Outbound Collective logo

Hike Cottonwood Canyons Pinnacle Trail

Condon, Oregon

5.0/5
based on 1 reviews

Details

Distance

8.6 miles

Elevation Gain

50 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Lorene Voskinarian

Cottonwood Canyon State Park and the Pinnacles Trail offers scenic views and glimpses of wildlife along the John Day River.

Starting near the entrance to the fee-free Cottonwood Canyon State Park, which is one of Oregon's newest state Parks, find the large sign for the start of the Pinnacles Trail.  This park was formerly a ranch, and this largely flat trail runs along an erstwhile ranch road that follows the John Day River. Undulating 4.3 miles into the canyon, you may catch glimpses of wildlife like elk, big horn sheep, and deer.  The trail gets it's name from the rock formations etched into the basalt cliffs, and the many spots along the route make for excellent photos.  Keep an eye underfoot too, as rattlesnakes make their home in this area.

Be sure to bring adequate water on this hike. There is little shade along this trail which can by very dry and dusty. 

Read More

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Features

Photography
Hiking
Bathrooms
Easy Parking
River
Scenic
Wildlife

Reviews

I’m traveling with my dog and we camped here out of our truck for one night. We did this trail the next morning. The smell of sage was perfectly pungent. Like wow!!! The trail was a mix of gravel and grass and was super easy to navigate and hike; very relaxing. I really enjoyed the huge rock formations and the beautiful sounds and color of the river. So many photo opportunities!

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Mountain Biking the Deschutes River Trail

Rock Climb Horsethief Butte

Hike through Dalles Mountain Ranch

Explore White River Falls

Explore White River Falls State Park

White River Falls