34. Fret Creek

2024 Status

The hike description below is based on my last visit in 2003. I plan to field check in 2024, and will update the hike description, photos and map later in 2024.

Summary

Length                                2 miles one way

Difficulty                             Moderate

Season                               Summer to early autumn

Elevation range                4,600 – 5,600 feet

Human imprint                  Minimal (Badger Creek Wilderness)

Information                       Mount Hood National Forest (Barlow Ranger District)

Primary old growth features

Old-growth western larch in a remote setting.

Description

Pockets of veteran western larch, a unique deciduous conifer, dot the hillslopes above Fret Creek in the northern fringe of the Badger Creek Wilderness. The orange-barked larches are quite distinctive, especially when the soft green clusters of needles turn yellow in the fall. The thick, fire-resistant bark of old larches, and the ability of young larches to grow rapidly in open sunlight, earned western larch a niche of its own in the historic fire cycle. Larch seems to fare particularly well on higher elevation, north-facing slopes of the east side.

Head southwest up the Fret Creek Trail (456A) found just east of Fifteenmile Campground. After a steep beginning, the trail climbs on a moderate grade for 2 miles passing Oval Lake, and then intersecting with the Divide Trail (458). Turn left on the Divide Trail and ascend to the ridge for great views of the Badger Creek Wilderness and major Cascade peaks. This area has experienced multiple waves of defoliation from the avaricious spruce budworm.

30 Years of Change

Last hiked in 2003. I plan to re-hike and update in 2024.

How to get there

From Highway 35 turn northeast onto the Dufur Mill Road (FR 44) about 25 miles south of the town of Hood River (13 ¼ miles north of the Highway 26/Highway 35 junction). Turn right onto FR 4420 in 8 ½ miles, then veer left onto FR 2730 in another 2 miles. The trailhead is on the right about ¼ mile past Fifteenmile Campground a little over 2 miles later.

Map note

The map below was created in 2003 and accurate at that time. I plan to field check and update the map in 2024.