Sagebrush Trail

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The Sagebrush Trail is part of an easier route to the summit of Badger Mountain from Trailhead Park. It has an average slope of less than 10%, and at 5 feet wide is the widest trail on Badger Mountain. The surface is paved with crushed rock. It is smooth, but can have some dips or holes.

The trail was rerouted in 2018 to give a route up Badger Mountain without using the steep Canyon Trail steps. The trail now starts at the base of the mountain, the Canyon Trail and its 130 steps are to the right, the Sagebrush Trail with no steps is to the left. In a third of a mile, after you pass above the water tanks, it rejoins its former route. At this junction you can continue on the Sagebrush Trail by taking the high route (left) or you can take the lower old path (right) to get to the Canyon Trail at the top of the steps.

The Sagebrush Trail climbs the northeast flank of Badger Mountain in an open dryland grass slope for the first 0.7 miles then enters an old stand of sagebrush. At 0.9 miles the trail ends at a three-way intersection with the Langdon Trail (left) and the Skyline Trail (right). From here the most common route is to continue to the summit on the Skyline Trail and then back down to Trailhead Park and your car via the Canyon Trail for a 3+ mile loop. Another loop is to take the Langdon Trail to its west end and then loop back via the summit using the Skyline Trail and Canyon Trail for a 6.3-mile journey.

Sometime in the summer of 2020 a new trail will branch off the Sagebrush Trail near the top end and head east as the first segment of the connection of Badger and Little Badger Mountains. The new trail to the summit of Little Badger will be constructed in bits and pieces and should be open a few years later.

The trail starts out in open grasses before entering thick old sagebrush. Spring flowers include balsamroot and phlox.