FUN ON MT HOOD- Sandy Ridge Trail System

Blythe Creek

Information from the Sandy Ridge Trail System, BLM, Salem District.

INTRODUUCTION

The Sandy Ridge Trail System provides new recreation opportunities for hikers and mountain explorers in the foothills off the Cascade Range.

In 2009, roughly 5 miles of single-track trail were completed and are available for use. However, work is ongoing and portions of the trail may be partially completed. A bridge spanning Little Joe Creek (see map)) has not yet been completed. Once finished, the system will contain over 15 miles and provide a variety of difficulty levels.

LOCATION

The trail system is located approximately 13 miles East of Sandy, OR and 400 miles east of Portland, OR within the Sandy River basin. Elevations range from 1000 ft. at the Barlow Wayside to 2260 ft. at the top of Hide and Seek.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Designed and built with assistance from the International Mountain Biking Association, the trail system offers trail features including bermed corners and jumps that can challenge all ability levels.

DIFFIICULTY

Laura’s Loop (0.75) ‐Easiest

Hide and Seek Trail (4..25 miles) ‐Intermediate

For more information, contact the Salem District Office at (503)) 375‐5646 Salem District BLM website at http://wwww.blm.gov/orr/districts/saalem/index.p

ACCESS

From the east side of Sandy, head west on US Hwy 26 (Mt Hood Highway) for 11.4 Miles and turn left on Sleepy Hollow Drive soon after a large sign indicating a left turn for Marmot ( this will be the 2nd turnoff for Sleepy Hollow). Take the second right onto E. Barlow Trail Rd and over the Sandy River.

After 1 mike on E Barlow Trail, look for a gate blocking a Paved Road (Homestead Rd/FS 14) on your left. Trails intersect with paved Homestead? Rd north of the gate.

RULES AND ETIQUETTE

Show respect for other users and the area. Trails are open to NON-MOTORIZED USE ONLY (bicyclists and hikers). Be courteous and control your speed. Pack out all trash.

Public access to the Bull Run Watershed Management Unit (see Map) is strictly PROHIBITED and PUNISHABLE by Law.

For more information, contact the Salem District Office at 503-475-5646 or the Salem District website of the Bureau of Land Management

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Take a look at the YouTube of the New Trail System. Have Fun on Mt Hood.

You won't find any Mt Hood Real Estate for Sale on this ride, but you will see some AWESOME Mt Hood Real Estate! Call me for the latest on Mt Hood Real Estate for Sale in Welches, Brightwood ,Government Camp or Rhododendron, Oregon.

Hiking On Mt Hood-TopSpur Bald Mountain Loop

Reposted from Portland Hikers.org. An Excellent source of great Hikes around portland Oregon!!!

Bald Mountain from Top Spur Hike

• Start point: Top Spur Trailhead

• End point: Bald Mountain

• Trail Log: Trail Log

• Distance:

2.0 miles round-trip

• Elevation gain:

550 feet

• High Point: 4,591 feet

• Difficulty: Easy

• Seasons: July - November

• Family Friendly: Yes

• Backpackable: No. (unless you Head up the Timberline Trail to Carin Basin on North Side of Mt Hood or Go South on Timberline Trail to Ramona Falls)

• Crowded: Only to the Bald Mountain Spur Trail

Mount Hood spreads out before you from the summit of Bald Mountain. (Blythe Creek's photo from 2009)

Description

This hike begins at one of the more crowded trailheads, but quickly moves to one of the most forgotten spots on the mountain. At the summit of Bald Mountain, you'll not only be treated with a stunning view of Mount Hood, but will also see traces of an old fire lookout that stood here in the 1940s. You'll likely have the summit to yourself.

From the Top Spur Trailhead, climb through handsome, old-growth noble fir forest for one-half mile before joining the Pacific Crest Trail (no. 2000). Turn right and immediately arrive at a confusing junction of four trails and Mount Hood Wilderness registration box. In 2010 new signs were been posted at this junction, making it slightly less confusing (albeit missing basic mileage and directional arrows). The trail to the right, and downhill, is the continuation of the Pacific Crest Trail (#2000) and is marked with a sign to Timberline Lodge. The route to the left is the northward section of the Timberline Trail (#600), with a sign to Cairn Basin. The trail straight ahead, and uphill, is the southbound section of the Timberline Trail (#600), with a sign to the Muddy Fork, and is the route to Bald Mountain.

From the registration box at the junction, continue on the Timberline Trail toward the Muddy Fork for about 450 feet, and then watch for an unsigned trail heading left and uphill, between two large trees (ignoring another boot path just beyond the junction, near a large stump, that dead-ends in the brush). This is the historic Bald Mountain Trail. Follow this rustic path over a couple of logs as you climb parallel to the Timberline Trail, below. After a few hundred feet, switchback left, and soon reach the more open forest on the slopes of Bald Mountain. The tread is always obvious, though you'll step over a number of fallen logs that have accumulated over the decades since this trail was maintained. They present only a minor obstacle along the way.

As you approach the summit, you'll re-enter a band of huckleberries and false azalea, and the trail will quickly level off on the broad, forested top of Bald Mountain. Walk through an opening in the woods, where concrete blocks mark the location of the former lookout. Here, the 40-foot trees around you mark the time that has passed since the lookout stood here in the 1930s, and the summit was open. The final few yards to the viewpoint at the east end of the summit curves through a thicket of alder and mountain ash, then suddenly ends at a steep overlook of the Muddy Fork valley, and a stunning view of the west face of Mount Hood, towering above.

