Difference between revisions of "Mount Baldy Loop Hike"
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
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[[Image:View down Wild Hog valley, Mt. Baldy, Ridgeline Trail.jpg|thumb|250px|View down the Wild Hog valley from Mt. Baldy, Ridgeline Trail ''(bobcat)'']] | [[Image:View down Wild Hog valley, Mt. Baldy, Ridgeline Trail.jpg|thumb|250px|View down the Wild Hog valley from Mt. Baldy, Ridgeline Trail ''(bobcat)'']] | ||
[[Image:Willamette Valley ponderosa, Spencer Butte, Ridgeline Trail.jpg|thumb|160px|Willamette Valley ponderosa on the slopes of Spencer Butte, Ridgeline Trail ''(bobcat)'']] | [[Image:Willamette Valley ponderosa, Spencer Butte, Ridgeline Trail.jpg|thumb|160px|Willamette Valley ponderosa on the slopes of Spencer Butte, Ridgeline Trail ''(bobcat)'']] | ||
| − | [[Image: | + | [[Image:MountBaldyMap.png|thumb|250px|The hike to Mt. Baldy in solid red; some of the dashed line trails have been decommissioned (not a GPS track) ''(bobcat)'' Courtesy: ''MapBuilder Topo'']] |
{{Start point|Dillard West Trailhead}} | {{Start point|Dillard West Trailhead}} | ||
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=== Description === | === Description === | ||
| − | [[Mount Baldy (Eugene)|Mount Baldy]] is the high peak at the east end of Eugene's southern hills. Its summit can be directly reached from two trailheads in the Ridgeline Trail system: the Spring Boulevard Trailhead half a mile to the north and the [[Dillard East Trailhead]] | + | [[Mount Baldy (Eugene)|Mount Baldy]] is the high peak at the east end of Eugene's southern hills. Its summit can be directly reached from two trailheads in the Ridgeline Trail system: the Spring Boulevard Trailhead half a mile to the north and the [[Dillard East Trailhead]] half a mile to the south. For a somewhat longer outing, try this excursion from the [[Dillard West Trailhead]], which reaches [[Mount Baldy (Eugene)|Mount Baldy]] via a fairly new extension of the Ridgeline Trail in the Amazon Creek headwaters area. You'll encounter a few gnarly old Douglas-firs in addition to some Willamette Valley ponderosa pines, madrones, and white oaks on [[Mount Baldy (Eugene)|Mount Baldy]]. Furthermore, views extend to the valley of the Willamette below and on to the central Cascades. |
From the [[Dillard West Trailhead]], walk to the north end of the parking area, and find the trail paralleling Dillard Road. In 0.2 miles, you’ll come to a kiosk, and turn up the slope. After cresting the ridge, drop to a junction, and make a right. Drop down the hillside to switchback among a tangle of blackberries. At the next junction, go right, and descend steeply to a junction with a Yield sign. Make a right here to descend the slope before making a level traverse. Just before a large, gnarly Douglas-fir, you can look downhill and see a sign denoting “Ed’s Trail,” a now-decommissioned unofficial route that came up from Amazon Creek. Rise past a maintenance access trail, and hike alongside a powerline corridor, which you’ll soon cross. Head up the slope to cross Dillard Road and come to the [[Dillard East Trailhead]]. | From the [[Dillard West Trailhead]], walk to the north end of the parking area, and find the trail paralleling Dillard Road. In 0.2 miles, you’ll come to a kiosk, and turn up the slope. After cresting the ridge, drop to a junction, and make a right. Drop down the hillside to switchback among a tangle of blackberries. At the next junction, go right, and descend steeply to a junction with a Yield sign. Make a right here to descend the slope before making a level traverse. Just before a large, gnarly Douglas-fir, you can look downhill and see a sign denoting “Ed’s Trail,” a now-decommissioned unofficial route that came up from Amazon Creek. Rise past a maintenance access trail, and hike alongside a powerline corridor, which you’ll soon cross. Head up the slope to cross Dillard Road and come to the [[Dillard East Trailhead]]. | ||
Revision as of 17:43, 14 January 2018
- Start point: Dillard West Trailhead
- End Point: Mount Baldy
- Trail Log:
- Hike Type: Lollipop loop
- Distance: 3.5 miles
- Elevation gain: 510 feet
- High Point: 1235 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Seasons: All year
- Family Friendly: Yes
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: Yes
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Contents |
Description
Mount Baldy is the high peak at the east end of Eugene's southern hills. Its summit can be directly reached from two trailheads in the Ridgeline Trail system: the Spring Boulevard Trailhead half a mile to the north and the Dillard East Trailhead half a mile to the south. For a somewhat longer outing, try this excursion from the Dillard West Trailhead, which reaches Mount Baldy via a fairly new extension of the Ridgeline Trail in the Amazon Creek headwaters area. You'll encounter a few gnarly old Douglas-firs in addition to some Willamette Valley ponderosa pines, madrones, and white oaks on Mount Baldy. Furthermore, views extend to the valley of the Willamette below and on to the central Cascades.
From the Dillard West Trailhead, walk to the north end of the parking area, and find the trail paralleling Dillard Road. In 0.2 miles, you’ll come to a kiosk, and turn up the slope. After cresting the ridge, drop to a junction, and make a right. Drop down the hillside to switchback among a tangle of blackberries. At the next junction, go right, and descend steeply to a junction with a Yield sign. Make a right here to descend the slope before making a level traverse. Just before a large, gnarly Douglas-fir, you can look downhill and see a sign denoting “Ed’s Trail,” a now-decommissioned unofficial route that came up from Amazon Creek. Rise past a maintenance access trail, and hike alongside a powerline corridor, which you’ll soon cross. Head up the slope to cross Dillard Road and come to the Dillard East Trailhead.
Take the gravel trail up the slope of Mount Baldy, keeping left at the loop junction and switchbacking twice under oaks and Douglas-firs. A short “view loop” leads left for a vista over the city of Eugene. Meet the ridgeline, and hike under Douglas-firs, getting views across the Wild Hog Creek valley. The trail arrives at the grassy summit of Mount Baldy. Pass a bench with a vista towards the Willamette River and Springfield. Come to a junction, and bear right to make a loop. The trail traverses the open slope past oaks and madrones above a couple new homes. Switchback twice, and cross the powerline corridor before switchbacking two more times to reach the Dillard East Trailhead. Return the way you came to your vehicle. For further explorations on the trails here, see the Ridgeline Trail Hike.
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- Dogs on leash
- Share trail with bikes
- Trail open 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
- Do NOT leave belongings in your vehicle
- Maps available at trailheads
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
- Ridgeline Trail Map (Eugene Outdoors)
- Eugene Parks & Open Space: Ridgeline Trail Map
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Mount Baldy Loop Hike
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Mount Baldy Loop Hike
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- Best Easy Day Hikes: Eugene, Oregon by Art & Lynn Bernstein
- 100 Hikes in the Central Oregon Cascades by William L. Sullivan
- Trail Running: Oregon by Lizann Dunegan
- Oregon Hiking by Sean Patrick Hill
- Canine Oregon by Lizann Dunegan
- The Dog Lover’s Companion to Oregon by Val Mallinson
More Links
- Ridgeline Trail System (City of Eugene)
- Ridgeline Trail, Oregon (National Recreation Trails)
- Mt. Baldy Park (Eugene Parks)
- Mount Baldy (Summit Post)
- Mount Baldy via Ridgeline Trail (Modern Hiker)
- Mt. Baldy (Bored in Eugene Oregon)
Page Contributors
- bobcat (creator)