Lookout Mountain in summer
A short hike to a peak in Badger Creek Wilderness in Mount Hood National Forest.
Peak Name: Lookout Mountain
Peak Coordinate: 45.342463, -121.524174
Peak Elevation: 6525'
Access: Trail
Distance: 2.9 miles (round trip)
Elevation Range: 5939' to 6539'
Ascent/Descent: +536 ft/-528 ft
Route Type: Loop
Outing Type: Day Hike
Permit/Fees: If parking at High Prairie Trailhead a Northwest Forest Pass is required
Notes:
Location: On the northern edge of Badger Creek Wilderness in Mt Hood National Forest, Oregon, U.S.A.
Administration: Mount Hood National Forest
Ranger District: Barlow Ranger District
Other Posts: Lookout Mountain in the snow
Date Accessed: August 2, 2024
After a lot of changes in plans, my dad, uncle, cousin, and I decided to day hike Lookout Mountain. We were able to make it up to the High Prairie Trailhead in a Honda Accord. There was a smoky haze that had blown in since the previous day when we were backpacking part of the Timberline Trail. We were able to see Mt. Hood on our hike, but no mountains to the north or south. When visibility is good it's possible to see Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Jefferson, and Three Sisters.
We started our hike around 10:30am. It was already a bit warm and there were bugs out, especially in the meadows. It was really cool to get to hike this snow free just two months after I'd traversed it in the snow. I was shocked at how wide and obvious the trail was. It really made me realize how much snow can obscure things. We did the High Prairie Trail loop clockwise.
The trail started out passing through meadows which had wildflowers in bloom and tons of insects buzzing about. The bugs weren't as bad in the forest. The trail very gradually climbed uphill until we came to a trail intersection where we took the back loop up the High Prairie Trail. The trail started to ascend more rapidly with a switchback up to the top of the ridge. We then took the Divide Trail to the east to the spur trail up to Lookout Mountain peak. It was pretty buggy out, especially at the peak, but with bug spray on it wasn't too bad. Mosquitoes didn't seem to be too much of an issue.
We took pictures and enjoyed the view. It was pretty smoky out which created a haze and we could smell a hint of smoke in the air due to summer wildfires in Oregon. We took the Divide Trail west along the ridge-line until we came to my favorite view of Mt. Hood along this trail. We sat on slate rocks at the end of the ridge-line and ate our lunch. We chilled for a while talking and just enjoying being outside. It was really relaxing.
We then continued our hike back toward the trailhead taking the Divide Trail a short way until it intersected with the other side of the High Prairie Trail. We took the High Prairie trail which then descended a bit along the edge of the ridge. It was insane to see how short this section of trail was that probably took me a good 45 minutes to traverse in the snow. We passed the area where there was the 15 ft cliff of snow last time and seeing the area again felt empowering.
There were some cool rock formations near the trail and views of Mt. Hood along it. We continued following the High Prairie loop until it brought us back to the trailhead. My cousin and I chatted while hiking the majority of the way back. It was a fun, short adventure. Even with the smoky haze it was still a good hike.
Coordinates
High Prairie Trailhead parking area: 45.35236, -121.53130
High Prairie Trailhead: 45.35202, -121.53113
Short intersection trail between two sides of High Prairie trail (east side): 45.34368, -121.53054
High Prairie trail intersection with Divide Trail: 45.34247, -121.52578
Divide Trail intersection with trail to Lookout Mountain: 45.34227, -121.52415
Lookout Mountain: 45.342463, -121.524174
View of Mt Hood from Divide Trail (lunch spot): 45.34177, -121.53025
Divide Trail and west side High Prairie Trail intersection (Divide trail continues down into badger creek wilderness): 45.34164, -121.52990
Short intersection trail between two sides of High Prairie trail (west side): 45.34345, -121.53081
Two routes of High Prairie trail intersect near trailhead: 45.35191, -121.53113
Resources
How to get there
Location
Map
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