Bald Mountain from Lolo Pass Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Lolo Pass Trailhead
- End point: Bald Mountain
- Trail Log: Trail Log
- Hike Type: In and out
- Distance: 6.6 miles round-trip
- Elevation gain: 1400 feet
- High Point: 4,591 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Seasons: July–November
- Family Friendly: Yes
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: Only on weekends, at the Timberline Trail junction
Contents |
Description
This hike follows a surprisingly uncrowded section of the Pacific Crest Trail from Lolo Pass to the Timberline Trail, and then a nearly forgotten lookout trail to the summit of Bald Mountain. From Bald Mountain, you'll not only be treated with a stunning view of Mount Hood, but will also see traces of an old fire lookout that stood here in the 1940s. You'll likely have the summit to yourself.
From the Lolo Pass Trailhead, follow the Pacific Crest Trail south through a recovering clearcut; then enter a handsome, mature forest and begin climbing a steep ridge through a series of well-graded switchbacks. At the 1.6 mile mark, the trail traverses around the the north slope of the ridge and then switchbacks to the southwest side of the ridge. Another traverse eventually meets the ridge top and descends briefly before reaching the junction with the Top Spur Trail at the three-mile mark. Walk just a few feet beyond this junction and immediately arrive at a somewhat confusing junction of four trails. The trail to the right, and downhill, is the continuation of the Pacific Crest Trail (#2000) and is marked with a sign to Timberline Lodge. The route to the left is the northward section of the Timberline Trail (#600), with a sign to Cairn Basin. The trail straight ahead, and uphill, is the southbound section of the Timberline Trail (#600), with a sign to the Muddy Fork, and is the route to Bald Mountain.
From the registration box at the junction, continue on the Timberline Trail toward the Muddy Fork for about 450 feet, and then watch for an unsigned trail heading left and uphill between two large trees (ignoring another boot path just beyond the junction, near a large stump, that dead-ends in the brush). This is the historic Bald Mountain Trail. Follow this rustic path over a couple of logs as you climb parallel to and above the Timberline Trail. After a few hundred feet, switchback left, and soon reach the more open forest on the slopes of Bald Mountain. The tread is always obvious, though you'll step over a number of fallen logs that have accumulated over the decades since this trail was maintained. They present only a minor obstacle along the way.
As you approach the summit, you'll re-enter a band of huckleberries and false azalea, and the trail will quickly level off on the broad, forested top of Bald Mountain. Walk through an opening in the woods, where concrete blocks mark the location of the former lookout. Here, the 40-foot trees around you mark the time that has passed since the lookout stood here in the 1930s, and the summit was open. The final few yards to the viewpoint at the east end of the summit curves through a thicket of alder and mountain ash. It suddenly ends at a steep overlook of the Muddy Fork valley and a stunning view of the west face of Mount Hood, towering above.
There are convenient rock outcrops at the viewpoint for sitting down and enjoying the spectacle, and photo buffs will want to time their visit for late afternoon, when the scene is most dramatic. From the viewpoint, you can also see a section of the Timberline Trail, just below, where the steady stream of hikers will pass your lofty perch, oblivious to your location.
To complete the hike, simply follow the same route back to the trailhead at Lolo Pass—and take a moment to clear twigs and brush from this beautiful old spur trail on your way down. This is the only maintenance that this abandoned trail gets, but it's just enough to keep it open for all to enjoy.
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
- Green Trails Maps: Government Camp, OR #461
- Adventure Maps: Mt. Hood Area
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Zigzag Ranger District
- Discover Your Northwest: Mt. Hood National Forest North: Trail Map & Hiking Guide
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Mt. Hood National Forest
- National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: Mount Hood Wilderness
- National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: Mount Hood
- Discover Your Northwest: Mt. Hood National Forest North
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- Northwest Forest Pass (or America the Beautiful Pass) required at trailhead. Pass must be acquired beforehand as they are not sold at the trailhead.
- Self-issued wilderness permit
- Wilderness rules apply
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Bald Mountain from Lolo Pass
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Bald Mountain from Lolo Pass
Guidebooks
- Afoot & Afield: Portland/Vancouver by Douglas Lorain
- Oregon: The Creaky Knees Guide by Seabury Blair, Jr.
- 50 Hiking Trails: Portland & Northwest Oregon by Don & Roberta Lowe
- 70 Hiking Trails: Northern Oregon Cascades by Don & Roberta Lowe
- 62 Hiking Trails: Northern Oregon Cascades by Don & Roberta Lowe
- Oregon Hiking by Sean Patrick Hill
- Pacific Northwest Hiking by Scott Leonard & Sean Patrick Hill
- Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail: Oregon by Eli Boschetto
- Pacific Crest Trail: Oregon & Washington by Jordan Summers
- Day Hikes on the Pacific Crest Trail: Oregon & Washington by George & Patricia Semb
More Links
- Pacific Crest Trail (Zigzag) (USFS)
- Bald Mountain from Lolo Pass (Life Under Five Two)
- Bald Mountain via Lolo Pass (I Heart Pacific Northwest)
- Bald Mountain Hike via Lolo Pass Trail (Lauren Allen)
- Trip Report: Lolo Pass to Bald Mountain (Next Adventure)
- Lolo Pass to Bald Mountain Hike (David Merrick)
- Bald Mountain from Lolo Pass Trail (All Trails)
- Discovering Bald Mountain (WyEast Blog)
- Bald Mountain (Mt. Hood) (Northwest Wildflowers)
Page Contributors
- Splintercat (Tom Kloster) (primary)