At the northern trailhead for Rho Ridge (bobcat)

Mt. Hood from the northern trailhead, Rho Ridge (bobcat)

Pacific rhododendron (Rhododendron macrophyllum), Mt. Lowe, Rho Ridge (bobcat)

• Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
• Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
• Latitude, Longitude: 44.97247, -121.97665
• Elevation: 4920 feet
• Driving time from Portland: 2 hours

Hikes beginning at this trailhead

• Mount Lowe Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)

Hikes ending here

• Rho Ridge Traverse Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)

Fees and Regulations

• No forest pass is needed to park here.

Driving Directions

Via Estacada:

Driving south on I-205, take Exit 12A for Highways 224 and 212E, Clackamas and Estacada. From the merger with Highway 224, drive 3.3 miles and turn right on Highway 224E for Carver and Estacada.

Go 15.3 miles, passing through Carver and Estacada. On the east side of Estacada, at the junction with Highway 211 for Molalla and Woodburn, keep straight on Highway 224 for the Upper Clackamas River and North Fork Lake.

Keep going for 25.6 miles (Highway 224 becomes FR 46), passing the Ripplebrook Ranger Station and Campground to reach the junction with FR 57 for Timothy Lake.

Stay right here to keep on FR 46 and drive another 16.2 miles before making a right turn onto paved FR 4670.

Go 0.4 miles and, after crossing the Clackamas River, make a left at a junction to stay on FR 4670.

In 1.1 miles, keep right at the junction with FR 4671.

Go another 5.3 miles to pass the junction with FR 4672 on the left.

FR 4670 becomes gravel here (beware of a lot of rockfall on the road from here on).

Drive 4.2 miles and make a right onto FR 6310.

Proceed 1.1 miles to a saddle. You can park on the right here in a pullout or drive the jeep road 0.1 miles up the hill to the trailhead.

Other Notes

The gravel roads can be a little rough with some rockfall that might need clearing, but are fine for passenger cars.

Page Contributors

• bobcat (creator)