Springtime There are no larch trees on Larch Mountain. Ironically, this ancient shield volcano was aptly named "Larch Mountain" for the lumbermen who used to harvest the noble fir lumber there and sell it as "larch." While the lumbermen are gone, the name remains. And while the larger numbers of hikers clog the parking lots and trailheads along the Historic Columbia River Highway for the brutal 4,000' hike to the summit, this hike utilizes a lesser-traveled road to a forest service access that will find you much more private time on the trail, an easily manageable 1,300' feet of elevation, and a trip through the heart of this once-steaming mountain. Hellebore Heading east on the Historic Columbia River Highway from Corbett, the road forks, with the Larch Mountain Road heading up to the right. 11.6 miles up the road is a hairpin turn with a posted 20mph warning sign. The trail starts at this turn, beyond a locked gate to a 0.25 mi. rocky service road that leads to a junction with the Larch Mtn Trail #441. You may encounter panting hikers coming up this trail from below, heading for the top. Let them continue their journey up, while instead forking left and leisurely descending through hemlock and fir old growth, dotted with trillium, monkeyflower and bleeding heart. During the descent, you'll fork right onto Multnomah Spur #446, then finally arrive at a crossing of Multnomah Creek on a single-rail log bridge. Immediately after the crossing, the trail splits forks in several directions. Taking the trail to the right, Multnomah Creek Trail #444, you'll soon enter the "crater" of Larch Mountain, an exposed boggy marsh filled with Indian Hellebore and views up to Sherrard Point. Past the crater, begin your ascent toward the summit on easy switchbacks, skirting an area of blowdown, and crossing several small creeks. Sherrard Point A long, east-trending switchback - which in one area offers a sneak peek of the mountain views to come - finally arrives at the top of the ridge and a junction with Oneonta Trail #424. Fork to the right and start the final 0.9 mi. ascent to the top, where you'll pick up some more company on the trail before it ends at Larch Mtn Road. Hike up the road 0.4 mi. to Larch Mountain Park, and head for the northwest end of the parking area, where you'll find the spur to Sherrard Point. The paved spur comes to a series of wooded stairs that climb to the rocky promentory of Sherrad Point, the rocky remains of the Larch Mountain volcano's central core, and grand views over the Columbia River Gorge and Mts. St. Helens, Rainier, Adams, Hood and Jefferson. Mt. Hood After drinking in the endless views, finish the loop by heading back down the stairs and forking right at a junction to the summit proper. There are no views here, just an open area in the trees. Find the trail down to the right and descend through a short stretch of unattractive snaggly forest, sure to make any cartoon princess shudder, before re-entering greener and prettier fir and hemlock. In no time, you'll reconnect with the forest road you started up on; make the 0.25 mile descent back to the road and your starting point. Image gallery See a GPS track of this hike at Backpacker.com (coming soon...).