Horseshoe Ridge Hike

Overview

The Horseshoe Ridge Hike begins at a trailhead just before the bridge over Lost Creek near the Riley Horse Camp (this is the same trailhead as for the Sandy River Trail). The trail is much more varied than the nearby Cast Creek Trail (see the Cast Lake Hike) and is also far less populated. You'll cross the braiding channels of Lost Creek, where there's no longer a footbridge and then hike up a ridge in coniferous forest to enter the Mt. Hood Wilderness. The destination is a rocky prominence on the Zigzag Mountain ridge which affords splendid views to Mount Hood and up and down the Cascades. Wildflowers are best in early to midsummer. If you're planning on staying overnight, it's best to continue another two miles to Cast Lake and return to the trailhead via the Cast Creek Trail. The Horseshoe Ridge Trail was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935 as a way trail, which allowed for a 30% - 60% grade in short sections. Walk back from the parking pullout on FR 1825-380 to the trailhead sign. The trail is flat here, making its way across the lodgepole pine dominated Old Maid Flat, which is carpeted with moss, reindeer lichen, and kinnikinnick. Keep right where a spur leads to Lost Creek, and cross a gravel road. Stay right at another junction, and then drop down an embankment to pass a skunk-cabbage swamp. Hike under cedars, Douglas-firs, and hemlocks until you reach the main channel of Lost Creek. There's no bridge here anymore, so you can try one of the fallen trees or make a ford. A second muddy channel of the creek is a rock hop. The third channel may also involve a choice between a log crossing or a ford, depending on the water levels. Hike out of this lush and ferny bottomland to traverse up and over a ridge crest. You'll pass below a sheer andesite cliff face, where a small grove of gnarly chinquapin trees is an unusual sight. Then the trail makes a few rising switchbacks and follows the crest of a ridge to cross overgrown FR 1825-380, decommissioned a few years ago and 2.4 miles from the trailhe

Trail Stats

Photos

Trail photo

No caption provided.

Trail photo

No caption provided.

Trail photo

No caption provided.

Trail photo

No caption provided.

Trail photo

No caption provided.

Trail photo

No caption provided.

400px-HorseshoeRidgeMap

400px-HorseshoeRidgeMap

250px-Horseshoeview2

250px-Horseshoeview2

250px-View_across_Horseshoe_Creek_bowl%2C_Horseshoe_Ridge_Trail

250px-View_across_Horseshoe_Creek_bowl%2C_Horseshoe_Ridge_Trail

250px-Emerging_gnome_plants_%28Hemitomes_congestum%29%2C_Horseshoe_Ridge_Trail

250px-Emerging_gnome_plants_%28Hemitomes_congestum%29%2C_Horseshoe_Ridge_Trail

250px-Lost_Creek%2C_Horseshoe_Ridge_Trail

250px-Lost_Creek%2C_Horseshoe_Ridge_Trail

400px-Mt

400px-Mt

Tags