Oregon Trails

Winding along narrow shelf roads, through alpine forests, and past some of the prettiest views in northern Oregon, Bennett Pass Road is a jewel of the Mount Hood National Forest. The amazing views of Mount Hood will be treasured memories for years to come. In the mid-to-late summer, wildflowers bloom along the many hidden hanging meadows and high prairies. Droves of butterflies can swarm around your vehicle on sunny summer afternoons making you think you're in a fairy tale. On very clear days, you can see from Mount Hood and Mount Adams to the north and all the way down south to the Three Sisters and maybe even Diamond Peak. Views to the east span hundreds of miles of high desert and the Oregon Outback.

Barlow Trail begins at the edge of the prairies and oak scrublands of Central Oregon before heading into a dense forest of Ponderosa Pines. The pine trees give way to Douglas Firs, Western Larch, and other alpine species of fir, alders, and even a few aspen trees before reaching Barlow Pass on the crest of the Cascades. Anyone who played Oregon Trail or Oregon Trail 2 (popular educational video games in the late 80s and 90s) in grade school remembers the Barlow Road route to Oregon City and the promise land of the Willamette Valley. When the pioneers came to The Dalles, they either chose the water route down the rapids of the Columbia River long before the dams were built or they turned south along the eastern flank of the Cascades to head over the mountains on the Barlow Road. Avid players of the Oregon Trail games most certainly remember the perils of going down the rapids where many lives were lost over the period of mass migration along the Oregon Trail. The Barlow Road route was not without its perils, especially early in the fall when snow storms could move in with little warning, covering the pass in a thick blanket of cold, wet snow. Many pioneers found it to be the most difficult 100 mile stretch of trail from Nebraska to Oregon. Construction of the Barlow Road was authorized in December 1845 by the Provisional Legislature of Oregon. Sam Barlow, who had scouted the route with a party of several wagons earlier in 1845, got to work in the spring of 1846 clearing timber and building the first crude track through the dense old growth forests on the southern flanks of Mount Hood. Sam Barlow and his business partners only operated the toll road for two years before the toll concession passed into a succession of other hands. Today the segment of the Barlow Road between the eastern edge of the forests and Barlow Pass is now known as Barlow Trail (NF-3530) and is open to 4x4ers, overlanders, and those with an adventurous spirit.

Cedar Tree is an aptly named trail deep in the Tillamook State Forest, where the highlight is a huge fallen cedar trunk that vehicles can drive under. The iconic fallen cedar tree at Waypoint 7 is a favorite place for photographs of 4x4 rigs. The trail wanders through the forest's prettiest and most interesting sections along the cedar tree. A large, deep depression is often filled with water and makes for an interesting challenge to cross. An ancient tree stump hides a shelf that can catch the unsuspecting driver by surprise. Cedar Tree is one of the highlights of Tillamook State Forest and should not be missed. Just be sure to compare the height of a vehicle to the clearance on the cedar trunk before attempting to go underneath.

Firebreak Five is a trail that can go from mild to wild depending on conditions. In dry summer weather, most vehicles can navigate the entire trail by taking the easiest lines and combining good spotting and good driving. In the soggy winter months, certain sections of the trail, such as Waypoint 4, can become incredibly difficult or even impassable for all but trucks rolling on sticky tires, with front and rear lockers, or with little regard for possible drive-train damage. The changing conditions and challenges that voyagers along Firebreak Five face are all part of the adventure. Firebreak Five also has the distinction of being a "Jeep Badge of Honor." For those looking for a big challenge, there is an optional rock garden, and there are very difficult lines to take on the obstacles that will challenge even the most built rigs.

Badger Lake Road snakes through a thin ribbon of forest flanked on either side by the Badger Creek Wilderness. After coming around the shoulder of Badger Butte, the trail narrows and plunges down a rocky shelf road toward the lake. Big views of the ridgeline where Bennett Pass Road traverses can be seen across the basin. The palisades in the distance are below Flag Point Lookout. Badger Lake, just after a shallow water crossing, is a wonderful spot to spend an afternoon canoeing, fishing, swimming, or hanging out enjoying the mountain air.

Hoodraiser is a fun romp through the Tillamook State Forest that is perfect for beginner 4x4ers to get a taste of the adventures that await in the Oregon Coast Range. The trail starts near the South Fork of the Wilson River and heads south and west through the forest toward the top of the ridge. The many water bars cut into the trail give Hoodraiser its name. Going up and over the water bars obscures the view of the trail because the hood of the vehicle is pitched up into the air -- hence the name Hoodraiser. Several narrow sections (wide enough for full size vehicles) are a fun challenge for drivers learning the dimensions of their vehicles. A few small mud puddles after rains make for a good place to take videos of overlanders driving through the forest.

University Firepower Part 2 may start out as an easy gravel road but it packs in a few surprises along the way. There are tight, twisty sections in dense forest where it is easy to become disoriented. Never fear though because all dirt paths lead to the end of the trail. Halfway through the trail, explorers are presented with a choice: the high road scrambles up the hill while the low road scuttles around the side. Choose your way wisely based on your vehicle's abilities and the trail conditions because the high road can be unforgiving if a mistake is made. The trail ends near where Cedar Tree trail begins which is an excellent place to head next after finishing University Firepower Part 2.

The Powerline #4B trail immediately plunges into a dense second growth forest thick with maples and fir trees dripping with moss and ferns. Depending on how recently the last rains passed through the Tillamook State Forest, visitors may be quite literally greeted with dripping moss and branches hanging low over the trail. A tight switchback points the trail southward toward the high tension power lines. After emerging from the dark and wet forest, the trail turns into a gravel access road that follows under the power lines on their march westward to bring electricity to the communities of the northern Oregon Coast. At the top of the ridge, 4x4ers are greeted with big views to the west across the patchwork of second and third growth timber, and clear cuts. Nine days out of ten, the distant ridges and mountains are veiled in clouds, rain, and mist, but on rare sunny blue sky days, the entire Devil's Lake Branch of the Wilson River Basin is on full display.

Starting at the notch between the Hood River drainage, the White River drainage, and Boulder Creek Basin, Bonney Meadows Road wanders through the forest and across a fun shelf road on its way down to the paved forest roads in the Barlow Road corridor. Huge meadows full of wildflowers peak through the forest to the east of the road. A fun side trail to an aerial raptor highway is just a mile from a great Forest Service campground. Down at lower elevations, old clear cuts are thick with young trees and dispersed camping.