At the end of the walk to Sherrard Point, the trail trades trees for a stone staircase: roughly 120 to 126 steps rising toward one of the broadest mountain overlooks near the Columbia Gorge. It is a wonderfully direct setup. Drive up, walk uphill for a short stretch, take the stairs, and the landscape opens far beyond the size of the effort.
The point looks over the surrounding Cascade country and the Columbia River corridor. On a clear day, the horizon can hold an unusually satisfying roll call of Northwest summits: Mount Hood, Mount Adams, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Jefferson.
Rainier is the long-distance surprise. It sits nearly 100 miles away, a faint but recognizable presence when the air is clear enough. Clouds, of course, can erase much of this grand arrangement, so Sherrard Point is a place where the forecast has a lot to say about the outcome.
A short walk with a stone-stepped finish
Most visits begin at the upper parking area, where the route to the viewpoint is a relatively short uphill path. The walk is generally manageable for people comfortable on an incline, but the final staircase gives it a firmer finish than a flat overlook stroll.
Those stone steps are not merely an obstacle between the lot and the view. They give the approach a little ceremony. The summit arrives one riser at a time, and the hard work is concentrated enough that you do not need to commit to a long hike to get a mountain-top moment.
The stairs and uneven uphill terrain also set the practical limit of the visit. This is not a wheelchair-accessible viewpoint, and people who cannot comfortably handle stairs may find the final approach unsuitable.
Five peaks on a good-weather day
Mount Hood is a natural attention-getter, but Sherrard Point rewards a slower scan of the skyline. Adams rises to the north, St. Helens has its unmistakable altered profile, Jefferson appears farther south, and Rainier can show itself in the distance on especially clear days.
It is the sort of overlook where binoculars would have a job to do, though the wide view is enjoyable without them. A person can spend a few minutes identifying the familiar peaks, then keep looking at the folds of forest and river country in between.
Sky-watching fits the setting well, too. The overlook is used for sunset stops, stargazing, and meteor-viewing nights. Daylight provides the big geographic picture; evening shifts attention to the changing sky above it.
The road up Larch Mountain
The drive is a substantial portion of the outing. Larch Mountain Road runs roughly 14 miles toward the upper parking area, turning the viewpoint into a scenic mountain-road destination rather than a quick pull-off beside the Columbia River highway.
The road is paved to the lot, although the approach is long and can feel rough in places. That gradual climb also helps explain why the top has a pleasantly removed quality: you have left the busier Gorge corridor behind before the short summit walk even begins.
At the parking area, the facilities stay simple and useful. Picnic tables, barbecue grills, and an outhouse make it possible to linger over a sandwich or a thermos of coffee before or after heading up to the point.
A place to return in autumn
The short viewpoint route works in more than one season. Autumn brings color to the mountain setting and gives repeat visitors a reason to make the same brief climb again, even after they already know the view.
The site also accommodates a range of low-key outdoor plans: walking, hiking, trail running, and dog walking. Dogs are permitted on leash, which makes the overlook an easy addition to a day out with a four-legged companion.
It can draw a crowd, particularly when the weather is unusually clear, but the upper parking area has ample space much of the time. On exceptionally busy days, it can fill.
For hikers who want to earn the overlook
Sherrard Point can also be the destination at the end of a far more demanding day. Longer routes climb from the Multnomah Falls area, beginning near the falls and Benson Bridge before leaving the busy landmark behind for quieter forest.
This is a completely different proposition from the short walk at the top. The forest approach includes sustained elevation gain, switchbacks, creek crossings, and old-growth surroundings beneath a shaded canopy with limited direct sun.
One longer out-and-back route is about 14 miles with more than 4,000 feet of elevation gain. Another approach is often described as roughly seven miles to Sherrard Point. These routes call for water, snacks, and proper hiking or trail-running shoes, not just the casual footwear that may suffice for the drive-up viewpoint.
A few conditions worth checking
The easiest car access is outside winter. The road gate may close during winter conditions, so it is wise to verify road status before committing to the mountain drive.
Parking requirements can change as well. A permit or fee may be required, so checking current payment rules before leaving saves an unnecessary surprise at the upper lot.
On a clear afternoon, the simplest plan remains a very good one: make the long mountain-road drive, take the short uphill walk, climb the stone steps, and give the horizon a little time.