Twin Pillars North Trailhead
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
- Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
- Latitude, Longitude: 44.5143, -120.5288
- Elevation: 5480 feet
- Driving time: 50 minutes from Prineville
Contents |
Hikes starting here
- Twin Pillars Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Mill Creek Wilderness Loop Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
Fees and Regulations
- Optional trail registration
- Trail sometimes indistinct in meadows; expect downed trees
Driving Directions
From Portland, take Highway 26 East past Mount Hood to Prineville, about 140 miles.
In the middle of Prineville, turn left (north) on Main Street, and drive 4.6 miles. After a while, the road is renamed McKay Road.
Then bear right on McKay Creek Road. Keep to this road, which becomes FR 27, for 16.7 miles.
Make a sharp right at the junction with FR 2725 to keep on FR 27, still paved at this point.
Continue for 6.1 miles to a junction, where you turn right on now unmaintained FR 27 for the Twin Pillars Trail #832 and the Wildcat Trail #833.
Proceed for 1.0 miles on this rough, very muddy track (some clearance needed), passing Trail Meadow on the right; then turn right for the Twin Pillars Trailhead and Bingham Spring.
Drive 0.1 miles to the trailhead and small campground. The trailhead is about a 50-minute drive from Prineville.
Other Notes
There's a campground at the trailhead. It's not named or listed on the Forest Service map or on the internet. It has a nice outhouse and two sites with picnic tables and fire pits. The campground is open year-round (except when it's snowed in).
Bingham Spring is near the trailhead. It runs into an algae pool used by cattle. There's a small outlet stream that runs clear about 100 yards from the pool that tastes good if you treat it. The stream empties into the expansive Bingham Prairie. There are a few mosquitoes in late spring/early summer.
Contributors
- retiredjerry (creator)