Barlow Butte Hike

Overview

The Barlow Butte Trail #670 climbs up to the summit of Barlow Butte in a recently added (2009) section of the Mt. Hood Wilderness. There are very limited views from the summit itself, which displays colorful wildflowers in the summer, but the old lookout site below the summit (see the directions below) offers a great vista to Mount Hood. A short detour south along Barlow Ridge will give you more expansive views south to Mount Jefferson and north to Mount Hood. For a more extensive hike on the hard-to-follow, abandoned section of the Barlow Butte Trail, see the Barlow Ridge Loop Hike. From the trailhead walk south past a big old ski trail signboard. The path is wide here because this is the route of the old Barlow Road (Road 3530, the vehicle road a little bit to your left, deviated slightly from the Barlow Road when it was built). The trail soon connects with that road. Descend 40 yards to where the Barlow Butte Trail #670/Mineral Jane Ski Trail branch off to the left. The trail follows the wagon road down into deep old growth forest of Douglas-fir, western hemlock, silver fir, and Engelmann spruce. Also look for some impressive Douglas-firs here. You'll reach the Barlow Butte-Devils Half Acre Trail Junction where latter trail, formerly the Barlow Creek Trail, goes straight. You'll turn left and walk through a small meadow before re-entering the trees. It should be noted that this little meadow was the site of an excavation in 1976 during which a number of Oregon Trail artifacts were found. Based on this, some think the meadow was the site of Fort Deposit, mentioned in trail diaries, where a rough cabin once stood and where late-arriving emigrants, wanting to travel light over the passes, left possessions and wagons for a late spring retrieval. The trail crosses a sturdy footbridge over Barlow Creek, which dries up to a trickle in the summer. The trail starts to gradually climb in a bear-grass carpet and then reaches Barlow Butte-Mineral Jane Ski Trail Junction. Go right here, ascending a slope with an old

Trail Stats

Photos

400px-BarlowButteMap1

400px-BarlowButteMap1

250px-Barlowbutte2

250px-Barlowbutte2

250px-Rock_penstemon%2C_Barlow_Butte

250px-Rock_penstemon%2C_Barlow_Butte

250px-Wilderness_sign%2C_Barlow_Butte_Trail

250px-Wilderness_sign%2C_Barlow_Butte_Trail

400px-Barlowbutte1

400px-Barlowbutte1

Tags