Parking
Toothrock Trailhead parking from I-84 Exit 40 for Bonneville Dam; turn right at the stop, take the left fork and follow the road uphill to the lot. An Oregon State Parks day-use pass is required; lot capacity was not found.
Overview
About Tooth Rock Loop
Why go
- The Tooth Rock viaduct anchors a compact road-history loop.
- Paved highway out, an older portage-road climb back.
Heads up
- I-84 traffic stays close and noisy.
- The return path is faint and rougher than the highway.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Columbia River Gorge map
Full mapElevation166–425 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Columbia River Gorge alerts
- ClosureEagle Creek Fire area closureDo 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 Tooth Rock Loop, 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
Wahclella Falls Trailhead0:00 / 0:31
“You're approaching Wahclella Falls Trailhead, where a roughly two-mile round trip hike leads into Tanner Creek canyon; the falls aren't a roadside view.”
Plays on the road 0.3 mi from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Columbia River Gorge Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Bonneville Fish Hatchery
- Bradford Island Visitor Center
- Fort Cascades Historic Site
- Eagle Creek 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 Tooth Rock Loop
The routeTooth Rock Loop is a 2.
Tooth Rock Loop is a 2.1-mile circuit from Toothrock Trailhead, following the restored Historic Columbia River Highway around Tooth Rock to the stone viaduct, then returning on an 1850s portage road. Allow about 1½ hours for the loop and its roughly 315 feet of gain. The Gorge views and highway history are the draw; traffic on nearby I-84 is part of the setting.
The rougher returnThe paved highway curves around the tooth-shaped rock and reaches the viaduct designed by…
The paved highway curves around the tooth-shaped rock and reaches the viaduct designed by Samuel Lancaster. His highway was built from 1913 to 1922; I-84 now passes through a tunnel below the rock. After the viaduct, the return leaves the pavement for the much older portage road. That track is faint and unmaintained, and its steady climb and rougher footing make the second half more demanding than the easy first section.
Start and accessPark at Toothrock Trailhead, reached from I-84 Exit 40 for Bonneville Dam; turn right at the…
Park at Toothrock Trailhead, reached from I-84 Exit 40 for Bonneville Dam; turn right at the stop sign, take the left fork, and follow the road uphill to the lot. Oregon State Parks requires a day-use pass. Dogs are allowed on leash. Restrooms, drinking water and lot capacity were not found. The nearby 5.5-mile Bonneville Segment is a separate through route on the state trail, not the length of this loop.
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.
