Parking
Park at the John B. Yeon State Park Trailhead. From I-84 Exit 35, follow the frontage road east about 2.3 miles.
Overview
About Nesmith Point Trail
Why go
- A steep canyon climb opens to broad Columbia Gorge views.
- Fir forest and exposed burn-scar slopes give the route a changing feel.
Heads up
- Nearly 4,000 feet of climbing on a steep, rocky route.
- The lookout site is tree-grown; the best panorama is a short spur downhill.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Columbia River Gorge map
Full mapElevation171–3,878 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
Safety
8 active Columbia River Gorge alerts
- ClosureEagle Creek Fire area closureMentions Eagle Creek Fire, referenced in this guideDo not enter Oneonta Gorge or the specified trail sections because hazards remain following the Eagle Creek Fire.Official details
- CautionAircraft and drone restrictions at developed recreation sitesAircraft and drone landings, drop-offs, and pickups are prohibited at six high-use developed recreation sites to protect visitor safety.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Columbia River Gorge Tour Guide
Your drive to Nesmith Point Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this area
Elowah Falls from John B. Yeon0:00 / 0:26
“You're approaching John B. Yeon Trailhead for Elowah Falls, a 213-foot drop into a dark basalt amphitheater.”
Plays near this trailhead in the Parkwolf Columbia River Gorge Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Doetsch Ranch River Walks
- The Rapids Beneath the Reservoir
- Beacon Rock
- Hamilton Mountain Trailhead
- 217 audio storiesacross Columbia River Gorge’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Bald Eagle, Black Bear, American Pika, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 111 trails, 78 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Nesmith Point Trail
The climb to the pointNesmith Point Trail is an 8.4-mile out-and-back from John B.
Nesmith Point Trail is an 8.4-mile out-and-back from John B. Yeon State Park Trailhead to the site of a former fire lookout above the Columbia River. It follows Forest Service Trail #428 and gains about 3,900 feet. Allow roughly 7 to 7.5 hours. The appeal is the mix of a steep canyon ascent, open Gorge views and a long finish through fir forest.
Up the canyonFrom the parking area, walk about 300 feet to the Nesmith Trail junction and turn right.
From the parking area, walk about 300 feet to the Nesmith Trail junction and turn right. The next 2.4 miles climb steeply by switchbacks through a narrow box canyon. The 2017 Eagle Creek Fire left widespread tree loss and landslides along the route. Expect loose scree and basalt faces; a short reroute skirts unstable ground. As the forest opens, look back toward Beacon Rock and the opposite Gorge ridges. Loose footing can slow the descent, so allow time for the return.
Beyond the ridgeThe grade eases after the ridge, but the climb continues about 1.
The grade eases after the ridge, but the climb continues about 1.3 miles through noble and silver fir. At Corky's Corner and the signed turn at the saddle between Nesmith and Palmer peaks, follow the route to the old road. The former lookout site is tree-grown. For the broadest Gorge view, continue down a short path past the collapsed outhouse; the exposed pale slope makes a useful foreground with the river beyond it.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Columbia River Gorge
267 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
51 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
136 sightingsAmerican PikaMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
16 sightingsWapitiMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
195 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
74 sightingsChinook SalmonMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Columbia River Gorge. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
