15. Buck Peak

Summary

Length                                5 ½ miles one way

Difficulty                             Moderately difficult

Season                              Summer to autumn

Elevation range                3,200 – 4,740 feet

Human imprint                  Low (PCT hikers)

Information                       Mount Hood National Forest (Hood River Ranger District)

Primary old growth features

Gorgeous Pacific silver fir and noble fir.

Description

Beautiful silver fir and noble fir old growth drape across the east and south slopes of Devils Pulpit, a rocky prominence south of Lost Lake. The Huckleberry Mountain Trail winds its way up through the old forest from Lost Lake up to a junction with the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT.) Although most hikers use the Huckleberry Mountain Trail to access the PCT for long-distance trips, a fine day-trip can be had by turning north on the PCT from the junction towards Buck Peak. As a side note, tasty huckleberries are plentiful alongside much of both trails.

From the trailhead on FR 620, head west on the Huckleberry Mountain Trail (617) in attractive low elevation old-growth featuring large Douglas-fir, western hemlock, and western redcedar. The trail soon enters younger forest and switchbacks around to the southwest. Lost Lake can be glimpsed below the trail in a couple of spots with Lost Lake Butte rising above the lake.

The trail enters gorgeous old forest about a mile up the trail, continuing for another mile to the PCT junction. Large Pacific silver fir dominate at first, but as the trail winds around the ridge onto southeast-facing slopes towering noble fir become prominent. The blue-hued noble fir and silver-barked silver fir are an exemplar for the type and quite distinct from the low-elevation old growth at the start of the trail.

Turn right on the PCT and switchback up through majestic silver fir to a saddle between Devils Pulpit and Preachers Peak where recent blowdown has thinned the stand. Large tip-up mounds dot the blowdown area.

Continue north on the PCT for approximately three miles to the junction with the Buck Peak Trail (615.) The forests along this section of the hike are mixed with scattered large silver fir and patches of both young and old forest. On the trip north, Lost Lake, Buck Peak and the intervening landscape are intermittently visible. On the return trip south, Mt. Hood pops up conspicuously over Devils Pulpit.

It’s less than a half mile up the Buck Peak Trail to the summit where a spectacular view awaits. The forest atop Buck Peak has grown in and obscured views of the landscape to the north, but a broad panorama to the east and southeast remains showcasing Mt. Hood and Lost Lake. Note that the trail junction was unsigned and the trail was heavily brushed in as of August, 2024, but both are scheduled to be remedied by the end of the year.

30 years of change

The forest appears largely unchanged, though there is recent blowdown at the saddle between Devils Pulpit and Preachers Peak.

How to get there

Head south through the town of Hood River on 13th Street, continuing south on Highway 281 (Dee Highway). Stay on Highway 281 for a little over 11 miles, then turn right onto Lost Lake Road near Dee. Stay on Lost Lake Road for approximately 14 miles until reaching the Lost Lake Entrance Station. Note that although day-use visitors must stop at the Lost Lake Entrance Station, hikers intending to park by the FR 620 trailhead do not need to pay the day-use fee charged by Lost Lake Resort since the trailhead lies outside the permit area.

Turn left (south) on the upper campground road (FR 1340) and go south approximately 1 ¼ mile past the horse camp and organization camp arriving at a junction with FR 620 just before the gate on FR 1340. Turn right on FR 620 and park by the trailhead ¼ mile later.

Note that the trail can also be reached from the south end of the Lost Lake Lakeshore Trail.