Clear Lake via Blue Box Trail Hike

Overview

If there is one feature that encapsulates the spirit of the Blue Box Trail, it is old growth. Most of the trail is through old growth forest, with some substantial noble firs and Douglas-firs on the up slope and crest and then more massive Doug-firs and western hemlocks down towards Clear Lake. The trail passes through two small clearcuts on the crest, where you can go off-trail to get a view of Mount Hood from one and Frog Lake Buttes from the other. The trail also passes close to other clearcuts, but does an admirable job of keeping you mostly in unlogged forest. The route is logged out from time to time and seems to be reasonably well-maintained. It may get more horse than hiker traffic, but probably very little of either. To the left of the restrooms, trail signs point you past a shaded picnic table to a junction with the Pacific Crest Trail. Go left here and walk 75 yards to Highway 26. Cross carefully, looking both ways (Traffic is going at least 60 mph!) and enter the shady coniferous forest on the other side. Drop about 100 yards to the Pacific Crest-Blue Box Trail Junction, and go left on the Blue Box Trail #483. This trail, usually maintained, rises gently in a woodland of Douglas-fir, western hemlock, noble fir, and silver fir. There’s a mossy carpet in an open understory with low huckleberry bushes, bear-grass, and pipsissewa. As the slope steepens, you will notice larger trees, especially noble fir and Douglas-fir. The noise from the highway also begins to abate. Cross the gravel FR 6620-220 spur at a campsite. There’s a Trail #483 sign posted on a large noble fir here. The trail reaches a broad crest and drops gradually before rising into a clearcut regenerating with Douglas-fir, noble fir, western white pine, and western larch saplings. Past the halfway point in this clearcut, leave the trail and hike to the right to where the slope begins to drop. Here you will get the best view of Mount Hood on this hike. Back on the trail, reenter old growth forest and hike across the broad Blue Box Summi

Trail Stats

Photos

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