Oregon · Hiking · Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness · Near Mount Hood Villages

Benson Ruckel

Benson RuckelPhoto: Ryan Forsythe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
1.6 mi
round trip
361 ft
climb
3,963 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Benson Ruckel open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Hood River Ranger District.

As of · Source: USFS · Hood River Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Benson Ruckel is an easy out-and-back hike of about 1.6 miles in the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness, part of the Hood River Ranger District of Mt. Hood National Forest in Oregon. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail's natural surface makes it a straightforward walk. The route rises from about 3,830 feet to about 3,963 feet, with a total gain of 361 feet, and the steepest stretch comes at about half a mile in, with an 8% grade. The climb is rolling, and the trail returns to the starting point, so the total round-trip gain is about 361 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Government Camp weather station show July and August highs around 70°F with only about four wet days a month, while winter months bring highs in the mid-30s and rain on most days. Benson Spur Trail #405C lies about 0.8 miles away, and Herman Creek offers canoeing about 1.2 miles off. West Benson Way is about 1.4 miles away, and Eagle Creek Campground is about 3.8 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Benson Camp

    Campground

    Campground · 0.6 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    mount hood bbq

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 3 mi
  • If it rainsJmasterson, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum

    Museum

    Museum · 15 mi from Mount Hood Villages

    Aviation and automobile museum in Oregon, United States

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Jmasterson, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)

More in Mount Hood Villages

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Benson Ruckel

    Best months: June–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      37° / 26°

      20 wet

    2. Feb

      38° / 26°

      17 wet

    3. Mar

      41° / 28°

      20 wet

    4. Apr

      45° / 31°

      18 wet

    5. May

      54° / 36°

      15 wet

    6. Jun

      59° / 41°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      69° / 48°

      4 wet

    8. Aug

      70° / 48°

      4 wet

    9. Sep

      64° / 45°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      53° / 37°

      13 wet

    11. Nov

      42° / 30°

      18 wet

    12. Dec

      35° / 26°

      21 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Government Camp, OR, 23.9 mi away at 3,980 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Benson Spur Trail #405CPhoto: bzo, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Benson Spur Trail #405C

~1 min drive

0.9-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 77 ft elevation gain.

Herman CreekPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Herman Creek

~4 min drive

Scenic out-and-back climb along Herman Creek in the Columbia River Gorge.

Pct - Washington Section HPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Pct - Washington Section H

~5 min drive

Pct - Washington Section H is a 144.23-mile point-to-point trail in Oregon.

PeregrinationPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Peregrination

~6 min drive

3.72-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 518 ft gain

Eagle CreekPhoto: mjfmjfmjf, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Eagle Creek

~5 min drive

Easy 2-mile out-and-back creek walk in Oregon's Eagle Creek area.

Gorton CreekPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Gorton Creek

~5 min drive

8.90-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 4,207 ft elevation gain.

Ruckel CreekPhoto: Fotos_Ohio, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Ruckel Creek

~6 min drive

4.95-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 4,348 ft elevation gain.

Talus RidgePhoto: Bonnie Moreland (free images), Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Talus Ridge

~6 min drive

1.90-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 847 ft elevation gain

Diluvian LoopPhoto: Bonnie Moreland (free images), Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Diluvian Loop

~6 min drive

1.20-mile loop in Oregon with 351 ft elevation gain/loss.

Nick EatonPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Nick Eaton

~6 min drive

8.20-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 3,412 ft elevation gain.