Crosstown Loop Hike

Overview

On national forest lands just north and west of Government Camp, a network of trails wanders just below the southern boundary of the Mt. Hood Wilderness. These are cross-country ski trails in the winter, but in summer they are eminently hikeable although most of them are shared with mountain bikers and horses. You’ll only get glimpses of Mount Hood, but the landscape ranges from lush spring-fed forest on the west and east ends of the system, with drier lodgepole pine slopes in between. This is a good outing for a cloudy day or for those who don’t like too much elevation gain. The system can be accessed on the west end at Glacier View Sno-Park or the Thunderhead Trailhead, in the middle at the Glade Trailhead, or at the east end from the Summit Rest Area Trailhead. Hiking in from the trailhead, you’ll immediately come to a trail junction, with the Crosstown Trail #755 coming in from the right and the Pioneer Bridle Trail #795 heading off to the left. Follow the latter trail, passing a sign touting the “sisterhood” of Mount Hood and China’s Mount Lu. Blue diamonds on trees mark cross-country ski routes. Douglas-firs, hemlocks, and cedars shade the lush understory of rhododendron and huckleberry. Soon you’ll pass a junction with a signed section of the Barlow Road, part of the Oregon Trail. Continue descending to cross a skunk-cabbage creek and reach the junction with the Enid Lake Loop Trail #792A. Turn right and hike up this rooty trail (this is the only trail that is not open to mountain bikers on this route). Cross a small footbridge and negotiate a boggy patch before arriving at the Crosstown-Enid Lake Loop Trail Junction. Turn left, and hike on a gradually ascending trail, passing the Crosstown-Maggie’s Trail Junction. Walk over a wide bridge, built to accommodate trail groomers in the winter. Now you’re in a very mixed, more open montane forest of lodgepole pine, mountain hemlock, western white pine, silver fir, and noble fir. Bear-grass and lupine bloom here in early summer. One notable close cluster of

Trail Stats

Photos

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