29. Barlow Pass – PCT North

Summary

Length                               4 miles one way

Difficulty                            Moderate

Season                              Summer

Elevation range                4,160 – 5,280 feet

Human imprint                  Minimal

Information                       Mount Hood National Forest (Zigzag Ranger District)

Primary old growth features

Excellent noble fir, Pacific silver fir and mountain hemlock old growth.

Description

The portion of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT, 2000) heading north from Barlow Pass features prime old growth on the south flank of Mount Hood. The fragmented noble fir forest found in the vicinity of Barlow Pass and nearby Bennett Pass was one of the finest in Oregon prior to clearcutting, and still boasts some noteworthy stands. The hike begins on the edge of an old noble fir forest, and ascends from there into a Pacific silver fir and mountain hemlock forest, and finally emerges in a subalpine zone where whitebark pine and subalpine fir persevere. A stunning view of Mount Hood caps the hike.

Pick up the PCT from the east side of the parking area and head left back toward the highway. After a quarter mile, cross Highway 35 to pick up the trail by the end of the guardrail. The trail bisects a relatively small clearcut ½ mile later, and then enters a glorious stand of old noble fir and Douglas-fir. The long, seemingly taper-free, noble fir trunks tower high overhead on this productive site.

Pacific silver fir and mountain hemlock gradually replace noble fir and Douglas-fir as the trail gains elevation, leaving the species behind approximately 2 miles from the trailhead. Continue up the PCT through excellent examples of high-elevation old growth to timberline where islands and peninsulas of subalpine fir and whitebark pine intersperse with mountain meadows populated with impressive beargrass stands.

Consider the energy expended climbing up as the purchase price for a front-row seat to a first-rate mountain spectacle; dead ahead lie glaciers, deep valleys, moraines, and waterfalls dancing down the flanks of ice-capped Mount Hood.

Return as you came, or continue climbing north on the PCT another 2 miles or so to historic Timberline Lodge. With a little help from your friends and a shuttle, an alternative is to start at the lodge for a 6-mile, mostly downhill, one-way hike to Barlow Pass.

30 Years of Change

Very little change, fortunately.

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.

To reach Timberline Lodge, head northeast on a well-signed, paved road out of Government Camp approximately 2 ½ miles west of the Highway 26/Highway 35 junction. The lodge is at the end of the road 6 miles later.