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Mt. Defiance
Hood River,
Oregon
(Hood River County)
Last Updated:
05/29/2023
Trail Information
Highlights
Mount Defiance is a peak near the Columbia River Gorge region of northwestern Oregon. It rises to an elevation of 4,984 feet in the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness on the Mount Hood National Forest. The peak is in Hood River County, Oregon.
If you love amazing, expansive views, then the steep, bumpy crawl to the top of Mt. Defiance is ALL about that. From the summit, look to the south to see Mt Hood, and to the east is Hood River Valley. To the west is Mt. St Helens in Washington, and to the north is the Columbia River and Mt Adams. Apparently, this is an ideal mountain for communication equipment - as there are several buildings and antenna towers at the summit. Please be mindful of this equipment and stay well clear of it all.
A perfect picnic spot is along the south side near some large rocks. This spot gives you a great view of the valley and Mt. Hood.
The 1.6 miles and 1,165ft elevation gain to the top is all steep, very "bumpy" and requires a slow crawl. This is why solitude is found at the top of Mt Defiance - only the strongest of hikers, and high-clearance 4X4 vehicles should attempt this road.
Trail Difficulty and Assessment
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Trail Reviews
Open
Rated
4/5
Visited: 07/24/2022
Difficulty Accuracy:
Easier
I was in my 2021 TRD off road 4runner and the trail allowed me to play around with my crawl control and other offroad settings which was great. I had no clearance issues, but I took it slow and picked the correct lines. Once you get to Warren Lake parking area the trail becomes nothing but loose rock, almost slate like. It all crumbles and breaks under the weight of the rig but deflating tire pressure could help. I didn't make it all the way to the top due to time issues, the directions only take you to warren lake parking area. all in all, a good trail to play around with and maybe teach someone just starting how to pick lines, that speed isn't always the best way to move through obstacles. seemed to be plenty of camping spots around as well. Lots of ATV vehicles ripping around too, so be careful
Open
Rated
5/5
Visited: 09/25/2021
Fun trail! I ran it in a stock Chevy Colorado and had no issues. I did hit my skids a couple of times, but if you're careful you could move the rocks or take better lines. Nothing technical, but I would not want to do it in a Subaru or something with less clearance
Open
Rated
5/5
Visited: 06/17/2021
Great fun. Not sure I’d rate this trail as hard. Nothing technical, hardly any off camber. Steep, but not crazy steep. Anything with 4x4 high clearance and a reduction gear can do this. Views are spectacular, weather was impeccable. There is an antenna with a ladder you can climb to see not only Mount Hood, but also Mount St Helena, Mount Rainier, and Mount Adams.
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