Oregon · Hiking · Near Mount Hood Villages

Boulder Creek

Boulder CreekPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
11.6 mi
round trip
3,353 ft
climb
5,225 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Boulder Creek open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Barlow Ranger District. It doesn't name Boulder Creek, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Barlow Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Boulder Creek is a hard hike in the Barlow Ranger District of Mt. Hood National Forest in Oregon, managed by the Forest Service. The route is an out-and-back of about 11.6 miles, with a total elevation gain of 3,353 feet. The trail's natural surface and the steep grade of 29% at about 0.74 miles make it a demanding climb. The trip starts at a low point of 3,781 feet and reaches a high of 5,225 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Government Camp show July and August highs around 69 to 70°F with only about four wet days a month, while winter brings highs in the mid-30s and rain on most days. The hike takes about 5.5 hours. Badger Creek Trail starts just 0.1 mile away, and Badger Lake Trail is 0.8 mile off. Badger Lake campground is about a mile away, and Bonney Meadows campground is about 2 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Camp Windy Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 0.8 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Vertical

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 5 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Mount Hood Villages

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Boulder Creek

    Best months: June–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      37° / 26°

      20 wet

    2. Feb

      38° / 26°

      17 wet

    3. Mar

      41° / 28°

      20 wet

    4. Apr

      45° / 31°

      18 wet

    5. May

      54° / 36°

      15 wet

    6. Jun

      59° / 41°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      69° / 48°

      4 wet

    8. Aug

      70° / 48°

      4 wet

    9. Sep

      64° / 45°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      53° / 37°

      13 wet

    11. Nov

      42° / 30°

      18 wet

    12. Dec

      35° / 26°

      21 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Government Camp, OR, 8.5 mi away at 3,980 ft. The station sits about 1,200 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Badger Lake TrailPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Badger Lake Trail

~1 min drive

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Camp Windy Trail

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Boulder LakePhoto: nomadsamiam, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Boulder Lake

~3 min drive

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East ForkPhoto: niiicedave, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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Three Mile TrailPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

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POCKET CREEK NORDICPhoto: niiicedave, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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8.46-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,249 ft elevation gain

Newton CreekPhoto: Mike Fisher, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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~7 min drive

3.60-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,091 ft gain.

Bonney Meadows TrailPhoto: nomadsamiam, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Bonney Meadows Trail

~4 min drive

2.38-mile point-to-point trail in Oregon with 132 ft gain and 1,746 ft loss