Jordan Cutoff Trail

Jordan Cutoff Trail is a moderate, out-and-back hike of about 3 miles in Oregon's Badger Creek Wilderness, on the Barlow Ranger District of Mt. Hood National Forest. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail crosses wilderness boundaries, so expect a route that stays within the designated wild area. The trail's climb is the defining challenge. It rises about 570 feet from the start, and the full round trip adds up to about 1,220 feet of gain and loss. The steepest stretch comes at roughly 0.9 miles in, with a grade of about 19 percent. The route begins at an elevation of about 4,325 feet and reaches a high point of about 4,389 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Government Camp put July and August highs around 69 to 70°F, with only about four wet days a month, while winter months bring highs in the mid-30s and rain on most days. That station sits a few hundred feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the route run slightly cooler. The hike takes about 1.5 hours. Area 51, a climbing area about 1.2 miles away, and School Canyon Trail #468, about 1.6 miles away, are the closest nearby stops. Fifteen Mile campground is about 2.7 miles off, and Badger Creek, a canoeing spot, is about 4.6 miles away.