1.8 hr
Overview
This hike drops into an old-growth bottomland that holds Bonney Creek, the White River, and Barlow Creek before rising up a wilderness slope to sparkling Catalpa Lake, nestled under the Frog Lake Buttes. You will use part of the Oregon Trail to take this route, but note also that the White River Ford is much deeper than most fords in the area, so if you're not up for that, you could hike up to Catalpa Lake from the Barlow Creek Campground or do the short Catalpa Lake Hike. From the pullout on FR 48 (Wamic Road), head down Bonney Meadows Trail #471 in a dry forest of Douglas-fir, western hemlock, and western red-cedar. There may be some blowdown and debris as this section of trail is not maintained annually. There are four switchbacks. The trail levels and you cross a tannin-stained skunk-cabbage bog which is actually Bonney Creek. There are large, old-growth Douglas-firs and hemlocks in this area. Suddenly, you will reach the White River Ford. The trail veers right to the best ford of the river. Depending on your height, this ford may still be thigh to waist high. WARNING: The White River flows out of a glacier on Mount Hood. The water will be cold! Use trekking poles or a solid staff to keep your balance. Keep your boots on or exchange them for tennis shoes (not water shoes or flip-flops). Pack away your camera. Unbuckle your pack, so if you go down, you can slip it off: you don't want it to drag you under. Cross slowly and deliberately, side on to the current, feeling your way with your feet and probing with poles. Unless you have a dog that is a strong swimmer and loves the water, leave your pet at home for this hike. See also Tips for Crossing Streams. Back on the trail, head through open woodland with western white pines. The wide trail crosses a small bog and then follow a road track through lodgepole pine woods and reach the Barlow Road, where a sign says Catalpa Lake is 1 ¾ miles (It’s actually farther than that). There’s also a post marking the Oregon Trail here. The Bonney Meadows Trail crossed t
Trail Stats
0.0 km
533 m
0 m
0 m
—
Photos
400px-CatalpaBonneyMap
400px-CatalpaBonneyMap
250px-BonneyCatalpa2
250px-BonneyCatalpa2
250px-BonneyCatalpa4
250px-BonneyCatalpa4
160px-BonneyCatalpa5
160px-BonneyCatalpa5
250px-BonneyCatalpa3
250px-BonneyCatalpa3
400px-BonneyCatalpa1
400px-BonneyCatalpa1