31. Upper Barlow 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                                4 mile loop

Difficulty                             Easy

Season                               Summer - Autumn

Elevation range                3,710 – 4,550 feet

Human imprint                  Low (campground)

Information                       Mount Hood National Forest (Hood River Ranger District)

Primary old growth features

Beautiful old-growth noble fir.

Description

The wonderful stand of noble fir near Barlow Pass can be easily sampled with a short stroll down to Devil’s Half Acre Campground, or can be extended for a slightly more difficult four-mile loop. Follow the Barlow Butte Trail (670) from the trailhead, and take a right onto the Devil’s Half Acre Trail (482A) a little over a quarter mile later. The trail turns south paralleling upper Barlow Creek through luxuriant old forest, giving way to younger forest shortly before reaching the campground approximately 2/3 mile later. Numerous wet meadows, seeps and small streams converge in this area.

To continue from the campground, follow FR 3530-220 south for 1/3 mile or so and follow the signs across the road and Barlow Creek to resume on a normal trail tread in a portion of the Mt. Hood Wilderness. Continue uphill to the west and southwest, through an attractive older forest at first and then in a much younger forest for the remainder of the loop. Turn right at the junction with the Palmeteer Trail (482) a little over 2 ¼ miles from the trailhead, and then right again at the Pacific Crest Trail (2000) less than a quarter mile later. Return to FR 3531 on the PCT less than 1 ½ miles later.

30 Years of Change

The Mt. Hood Wilderness has been expanded (2009) over the west half of the loop. The forest appears very little changed.

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.

Map note

The map below was created in 1993 and accurate at that time. Note that the hike did not originally include the full loop. I plan to field check and update the map in 2024.