Bald Butte Slope Soaring Site
South of Hood River, OR

Location Summary:

• Country: USA
• City: Hood River
• State: OR
• Site Name: Bald Butte
• Type: Slope
• Skill: All
• Wind: West, Southwest, Northwest
• Access: The Entire Week Mon-Sun
• Landing Area Quality: Grass, good approaches
• Hazards in the area: Trees on back side, transmission lines (pretty far away).

Directions to the site:

• Hwy 84 E of Portland to Hood River.
• Take Hwy 35 south to just north of the town of Mt Hood.
• Turn left on Pine Mountain Road.  This is next to the lumber mill, but north of the ranger station.  Take this road E, and then curve S.
• The map I have shows the trailhead near forest service road #640.
• The trailhead is just under the huge transmission lines.
• The top of the butte is a 3/4 mile uphill hike from here, but only 180' elevation gain. If you have a really good 4WD and a really small brain, you can drive to the top.
• The trail goes almost straight north, it is trail #688.
• The exact location is: N45° 32.157' W121° 31.936' (Map).
• An alternative route, (the 1st one I took) is a 4-mile, 2000' elevation-gain hike from the bottom of the valley.
• For this you need to take plenty of water, some bug repellant, and sturdy shoes.
• Start south of the ranger station on Hwy 35, take Smullin road East, and find the trailhead for trail #688A.
• You will need a map for this hike.

Review of the site:

• West wind.
• Excellent view of Mt Hood in the background.
• Nice little hike in.
• A great relaxing place to fly after a short hike in.
• Might work as well as the lumber site for slope races, and this is public land.
• The hike in is about the same length, but a little more elevation gain.
• I think it's well worth it.

This description was provided courtesy of Pat Chewning.