Saturday. July 18, 2026
- Start: Red Wolf Pass (PCT mile 2072.6)
- End: Barlow Pass (PCT mile 2094.7)
- Distance: 22.1 miles
I got an early start to the day, returning to the ever-present green tunnel of trees and lots of cruisey trail. I departed the Warm Springs Reservation after 2.5 miles. And one mile later, I followed the detour over to the Joe Graham Horse Camp, where I topped up my water from one of the campground’s water spigots and used the vault toilet before crossing over a surprisingly busy paved road that led to other USFS campgrounds. A modest climb along the Clackamas River took me up to an overlook above Timothy Lake. But I was somewhat disappointed that the water views I’d been expecting during the 3.5-mile hike along the lakeshore were obscured by a forest of trees. Once I reached the lake’s north end, I was rewarded with a short detour over to Little Crater Lake. Then it was back to the green tunnel (once again) as I hiked deeper into the Mt. Hood Wilderness. I finally got a few glimpses of Mt. Hood this afternoon before dodging 70-mph cars as I crossed Hwy 26 and made the one final climb up to Barlow Pass.
Highlights
- My early morning visit to the horse camp, 3.5 miles into my morning, was a genuine delight. There were tons of beautiful horses to admire, plus the added benefits of a water spigot and vault toilet.
- At the north end of Timothy Lake, I made a brief detour out to Little Crater Lake to admire its ridiculously blue water. It’s like a smaller version of Tamolitch Falls (aka the Blue Pool) on the McKenzie River.
- My final water source of the day was a natural spring just past FR-58, where the water was so clear, cold, and delicious (unlike the algae-covered springs on the Warm Spring Reservation).
Challenges
- It was surprising to discover that the PCT is now closed to the south, due to wildfire activity on the Warm Springs Reservation. I barely made it through in the nick of time!
- I was nearly attacked by an overly protective dog when I walked past one of the dispersed campsites on the shore of Timorthy Lake. The dog came running out of the woods, snarling at me for about 90 seconds before its owner finally caught up to it.
- I really hoped I’d get tons of views of Mt. Hood during this final 22-mile stretch leading up to it. Unfortunately, I was hiking in the dense forest (aka the green tunnel) all day, so I didn’t actually see Mt. Hood until mid-afternoon.