Buck Peak from Lolo Pass Hike

Overview

This lope along the Pacific Crest Trail takes you into the Bull Run Watershed, normally forbidden to casual visitors but permitted to those hiking the PCT. You will only get a tiny partial glimpse of Bull Run Lake through the trees, as the trail runs mostly on the east side of the ridge, but your eventual goal is Multnomah County’s high point, Buck Peak, at 4,751 feet. Along the way, you’ll get splendid views of Mount Hood and other Cascade Peaks, hike through quiet old-growth montane forest, and visit a copious spring. This is an undulating hike, with only a 1,300-foot difference between the trailhead and the summit of Buck Peak, but you’ll end up putting in about 3,300 feet of elevation gain going and coming! Begin the hike on the Pacific Crest Trail heading north. You’ll immediately pass a sign explaining restrictions in the Bull Run Watershed (Stay on the trail!). This section of tread is a turnpike that runs under shady alders until it reaches a wide powerline corridor, where you’ll get a view back to Mount Hood’s west face. Enter a rhododendron/bear-grass understory on a slope of young Douglas-fir, noble fir, and silver fir. Cross a creek that splashes precipitously down the slopes of Hiyu Mountain, and see a campsite below. The forest is old-growth now, and you’ll notice many impressive noble firs. Traverse a steep open meadow with clumps of boxwood and common juniper. The trail here is carved out of a cliff and offers views down the West Fork Hood River valley with Mount Adams’ snowy summit peeking up above Waucoma Ridge. Cross an open talus slope, bordered luxuriantly with vine maple, with its vocal populations of pikas. Get a view ahead to Sentinel Peak (The trail will cross its east slope) and Mount Adams again. Pass another campsite, and drop past a spring before skirting the west slope of a knoll. A couple of small springs flow onto the trail before you begin a traverse around Sentinel Peak. Cross a vine mapled scree slope with a commanding view of Mount Hood. Continue along a steep slope of old

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