The historic sign at the saddle - before recent repairs (bobcat)

Parking at Gumjuwac Saddle (bobcat)

• Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
• Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
• Latitude, Longitude: 45.33335, -121.54904
• Elevation: 5210 feet
• Driving time from Portland: 115 minutes

Hikes starting here

• Gunsight Butte-Badger Lake Loop Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)

Hikes including this trailhead

• Gumjuwac-Badger Lake Loop Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)
• Lookout Mountain-Gumjuwac Creek Loop Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)

Driving Directions

Via Sandy:

From the last traffic light in Sandy, just past the ARCO station, drive 30.9 miles, passing through Government Camp, and exit right onto Highway 35 for Hood River.

Drive 13.7 miles and turn right onto FR 44 for Lookout Mountain, Camp Baldwin, and Dufur.

Head up for 3.8 miles on paved FR 44 and make a right for High Prairie on FR 4410.

Keep to the main gravel track until you come to the T-junction at High Prairie after 4.8 miles.

Bear right here on FR 3550 (Bennett Pass Road). It’s a rough slow ride, descending 1.9 miles to the pullout area on the right at Gumjuwac Saddle.

Via Hood River:

Drive I-84 east to Hood River and take Exit 64 for White Salmon and Government Camp. Turn right, and then right again immediately.

Drive 0.4 miles to a four-way stop. Keep straight here on Highway 35 South for Odell, Parkdale and Mt. Hood.

Drive 26 miles and turn left onto FR 44 for Lookout Mountain, Camp Baldwin, and Dufur.

Head up for 3.8 miles on paved FR 44 and make a right for High Prairie on FR 4410.

Keep to the main gravel track until you come to the T-junction at High Prairie after 4.8 miles.

Bear right here on FR 3550 (Bennett Pass Road). It’s a rough slow ride, descending 1.9 miles to the pullout area on the right at Gumjuwac Saddle.

Note: Trails head in five directions from the saddle. The Gumjuwac Trail comes up from Highway 35 and then drops to the Badger Creek valley from here. The Divide Trail rises from Badger Lake and then, without crossing the road, continues up to Lookout Mountain. The Gunsight Butte Trail #685 heads south along the ridge on the west side of the road.

The old sign detailing the naming of Gumjuwac Saddle has recently been repaired (as of 2014). It reveals that the saddle is named after Gumshoe Jack, a French Canadian sheepherder who always wore gum shoes.

If you camp here, there is water about 200 yards down the Gumjuwac Trail on the west side of the ridge at Jack Spring.

Fees / Regulations

• Bennett Pass Road (FR 3550) is for vehicles with good clearance only. Take it slowly!

Page Contributors

• bobcat (creator)