Bonney Meadows Trailhead
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
- Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
- Latitude, Longitude: 45.26527, -121.58300
- Elevation: 5245 feet
- Driving time from Portland: 2 hours
Contents |
Hikes starting here
- Bonney Meadows to Boulder Lakes Loop Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Crane Prairie-Boulder Lakes Loop Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
Hikes including this location
- Bonney Butte via Bonney Meadows Trail Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Bonney Butte via Hidden Meadows Loop Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
Fees & Regulations
- No fees for trailhead parking
- Campground fee for overnight camping
- Trails in the area also open to bikes and horses
Driving Directions
The Bonney Meadows Trailhead is located at the north end of the historic Bonney Meadows Campground, and is part of a dense network of trails that explore the surrounding lakes, peaks and meadows. The campground has water and a restroom, and several developed campsites (fee).
Note: the final stretch to the trailhead is along a primitive dirt road that is not recommended for trailers and passenger cars, though is easily passable for SUVs and trucks (For an alternative trailhead that accesses the Boulder Lake trail network, consider the Boulder Lake Trailhead)
To reach the trailhead, drive on US 26 to the Highway 35 junction, and follow Highway 35 to the Forest Road 48 junction, on the right, just beyond the bridge over the White River. Follow paved Forest Road 48 south down the White River valley for 6.9 miles to the poorly marked junction with Road 4890. Turn left here, and follow this paved route for 3.7 miles to a well-marked junction with unpaved Road 4891. Signs warn you of the poor road conditions, but the road is easily passable for reasonable high-clearance vehicles in all but the wettest conditions in Spring and late Fall.
Follow Road 4891 for 3.9 miles bumpy north to the Bonney Meadows Campground spur, watching for horses and mountain bikes along the way. Turn right here, and follow the short 0.2 mile spur to the trailhead, located across the road from the campground entry sign. Parking is along the shoulder near the trailhead, and not marked as such. Please use care not to encroach on campsite parking unless you are spending the night.
If you want to be a little more adventurous and have some clearance (O.K. for some passenger cars), you can come down the Bennett Pass Road (FR 4891) from the north:
From the junction with Highway 26 and Highway 35, go right on Highway 35 for Hood River and drive 6.5 miles before bearing right for Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort and Bennett Pass Sno-Park. After 0.2 miles, turn right for Bennett Pass Sno Park.
Drive through the parking area and reach a gravel road, FR 4891. After 1.0 miles, keep left at a junction. After another 0.3 miles keep right at another unmarked junction. After 0.5 miles, keep left. The road becomes worse and from this last junction, it’s another 2.4 miles, which includes the rocky Terrible Traverse, to the junction with the road for Camp Windy and Badger Lake.
From here, it’s 1.2 miles to the unmarked junction on the left for Bonney Meadows Forest Camp. It’s 0.2 miles in to the campground, where you can find parking. (Total mileage from the Sno-Park to the Forest Camp turn off is 5.4 miles).
Page Contributors
- Splintercat (Tom Kloster) (primary)
- bobcat