Divide Trail #458

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Features Lake · Spring · Swimming · Views · Wildflowers

From the Badger Lake Campground, follow the Badger Lake Trail #479A uphill for 0.3 mile to its junction with Divide Trail #458 on the west side of Badger Lake. After 0.5 mile of climbing, the Divide Trail crosses Jean Creek (it’s possible to go cross-country from here up the drainage to Jean Lake), then continues north for another 3.6 miles from Jean Creek to Gumjuwac Saddle and the Bennett Pass Road (Forest Road 3550).

From Gumjuwac Saddle, the Divide Trail heads northeast, briefly paralleling Forest Road 3550, passing through several meadows. At 0.9 miles from the saddle, the #480 cross the head of Gumjuwac Creek, then starts uphill on one long and two short switchbacks. The views of Mount Hood to the west are excellent along this stretch of the Divide Trail #458.

After about one mile of uphill, the Divide Trail levels out along the west ridge of Lookout Mountain. In another 0.4 miles, you’ll pass the very short spur trail for the Lookout Mountain summit. Site of a now long gone fire lookout, the summit offers spectacular views of Hood, Jefferson, Rainier, and Adams.

The Divide Trail #458 then continues southeast along the ridge from Lookout Mountain for about 1.6 miles, through some interesting rock formations, to the junction with Fret Creek Trail #456A. As side trip, you can take the Fret Creek Trail downhill for 0.2 miles to Oval Lake. Past the junction with the Fret Creek Trail, the Divide Trail meanders along the ridge for another 1.5 miles to end at Forest Road 2730-200, not far from the still operational Flag Point Lookout.