"I would definitely recommend this trip to a friend."
This was a late July 2000 trip with my daughter. We started from Topspur Trailhead which is to the north of Zigzag, Oregon. Cairn Basin is very popular and is located on the NW corner of Mt. Hood.
Photo: Sandy and Glisan Glaciers from above Cairn Basin.
The hike begins at a wide spot on a logging road at the edge of the Mt. Hood Wilderness. You walk gradually uphill through Douglas fir and Western hemlock which gradually gives way to true firs and Mountain hemlock. There are a couple of trail intersections along the way and there are usually signs in place pointing to Cairn Basin.
After maybe 3 miles you'll come to a beautiful open ridge with a tremendous view of Mt. Hood and a steep canyon. From July on until late August this area will have wildflowers.
From here you reenter the forest and after a short downhill you go uphill again until you reach the small ponds of Eden Park. Early in the season this is mosquito country. If you look around and get well away from water and the trail there are some nice camping spots here with views of Mt. Hood.
Just beyond Eden Park you'll come to Cairn Basin. This is wildflower central. At the end of July and very early August there is a literal carpet of flowers of every kind. There's a small stream winding down this basin.
Above this basin to the right the trail leads up higher to some steep meadows but there are camp spots up there if you look around. Don't build fires anywhere up here. The trees grow slowly and you can burn up 100-500 years worth of growth in one night. On a clear night you can see Portland from here.
Farther on is a nice ridge with a shelter at the tip. Most of these shelters are infested with mice, but in a pinch it's nice to have. Behind this shelter is a gradually narrowing ridge that leads to some fine, fairly close views of Glisan and Sandy Glaciers. You'll know when you've reached the "end" because the ridge breaks down into rough steep rock. Know what you're doing if you decide to proceed down and across this rockfall.
Look around while you're up at the top. The north side of this ridge has year-round snow and you can drop down into this basin for a return trip to the north side of Cairn Basin. Again, know what you're doing. You can fall or get lost doing this, but it's a fun and exciting side trip.
Finally, if you go during July and August try to go during the week, not on a weekend. It's a ZOO on weekends.
There are photos of this and other trips on Mike Little's home page, which is linked on the Bearings page.
Note: This is backcountry wilderness travel. You are responsible for informing yourself of the hazards and taking the necessary precautions.
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