A strenuous hike from the Bonney Meadows Trailhead, Boulder Lake Trail #463 drops to Boulder Lake, an alpine lake with primitive campsites, then continues to Forest Road 4880. The upper end starts beside Bonney Meadows Campground at 5,300 feet, and the 44 Trails Association helps maintain the route.
It heads northwest 0.2 mile to Hidden Meadows Trail #472, descends, levels off for 0.7 mile, then drops 0.5 mile to the lake, about 1.6 miles in. Beyond the lake it continues 0.3 mile to a junction with Little Boulder Trail #463A and turns east for 0.5 mile to Forest Road 4880, where the Boulder Lake Trailhead offers a shorter way in. Boulder Lakeshore Trail #463B also branches off.
Trail map & elevation
- Trail class
- Class 2 of 5
- Typical grade
- 12-20%
- Surface
- Native material
- Tread width
- 18-24 inches
- Ranger district
- Barlow
Connects to: Boulder Lakeshore Trail #463B, Little Boulder Trail #463A
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
From Hood River, OR
- head south on Highway 35 to the junction of Forest Road 48.
- Head southeast on Forest Road 48 to the junction with Forest Road 4890 from the left fork.
- Choose the left side of the fork to transfer to the Forest Road 4880.
- The Boulder Lake Trailhead will be on the westside of the road.
From the Forest Service
Good to know
Trail maintenance is accomplished thanks to the help of the 44 Trails Association!
Ranger office
Barlow Ranger District
Address: 780 NE Court St Dufur, OR 97021
Phone: 541-467-5100
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed 12 to 1 for lunch. (Closed on federal holidays)
Trails nearby
Boulder Lakeshore Trail #463B
1 mi
222 ft
Easy
Little Boulder Trail #463A
1 mi
178 ft
Easy
Forest Creek Trail #473
6 mi
1,307 ft
Hard
Bonney Meadows Trail #471
10.8 mi
3,190 ft
Very hard
Gunsight Butte Trail #685
10 mi
2,058 ft
Very hard
Camp Windy Trail #685B
2 mi
388 ft
Easy
Badger Creek Trail #479
24.4 mi
4,625 ft
Very hard
Divide Trail #458
15.4 mi
4,865 ft
Very hard
Rocky Butte Trail #475
2.4 mi
667 ft
Moderate
Jean Lake Trail #680
0.6 mi
249 ft
Easy
