Gunsight Butte-Badger Lake Loop Hike

Overview

From Gumjuwac Saddle, this loop takes the high ridge on the western edge of the Badger Creek drainage. It offers splendid views across to to Mount Hood and a series of wildflowers meadows and rock gardens. The return part of the loop takes you down the lush, little-travelled upper section of the Badger Creek Trail to Badger Lake and thence, via the Divide Trail past gushing springs and huckleberry patches back to Gumjuwac Saddle. Note that the Gumjuwac Saddle Trailhead, on the notorious Bennett Pass Road, should not be attempted with low clearance vehicles. Longer hikes incorporating this loop can be done from the Gumjuwac Trailhead (add 4.8 miles round-trip and 1,600' elevation gain/loss) or from the High Prairie Trailhead (add 6.6 miles round-trip and 1,700' elevation gain/loss). Also, there is the option to do a short road walk and trail to access Jean Lake. Strike out from Gumjuwac Saddle heading up the Gunsight Butte Trail #685 on the west side of the road going south along the ridge in silver fir/mountain hemlock forest with Engelmann spruce and some western white pine. Mountain bikes also use this track, causing some dust. The woods are dry and you pass through a small burn from 2006. Switchback up into the burn and then make two more switchbacks on a penstemon-lined trail. The crest of the andesite ridge appears to the right and there are excellent views of Mount Hood and the big Blue Grass Ridge burn, also from 2006, above Elk Meadows. Mountain sandwort, paintbrush and sulfur buckwheat brighten the open slope. Keep going up through a copse of shady mountain hemlock and then the trail switchbacks down to traverse a saddle. Switchback up and get a view to the left of Lookout Mountain. Pass over the wooded top of Gunsight Butte and note a knoll of fragmented andesite to the right which affords great views of Hood. Then the trail joins the Bennett Pass Road. A sign says to walk along the road for 400’ before rejoining the trail. There are views from the road down to Badger Lake and south to Mount Jeffer

Trail Stats

Photos

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