Cispus Point was not an easy hike (Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington State). Part of the problem was finding the right road and the right trail. The other part was the bugs (flies), especially the relentless mosquitoes. You really could never rest to catch your breath, not even at the summit, because get eaten alive by them. It took a little more than 2 hours up and a little less than 2 hours back. Beautiful views along the way.
This hike was done on 8-26-11 and there was still snow on the trail in the higher elevations, making it a challenge to stay on course at times.
Forest view from Cispus Hike (St. Helens in background)
Rugged Mountains of Gifford Pinchot Forest
Mountains
Mount Rainier
Another nice vista
Wildflowers in front of either castle butte or twin sisters
Peaceful meadow just below Cispus Point
Mt Rainier
Mt Adams
Mt St Helens
Goat Rocks (in distance)
Large out-of-place boulder
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OTHER SCENES FROM SURROUNDING AREA
Tongue Mountain (I think)
Tower Rock
Mt Adams
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GETTING TO CISPUS POINT HIKE:
This was the sign that said the Klickitat Trail is to the left 1 mile. Naturally, I didn’t see the sign thanks to some overgrown brush. I went straight and spent about 2 hours trying to find it.
The trailhead starts on the right side. If you keep going straight, the road dead ends. Of course, I also spent some time scratching my head trying to figure out where the trail was. It looks like a sign used to be there, but now there’s just a pole.