11 min
Overview
This shady county park along Little Joe Creek and the Barlow Trail has interpretive signs that introduce the hiker to some of the human and natural history of the area. There’s a planned connection with the much larger Sandy Ridge Trail system, which was built specifically for mountain bikers. You can do the Barlow Wayside trails in combination with a longer hike in the Mt. Hood area, or hike it along with other short excursions, such as the Castle Canyon Hike or Cascade Streamwatch Loop Hike. The park hosts an annual Mountain Boomer Day each February 2nd on which a resident boomer (mountain beaver) is cajoled into showing its shadow (or not). The mileage given for the hike includes the in and out Connector Trail, so if you want to do this one, start from the information kiosk near the restrooms. Head into a shady bottomland with Little Joe Creek flowing to your left and Barlow Trail Road to the right. Hike under a canopy of western red-cedar, western hemlock, and Douglas-fir in a carpet of sword fern and oxalis. Towards the creek, there’s a deciduous fringe of cottonwood, red alder, and big-leaf maple. Eventually, the trail splits: going right takes you out to the road near the Sandy Ridge Trailhead for mountain bikers; going left is a user trail that peters out rather rapidly. Turn around and head back to the parking area. Take the main gravel trail leading towards the creek and then the Little Joe Loop going left. This short trail leads to a viewing platform on the creek with a “Redd Alert” sign warning visitors and their dogs not to disturb the creek bed. Back at a junction with the main trail, go left on the self-guided nature trail. Pass an interpretive panel about the life cycle of salmon and then cross a footbridge over Little Joe Creek. There’s a pamphlet dispenser after the bridge where you can pick up a guide to the numbered stops on the trails. Walk under a canopy of cedars and then turn to ascend a set up steps to ascend a bluff. Stop #2 at the top of the bluff explains that the benches here are
Trail Stats
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56 m
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Photos
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