyone had a thought.
My partner and I spent a week working on this trail in the summer of 1971. We were the USFS Estacada Ranger District trail crew. Our boss was Bruce Reed, in his first summer in this position. He packed us into our campsite on Roaring River with a USFS horse named Gyp, who hadn’t packed in years and wasn’t pleased to be forced out of the easy life. Going down the trail into Roaring River from the west, Gyp dumped our packs, sending our gear tumbling several hundred feet down the slope, which may not be steep, but will do until steep comes along. We worked the trail for five days from the river easterly to Grouse Point, and Friday afternoon, on our way out of the canyon, Gyp reared up and fell over backwards, crushing her load. It was the last time Gyp was used as a pack horse.