Mt. Hood: Barlow to Bonney to Bennett

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Mount Hood, OR, US

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Our Mother The Mountain

Bikedancing and Routecraft

72 km

1.413 m

This rugged and spectacular traversal of Mt. Hood's southeast quadrant offers a rewarding cross-section of challenging terrain from the shady loam of Barlow Road to the high alpine ridges of Bennett Pass. Merging the disciplines of road, gravel and mountain riding, this route includes rocky fire roads, primitive jeep trails, river crossings, hardpacked gravel, butter-smooth tarmac and everything in between.

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## This rugged and spectacular traversal of Mt. Hood's southeast quadrant offers a rewarding cross-section of challenging terrain from the shady loam of Barlow Road to the high alpine ridges of Bennett Pass.  Merging the disciplines of road, gravel and mountain riding, this route includes rocky fire roads, primitive jeep trails, river crossings, hardpacked gravel, butter-smooth tarmac and everything in between.

This rough-and-ready gem sets off from Barlow Pass, heading southeast toward Keeps Mill on the @photo[historic](961720) @photo[Barlow Road](961709)/NF3530 which traces the [original Oregon Trail wagon road](http://thebarlowroad.com/) connecting the Dalles with the Willamette Valley. While many of the forest roads in this area are @photo[paved](961834) to a surprising degree, this route was specifically chosen for its particular balance of raw terrain and @photo[sublime iconic landscapes](962865).

As with most of the riding around Mt. Hood, the angles tend to be steep and deep. @photo[Barlow](961717) is no exception, diving right into an exciting 4.5 mile descent. The road surface alternates between loose rocks, roots, ruts and @photo[soft pine-needled dirt](961727) before gradually leveling out into more arid, sandy doubletrack near Barlow Creek prior to intersecting NF43/Cedar Burn Road.

Head right onto the pavement of Cedar Burn road for just over two miles, then follow the second gravel road to the left onto NF2130/Frog Creek Road. This rolls a bit, descending hardpacked gravel before returning to pavement around mile 11.5, crossing Frog Creek and continuing on to OR-216 @photo[Wapinitia Hwy](961729). Follow 216 east for a mile and a half before turning left onto NF2120/Keeps Mill Road. Follow Keeps Mill Road until the @photo[pavement ends](961733) around mile 19.6.

Keeps Mill Road becomes a rough, loose rocky Jeep trail for the next two miles descending sharply around a @photo[series of switchbacks](961734) into the @photo[Keeps Mill camping area](961739) cozily nestled at the convergence of the White River and Clear Creek. In warmer weather this is a prime opportunity to cool off w/ a dip in the @photo[Clear Creek swimming hole](961740). This is the lowest and symbolic halfway point in the route where it's (literally) all uphill from here.

*At this point there are two ways to cross the White River: @photo[wading](961742) or @photo[log-crossing](961741). Each have their upside and downside. The river cools you off but the log keeps you dry. The log is a precariously-situated balancing act but the river has a @photo[fast-moving, powerful current](961839) and a bed of slippery rocks. In the drier late summer/early fall months when the river is low, wading is the obvious choice. In the spring when the river is swollen, the log might be a more reasonable option. Both are available. Use your best judgement.*

In the lower portion of the camping area, the roadbed angles downward into the river creating a reasonable crossing point. Once on the @photo[north side of the river](961835) Keeps Mill Road picks back up to the left, in a northwesterly direction and starts climbing. This area being rather remote, may have some fallen trees to navigate. A sharp hairpin turn to the northeast sets the road onto a steep, rocky upward trajectory, climbing out of the valley through arid @photo[meadows filled with wildflowers](961830). Don't let the @photo[12% grade](961829) deter you, this is FUN! The incline mellows around mile 21.8 upon crossing the cattle guard onto the @photo[smooth doubletrack of NF4885](961831) and settles into a gentle climb for the next few miles to NF48.

Jog right onto @photo[NF48](961832) for about a mile, then head left onto NF4880 and keep going up. At mile 27.7 turn left onto NF4881, returning to gravel. This is where the real fun begins.

Continue climbing NF4881 to the intersection w/ NF4891. Turn right toward Bonney Meadows and @photo[keep climbing](961836). This segment is a great opportunity to trot out the MTB handling skills with five miles of loose, rocky climbing over fairly rough rutted-out dirt roads to Bonney Meadows.

Just past Bonney Meadows, mile 35 marks the highest point along the route as well as the point at which the road thankfully starts pointing downwardly again. Just past the open section of @photo[boulder-strewn scree](961737), bear left onto NF3550/Bennett Pass Road and begin descending the ridgeline, which alternates between cool shady forest and exposed rocky vistas.

Around mile 37, NF3550 emerges from the treeline into a dramatic cliffside @photo[panorama](962863) of epic scale. This is known as the @photo['terrible traverse'](962861) and provides spectacular 180+ degree views of Mt. Hood to the west, the @photo[entire valley](962864) to the north and east. There will be another impressive vantage point in the next 1/4 mile with stunning views of Mt. Jefferson to the south.

Continue rolling along the ridge in a gradual descent as the bumps fade away into much smoother, more maintained gravel, bearing right at the only significant intersection before rolling down into the parking area for the Bennett Pass Sno-Park. Cross the overpass and take a left, heading southwest on 35. Relax and savor the smooth pavement all the way back to the Barlow Pass parking area.

* 43.6 MILES

* 4565 FEET

* ROUTE FORMAT: LOOP

* SURFACE: 60% PRIMITIVE ROAD (JEEP TRAIL W/ LOOSE + EMBEDDED ROCK SURFACE), 20% SMOOTH, FAST PEA GRAVEL, 20% PAVED

* TIRES: MINIMUM OF 35C. 40C-2"MTB. HEAVY DUTY BOX OR FILE TREAD RECOMMENDED

* BIKE: CYCLOCROSS/GRAVEL/RIGID 29ER

* WATER/SERVICES: NO SERVICES. WATER FILTER REQUIRED. RIVER/CREEK REFILL POINTS NOTED

Mt. Hood: Barlow to Bonney to Bennett

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