Portland Wilderness

For the most commanding view of the Cascades and the high desert country to the east, you'll have to hike up Lookout Mountain, the highest point in the area at 6,525 feet. The mountain itself and the high ridgeland extending east feature a subalpine ecosystem, with hardy trees and rocky terrain. Then, farther east in the Wilderness, where the climate is warm and dry, you'll find a forest of ponderosa pines and extensive growths Of Oregon white oak and grasslands.

Three creeks, Badger, Little Badger, and Tygh, drain Badger Creek Wilderness, where slope inclines range from 30 to 70 degrees. Rocks chiseled smooth by glaciers distinguish the upper reaches of Badger Creek, and mountain hemlock dominates all three streams.

There are about 55 miles of trails in the wilderness, including the Badger Creek National Recreation Trail, which follows the length of the creek in the wilderness, a distance of 11.9 miles. From Robin Hood Campground near the western boundary, the steep 2.4-mile Gumjuwac Saddle Trail climbs to the confluence of four trails, including a spur route that ultimately connects to the Badger Creek Trail and a fine view of Mount Hood to the northwest. Mount Hood Wilderness lies just across State Highway 35.