2.5 hr
Overview
The hike up the Badger Creek Trail #479 is a popular late spring hike. It's on the east side of the Cascades, so it's drier than in Portland, and it's at fairly low elevation so the snow melts off earlier in the season. You can probably get to the trailhead by late April from Wamic (FR 48 from Highway 35 can still have snow on its shaded sections), and the route is usually snow-free to Badger Lake by mid-May. The path follows Badger Creek for its entire length and intersects with other trails coming down from the ridges above. There are picturesque falls in the middle section of the route and, as you get closer to Badger Lake, lush spring-fed creeks cross the path. There are numerous campsites along the route, at least one for every mile. This is a good non-strenuous backpack trip for families: hike as far as you want, and then set up camp. Early in the season, there may be some windfall across the trail, but these will have been cleared out by June. The Badger Creek Trail originally ran from Gumjuwac Saddle to the Bonney Crossing Campground. It was built in 1918. About 500 feet south of the Badger Creek Trailhead is Bonney Crossing Campground. There are about a dozen campsites and an outhouse. They're spread out enough that several groups could camp here without seeing each other. There's a picnic table at each campsite. The campground is open year-round although there are no services in the winter. In the summer there's a fee to camp. There is no drinking water. If you're day hiking and not going all the way to Badger Lake, there are a couple of good turnaround points: To begin your hike, pass the signboard is at the trailhead. Oaks, ponderosas, grand fir, and Douglas-fir shade the trail, which runs along the north side of the creek. In a few yards, come to the wilderness sign. The creek itself, which is fringed here by willow, red osier dogwood, and young alders, supports a canopy of western red-cedar. You'll pass andesite scree slopes to the right. Lady’s slipper orchids bloom along the trail in lat
Trail Stats
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737 m
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Photos
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500px-Badger_Creek_Hike
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