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Gresham Butte 5-2-08

Posted by Stevefromdodge (2008-05-06)

In the never ending quest to get caught up on trip reports, here's a lunch-time trip that I snuck in on Friday. Jen (chubbyfm) had recommended Gresham Butte. I'd never heard of the place, which is always a sure-fire draw for me.

Gresham Butte is south of Gresham and east of Powell Butte. I think there are a number of trailheads. I started on the west side at the end of 19th Street off Towle Road. Here's a look at the trailhead.

The trail is wide and graveled, but curiously steep for an urban trail. It immediately drops through a little valley.

There are several old stone walls next to the trail. This section, filled with holly trees looks like an old homesite, complete with curb.

I quickly came to a trail junction. The trail I had been following (perhaps the Gresham Butte Saddle Trail) was crossed by another old road converted into a trail. This one looks pretty steep heading north toward the north summit, but I can testify personally that the south route climbs about 600 feet to the south summit. This is once again a very wide, solid trail, but steepness will slow you down going up.

There's a water tower at the peak of the south summit, but backtracking led me the better find that Jen mentioned. Just down from the summit, there's a side trail and about 100 yards down the side trail is this work of art.

This might be the only bus to make the Field Guide!

This whole area would be a great winter workout for trailrunners and the like. It was a little much for a skip-out-of-work-at-lunch jaunt, but fortunately I had a clean shirt in the car.

Thanks for the recommendation, Jen!

Re: Gresham Butte 5-2-08

Posted by Jewelle (2008-05-06)

I've been here a couple times, nice little after dinner jaunt. I love that bus though, awesome!!

Re: Gresham Butte 5-2-08

Posted by jeffstatt (2008-05-06)

Nice report! Didn't know that was there!

Re: Gresham Butte 5-2-08

Posted by joerunner (2008-05-08)

I love heading up there during hot summer days. There are some descent trails heading down the backside too except for the illegal garbage burns. Those climbs are pretty steep too.

I've seen that bus. It reminds me of the book Into the Wild where that guy goes to live in the Alaskan wild and ends up in a old bus.

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