30. Barlow Butte 

Summary

Length                                2 miles one way

Difficulty                             Difficult (very steep near the top)

Season                               Summer – early autumn

Elevation range                4,160 – 5,060 feet

Human imprint                  Minimal

Information                       Mount Hood National Forest (Hood River Ranger District)

Primary old growth features

Beautiful old-growth noble fir.

Description

Short but steep, this hike traverses some of the finest old-growth noble fir left near Mt Hood. Douglas-fir, western hemlock, Pacific silver fir and mountain hemlock all make an appearance along the trail, but the long, branch-free and seemingly taper-free trunks of the regal noble fir take center stage. Noble fir needles do not tolerate shade well leading to lower branch dieback as the trees mature, and eventual loss of noble fir in the stand. However, barring wildfire, noble fir in this 250-300-year-old stand should have another two or three centuries of life.

From the Barlow Pass trailhead, immediately cross the Pacific Crest Trail and continue straight on the path signed as ‘Barlow Road Wagon Trail.’ This path shortly crosses FR 3530 pitching off left after a few dozen yards on the road onto the Barlow Butte Trail (670). Note that the only trail signage is for the Mineral Jane Ski Trail, which overlaps the beginning of the Barlow Butte Trail. The trail passes a trio of ancient Douglas-fir on the right and a particularly fat silver fir on the left before reaching a trail junction with the Barlow Creek Trail (see hike 31). Turn left and stay on the Barlow Butte Trail all the way to the top.

Understory beargrass adds character along the lower slopes, where we saw and heard black-backed woodpeckers. These roving tourists seem to have strayed from their normal habitat: snag-rich, post-fire forests. The blue-hued crowns and long, stout trunks of old noble fir are featured along the second mile of the hike, a notably steep portion of trail. Noble fir feels particularly ethereal when mist and fog drifts through the canopy, as on a common Cascades kind of day.

Old mountain hemlock populates the very top of Barlow Butte, where a rock outcrop seems to promise a great view of nearby Mt. Hood. Alas, tree growth has so obscured the view to the north that hikers might not be aware that the summit of Mt. Hood is only five miles away. Note that the trail along Barlow Ridge to the east of Barlow Butte is no longer maintained.

30 Years of Change

The Mt. Hood Wilderness has been expanded (2009) to include the last mile or so of this hike. The forest appears very little changed, though tree growth has almost completely blocked the views from the top.

How to get there

Turn right onto FR 3531 from Highway 35 approximately 2 ½ miles east of the Highway 26/Highway 35 junction. Barlow Pass trailhead parking is on the right a quarter mile down FR 3531.