Barlow Trail #601A

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The Barlow Trail can link runners traveling between Government Camp with the Still Creek Campground or, going further south, with Trillium Lake.

Runners can begin this trail by parking along Hwy 26 in front of the Government Camp Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) Maintenance Compound and heading west down to the old Forest Service compound of cabin buildings. This collection of buildings was once home to the Summit Ranger District. Run past the largest building at the bottom of the hill - the bunkhouse. A traillhead board has an orientation map to help with navigation form there.

Follow the trail through the forest and past the turnoff to the winter Hemlock Ski Trail. Continue southeast to where the trail crosses Still Creek and comes out in the middle of the Still Creek Campground on Forest Road 2650 aka East Perry Vickers Rd. Runners may also park at this end of the trail within the campground.

This trail was once a part of the Historic Barlow Road, one of the last legs of the Historic Oregon Trail. Where the trail meets the Still Creek Campground, there is the site of a former historic resort called Swim, which was most active during the 1920’s. Various foundations from the facility, including an old pool, can still be found.

Barlow Trail connects Still Creek Campground with Government Camp. Due to its historic value as part of the Barlow Road, it is a bit more primitive than most trails in the area to preserve its historic characteristics. Its rocky terrain and ditch-like appearance is representative of how it likely looked when wagons and stock were negotiating the road in the 1850’s.

The trail passes through forests of mountain hemlock, noble fir, Douglas fir, and thickets of rhododendron.