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Trail

Little Badger Trail #469

A 7.6-mile Badger Creek Wilderness route from near Flag Point down along Little Badger Creek, by the old Kinzel cabin site, to Forest Road 2710.

Representative photo, not this exact spot. Photo: Caleb Jack via Pexels ยท Pexels License

At 7.6 miles, Little Badger Trail #469 works well as a long day hike or an overnight trip in the Badger Creek Wilderness. It runs from the Little Badger Trailhead on Forest Road 2730-200, near Flag Point, down to Forest Road 2710 by Little Badger Campground, staying fairly close to Little Badger Creek and crossing many streams.

You’ll see a range of forest, from glades to rock outcrops, and the last stretch runs through oak thickets, maples and conifers. The old Kinzel cabin site sits by the creek with a primitive campsite. The 2007 Ball Point Fire burned through this area, and regrowth is underway. Back Country Horsemen of Oregon volunteers help maintain it.

Trail map & elevation

Length7.6 mi one way
Climb3,662 ft up, 366 ft down
Elevation2,142 to 5,441 ft
DifficultyVery hard
2,1003,8005,5000 mi7.5 mi
Elevation (ft) along the trail
Download GPX Directions to the start
Trail class
Class 3 of 5
Typical grade
12-20%
Surface
Native material
Tread width
18-24 inches
Ranger district
Barlow

Connects to: Badger Creek Cutoff Trail #477, Tygh Creek Trail #460, Divide Trail #458, School Canyon Trail #468

More about the Badger Creek 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

From Hood River, OR

  1. Take OR Hwy 35 south 26 miles, 0.15 mile south of milepost 71, to Dufur Mill Road (Forest Road 44).
  2. Turn left (east) on Forest Road 44, go 8 miles to Forest Road 4420 and turn (right) south.
  3. Drive 2.1 miles on Forest Road 4420 and take the left fork onto Forest Road 2730.
  4. Follow Forest Road 2730 for 3 miles to Forest Road 2730-200.
  5. Turn right (south) on Forest Road 2730-200 and travel 2.75 miles to the trailhead.
  6. This trail can also be accessed from the east end of the Wilderness just past Little Badger Campground on Forest Road 2710.

From the Forest Service

Good to know

Sections of this wilderness trail are maintained thanks to the help of Columbia Gorge Chapter of Back Country Horseman of Oregon volunteers.

Rules and restrictions

Wilderness restrictions apply in Badger Creek Wilderness.

Ranger office

Barlow Ranger District

Hours
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed 12 to 1 for lunch. (Closed on federal holidays)

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

Trails nearby

Badger Creek Cutoff Trail #477 6 mi round trip 1,969 ft Hard Tygh Creek Trail #460 13.2 mi round trip 3,826 ft Very hard Divide Trail #458 15.4 mi round trip 4,865 ft Very hard School Canyon Trail #468 7 mi round trip 2,121 ft Hard Fret Creek Trail #456A 4 mi round trip 1,010 ft Moderate Badger Creek Trail #479 24.4 mi round trip 4,625 ft Very hard Post Camp Trail #467 5.4 mi round trip 1,492 ft Hard Fifteenmile Trail #456 22.4 mi round trip 4,064 ft Very hard Cedar Creek Trail #457 9.2 mi round trip 2,054 ft Hard Gumjuwac Trail #480 9 mi round trip 3,225 ft Very hard

Places on this trail

Little Badger Trailhead

Last checked November 4, 2026