Boulder Lakes Loop
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Riding again at Growlers Gulch in Castle Rock, WA on Saturday I decided to switch things up and take a trip south to Mt. Hood on Sunday morning. The Boulder Lakes Loop is a ride that has been on my list for a while and this seemed like a perfect opportunity to explore some new trails. Checking out my trail books and maps I noticed quite a few trails in this general area south of Highway 35 near the Sno Park. The start of the ride was the same as that for Gunsight Ridge but I’d continue past this trail and further south to Bonney Meadows Campground and then beyond to Boulder Lake and Little Boulder Lake.
Getting all my gear in order the night before I pulled out of my driveway at 7:30 AM on the dot and by 9 I had just turned on to Highway 35 after passing through Government Camp. Pulling into the Bennett Pass Sno Park parking area the weather was absolutely perfect, sunny and in the low 60s with light winds. I brought a long sleeve shirt and light jacket just in case it was cooler up near the mountain, but it was quite warm already. From the parking lot the views of Mt. Hoo
d were awesome as I got organized at the car.
I left the car and rode up FR 3550 with the gravel road free of snow as I marched up the mild grade. A few small clearings allowed for more impressive views of Mt. Hood from higher up as well as a small viewpoint for Mt. Jefferson to the south. Reaching the junction with the Gunsight Ridge trail I continued south on FR 4891 and climbed to an elevation of approximately 5250 feet. Descending along a rough section of road I actually missed my next turn and had to climb back up to FR 120 leading to the Bonney Meadows Campground (the sign for the road is a short distance in from the intersection). Arriving at the campground there was a newly installed trail signpost as I turned onto the Boulder Lake Trail 463.
Not sure what to expect in terms of trail conditions, I was pleasantly surprised to ride on some mint singletrack right off the bat and passed through a scenic meadow and crossed a small stream. This short section of trail headed north then turned south quickly dropping in elevation. Stopping intermittently to lift my bike over a few downed trees, the trail was firm and fast. Coming into a clearing with a large scree slope the trail continued through this rocky terrain. The trail leveled off a bit and then dipped back into the forest. Riding southeast, the trail headed downhill sharply leading to eastern shoreline of Boulder Lake. Passing a few small campsites I stopped for a bite at the gorgeous alpine lake. The lake was completely tucked away with a huge rock face to the west, what a sight.
I took the Little Boulder Lake Trail 463A continuing southeast and picked my way through a few rocky patches of trail before grinding up a short, steep climb. The trail immediately dropped down the opposite side of the small ridge and led to Little Boulder Lake. The shoreline here was not as open as Boulder Lake so I cruised by and peeked in where I could. The trail quickly dumped out on FR 4860 where I turned right heading south for about one mile reaching the junction with FR 124 and turned north on Trail 473. The nice, shaded singletrack headed uphill at a moderate grade with a few
overlooks of Little Boulder Lake far below. Topping out at an elevation of 5450 feet the trail then descended to a short connector trail that brought me back to the junction with Trail 463 at the campground completing the short loop segment. Here I stopped at an open campsite and took a short rest at a picnic table. Ready for the return grunt uphill I slowly made my way back up to FR 3550 and then followed the gravel road back to the parking area.
What a great way to spend the day outdoors with some moderate climbing for exercise, a lakeside lunch, and some perfect views of Mt. Hood. This ride tends to be under the radar with the area’s more popular and better known rides including Gunsight, Surveyors, Knebal Springs, etc. But if you’re looking for a more mellow and scenic spin, this is your huckleberry without question. The trails were very well maintained and marked.
Riding Trail 473 north to south would be a great downhill run, but if completing the loop in reverse from the map below, the climbing back up on Trail 463 would be rather unpleasant. One option is to ride Trail 473 as a simple out and back however, you would miss riding along the lakes which is a highlight for sure. This loop too simple for you? On your way out tack on an out and back on Gunsight Ridge to see what kind of shape you’re in. For more trail information check out the Mt. Hood/NW Oregon Trail Map by Adventure Maps or Zilly’s Kissing The Trail, 2nd Ed., ride #15. Take your time on the this ride, stop for lunch at Boulder Lake, and you will not be disappointed with this loop.
With all the amazing riding I racked up in Castle Rock, Washington the past month it was time to give Oregon some love. On my list for quite some time was the Boulder Lakes Loop starting from Bennett Pass. This lesser known loop turned out to be a great ride with incredible lake views.
