Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: six miles

Elevation Gain: 500 feet

Season: spring, summer, early fall

About the Area

A hike along the Fifteenmile Creek trail is a hike through one of Mount Hood's most diverse old-growth forests.  This unigue area features both wet west-side and dry east-side ecosystems, including twelve different types of conifers. The Fifteenmile Creek hike is most known for one particular conifer: the majestic Pondersa Pine. 

The Dirt

Oregon Wild and other conservation groups are working to gain Wilderness protection for Fifteenmile Creek as part of the Lewis and Clark Mount Hood Wilderness proposal.  Wilderness protection is the only safeguard to permanently protect the land from logging, mining, and development while also protecting the public's right to backcountry recreation.

Directions

Take interstate 84 to Hood River. Take the exit that goes south on Hwy 35 toward Mt Hood. Drive approx 20 minutes up the Hood River valley toward Odell/Parkdale/Mt Hood on Hwy 35. Continue up highway 35 keeping your eyes open for the 44 road (signed as the road to Dufur and Camp Baldwin), go left. If you get to Mount Hood Meadows you've gone too far. Continue on road 44 for about 10-15 minutes to the junction with road 4420(on the right, signed as Lookout Mountain and/or Flag Point). If you get to Camp Baldwin you've gone a little too far.  Road 4420 turns into 2730 (not a noticeable transition, just stay on the main paved road).  You'll see a sign and a campground on the left hand side called Fifteenmile Creek Forest Camp, this is the trailhead.