August Trail Highlight: Plains of Abraham
What better way is there to beat the heat than by riding up a volcano? Probably many (like whitewater rafting: your member deal below), but none with the unique terrain, challenging climbs, or wild sense of remoteness you’ll get on this month’s epic trail highlight: The Plains of Abraham.
With 23-26 miles of riding and over 4,000’ feet of elevation gain, the Plains of Abraham (via Ape Canton or Smith Creek) will show you scenery unlike anywhere else in Washington State.
Starting from the Ape Canyon side, the trail climbs through a forest that survived the blast of St. Helens, with better and better views peeking through the foliage as you climb. At the edge of the woods begin traversing the Plains of Abraham where you’ll climb, descend, and ride wide-open pumice fields before hitting a gated logging road—that’s your ticket to the Windy Ridge Viewpoint.
Riders who opt for the Smith Creek route should prepare for a different animal. Descending into the Smith Creek drainage on a steep, rocky and easy-to-loose route, this trail follows the creek through challenging and occasionally unstable washouts and crossings. Take care around the tricky 50-foot washed-out section of trail between Smith Creek and Ape Canyon; it spans an unstable ridge with sharp drops on both sides. After passing through overgrown logging roads and an ambitious climb of 1,300’ you’ll arrive back at the start of the Ape Canyon Trail.
After you’ve worked up a sweat on the Plains of Abraham, cool down with a trip on the close-by White Salmon river (90 minutes away) with our partners at Wildwater River Guides. Just show your Evergreen Membership card and get $10 a rafting trip, and make it a multi-sport weekend to remember!
*What are you member deals? The list grows every month so check it out here!