There are convenient rock outcrops at the viewpoint for sitting down and enjoying the spectacle, and photo buffs will want to time their visit for late afternoon, when the scene is most dramatic. From the viewpoint, you can also see a section of the Timberline Trail, just below, where the steady stream of hikers will pass your lofty perch, oblivious to your location.

To complete the hike, simply follow the same route back to the trailhead -- and take a moment to clear twigs and brush from this beautiful old trail on your way down. This is the only maintenance that the trail gets, but it's just enough to keep it open for all to enjoy.

The Top Spur trail climbs through beautiful, old-growth noble fir forests. (Photo from Tom Kloster on Portland Hikers.org)

Map

You won't find any Mt Hood Real Estate for Sale on this hike either, but you will see some AWESOME Mt Hood Real Estate! 

Purchasing Information For Cabins on Special Use Permits

This posting is from the Mt Hood National Forest Portal Site 
Cabin owners tell us they like owning a recreation cabin on National Forest System lands because of the scenic setting, the rich history and sense of tradition, and because they appreciate the standards and regulations regarding the use and maintenance of the cabins and lots.  Will a recreation cabin on National Forest System lands be the right fit for you?  The following information should give you a good idea of the nuances of recreation cabin ownership.  Please also contact the Zigzag Ranger District for additional information.

Recreation cabin owners own only the improvements situated on the land.  The land itself belongs to the United States and is managed by the Forest Service.  The Forest Service issues Special Use Permits to authorize cabin owners to maintain and use their recreation cabin on National Forest System lands.  It is important to understand the terms and conditions of the Special-Use Permit before making a commitment to becoming an owner of a Recreation Residence on National Forest System lands.

Purchasing a cabin and obtaining a Special-Use Permit
Cabin sale transactions are handled through real estate agents or are done by the owners themselves.  The Forest Service is not involved in the actual sale of the cabins, and does not maintain a list of cabins for sale.

The Forest Service will conduct a presale inspection when a cabin goes up for sale.  The owner must bring the cabin and lot into compliance with the permit terms and conditions before a permit will be issued to a new owner.  Certain compliance items may be transferred to a new owner through a Transfer Maintenance Agreement (TMA).  The TMA will list due dates for transferred items and the new owner is bound to complete those items as a condition of their permit.  In some cases a new permit will not be issued until non-compliant conditions are remedied at the cabin or on the lot

A Forest Service representative will meet with new cabin owners before a permit is issued to discuss the details of the Special-Use Permit and answer new owner questions, and both the new owner and the Zigzag District Ranger then sign the paperwork to make the permit official.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR NEW CABIN OWNERS
Please read the sample Special-Use Permit in order to understand the terms and conditions that apply to Recreation Residence owners. These documents, and other information are available on the web at The Mt Hood National Forest Portal

Some of the important conditions included in Recreation Cabin Permits are as follows:

1. All modifications to the cabin or lot, including but not limited to changes to roofs, siding, windows, doors, decks and porches and outbuildings, including paint color must be authorized in writing by the Forest Service before implementation.  The authorization process takes from a couple of weeks to a couple of months depending upon the proposed alteration and the workload of Forest Service personnel.

If your cabin has historic status, or is located in an historic tract, there may be tighter restrictions on the type of modifications that can be allowed, and the time frame for their approval may be longer. 

2. The Special-Use Permit allows use of the recreation cabin for recreation only.  The cabins may not be used for one’s primary place of residence.  Commercial use of or conducting business from a Recreation Residence is prohibited.

3. The cabins must be used at least 15 days per year.

4. The annual permit fee is equivalent to 5% of the base value of the lot.  The value of the cabin structure does not factor into annual permit fees.  Fees are billed December for the following year.

5. The area covered by the Special-Use Permit, including the improvements, must be maintained in good repair.  Improvements are inspected periodically to insure compliance with the terms of the Special-Use Permit.  The Self-Inspection form posted on the website explains the details of items that are inspected through this process.

6. No soil, tree or vegetation shall be removed without permission from the Forest Service.
Historic Cabins and Historic Tracts

The Still Creek, Mile Bridge and Zigzag Ski Club tracts have all been determined to be eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.  There are also some cabins in other tracts that have historic status in their own right.  These tracts and cabins retain features from as far back as the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s that make them very rich representations of this area’s remarkable past.

The National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966 requires the Forest Service to protect and enhance the qualities that qualify historic properties for listing on the National Register.  For these cabins, modifications must meet the general guidelines for residences, and also must be done in a manner that does not adversely affect the historic integrity of the cabin or tract.  Zigzag Ranger District staff work with cabin owners to achieve this outcome whenever possible.  The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) must also concur with decisions on alterations to these historic properties.  Cabin owners should know that the timeline for approval of alterations for cabins that are in historic tracts, or are historic by their own right can take up to two months.

Looking for the perfect piece of Mt Hood Real Estate in Welches, Government Camp, Brightwood or Rhododendron? Also, check out the link for Forest Service Leased Land Cabins on www.MtHoodRealEstate.net