Little Badger Creek Trailhead
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
- Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
- Latitude, Longitude: 45.287607, -121.361311 Topo map
- Elevation: 2140 feet
- Driving time from Portland: 135 minutes
Contents |
Hikes starting here
- Little Badger Creek Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- School Canyon-Little Badger Creek Loop Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
Fees and regulations
- No fees
- Outhouse at trailhead
Driving Directions
Take SR 26 east past Mount Hood. Go on SR 26 to milepost 68 (roughly 41-42 miles from Sandy). Just after milepost 68 turn left onto paved Road 43. Go 5.8 miles on Road 43 to a Stop sign.
Turn right onto paved Road 48 at Stop sign. Go 15.6 miles on Road 48 (google says 15.3 miles, so my trip meter may be off a bit), and turn left on paved Road 4810.
After 0.2 miles veer right to stay on Rd. 4810 (if you go straight 0.2 miles from here, there is access to Rock Creek Reservoir, potentially a great place to swim on the way back). Go another 1.9 miles on Rd. 4810, and turn right onto paved Rd. 4811.
Follow Rd. 4811 for 1.2 miles and turn right onto gravel Rd. 2710. In the next couple of miles there are some dirt roads that split off it; just follow the better, gravel road.
In about 1.8 miles the road splits - keep left (a road to the right goes to Bonney Crossing campground, which has restrooms). 1/10 mile later, just after creek crossing, is the Badger Creek Trailhead on the left, after which the road becomes bumpy for a bit as it climbs out of the canyon. After 7.3 miles on Road 2710 (7.0 miles by google) you'll reach the Little Badger Creek Trailhead - a big pullout on the right, just before the creek crossing. Park there.
There are no road signs before the trailhead, but the trail starts right across the road and Little Badger Creek - you will see a trail sign a few yards off the road.
| Step | Cumulative Miles | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | Turn left from SR 26 onto paved Rd. 43 shortly after milepost 68. Reset odometer. |
| 2 | 5.8 | Turn right onto paved Rd. 48 at Stop sign. |
| 3 | 21.4 | Turn left on paved Road 4810. |
| 4 | 21.6 | Veer right to stay on Road 4810. |
| 5 | 23.5 | Turn right onto paved Road 4811. |
| 6 | 24.7 | Turn right on gravel Road 2710. |
| 7 | 26.5 | Veer left to stay on Road 2710. |
| 8 | 32.0 | Arrive at the trailhead. |
Alternatively, you can access the trailhead from the east. It's a little longer from Portland, but you avoid snowy roads. The elevation doesn't get more than about the trailhead at 2140 feet. Since it's all on the east side of the Cascades, there's a lot less snow.
Take I-84 to The Dalles. Highway 197 about 25 miles south to Tygh Valley. Follow the signs west to the fairgrounds. Take Badger Creek Road which is gravel, just west of the fairgrounds. This gravel road isn't too bad.
In about 6.5 miles, there is a paved Road 27 which goes north - don't take this, stay on the gravel road (FR 2710).
At about 8 miles from the fairgrounds is the Little Badger Creek trailhead.
Notes
- There is a "slow" stretch about 5 1/2 miles before the trailhead (just before and after Bonney Crossing campground) where gravel road becomes potholed; small cars will make it fine, but take your time. Otherwise the road is in good condition.
- If you come in spring, the approach roads via SR 26, as described in the directions above, may still be closed by snow - check with the Mt. Hood National Forest website or call a ranger station. An alternative approach route would be via The Dalles and SR 197.