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Trail

Palmeteer Trail #482

A Mount Hood Wilderness trail from the PCT near Barlow Pass to Upper Twin Lake, with a short side trip to Palmateer Point and its Mount Hood view.

Representative photo, not this exact spot. Photo: Manda Walker via Pexels · Pexels License

Viewpoints are the reason to hike Palmeteer Trail #482, a Mount Hood Wilderness route that leaves the Pacific Crest Trail and ends at Upper Twin Lake. It winds through small alpine timber to a little meadow, where a 0.4-mile spur climbs to Palmateer Point for a look at Mount Hood and down the Barlow Creek drainage. A second viewpoint comes later on.

The north end is 1.5 miles south of Barlow Pass on the PCT, just off Oregon Hwy 35. Hike out and back for 7.8 miles total, or loop home on Twin Lakes Trail #495 and the PCT. A southern approach starts at Frog Lake on US Hwy 26 and goes by Lower Twin Lakes.

Trail map & elevation

Length2.0 mi one way
Climb468 ft up, 502 ft down
Elevation4,138 to 4,497 ft
DifficultyModerate
4,1004,3004,5000 mi1.9 mi
Elevation (ft) along the trail
Download GPX Directions to the start
Trail class
Class 2 of 5
Typical grade
12-20%
Surface
Native material
Tread width
18-24 inches
Ranger district
Hood River

Connects to: Twin Lakes Trail #495, Devils Half Acre Trail #482A

More about the Mount Hood Wilderness and its trails →

Line, length and trail class: U.S. Forest Service trail data. Elevation: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Difficulty is our estimate for hiking it out and back (once around for a loop), from distance and total climb. Lines can be off by a few hundred feet; carry a real map and check the official page for closures.

Getting there

  1. (North access via the Pacific Crest Trail):

From Portland, OR

  1. travel approximately 31 miles east of Sandy on US Hwy 26 to the intersection with Oregon Hwy 35.
  2. Turn north onto Oregon Hwy 35 and travel 2.6 miles to Barlow Pass Sno-Park (Forest Road 3531 – approximately 250’ east of milepost 60).
  3. Take the Pacific Crest Trail #2000 south 1.5 miles to the north end of the trail.
  4. (South access via the Pacific Crest Trail)

From Portland, OR

  1. follow US Hwy 26 approximately 35 miles from Sandy to Frog Lake Sno-Park at Wapinitia Pass (approximately 300’ south of milepost 62).
  2. Take the Pacific Crest Trail #2000 northeast 1.5 miles to Twin Lakes Trail #495.
  3. Turn right onto trail #495 and travel 1.5 miles past Lower Twin Lakes to the south end of trail #482.

From the Forest Service

Rules and restrictions

Wilderness restrictions apply

Passes and permits

A valid Recreation Pass is required at Barlow Pass trailhead.

Season details

Usually accessible in June

Details from the official Forest Service page, a public-domain U.S. government source.

Trails nearby

Twin Lakes Trail #495 6 mi round trip 950 ft Hard Devils Half Acre Trail #482A 1.8 mi round trip 562 ft Easy Pacific Crest Trail (Hood River RD) 40.4 mi round trip 6,003 ft Very hard Barlow Butte Trail #670 10 mi round trip 4,075 ft Very hard Pioneer Woman’s Grave Trail #485 2 mi round trip 451 ft Easy Pacific Crest Trail (Zigzag RD) 85.4 mi round trip 16,324 ft Very hard Frog Lake Trail #530 2 mi round trip 836 ft Moderate Blue Box Trail #483 7.4 mi round trip 1,821 ft Hard Trillium Lake Loop Trail #761 1.8 mi loop 11 ft Easy Snowbunny Trail 3.6 mi round trip 567 ft Catalpa Lake Trail #535 1.8 mi round trip 226 ft Easy

Last checked November 4, 2026