Old Baldy Trail #502

Old Baldy Trail #502 is a long-distance hiking route in Oregon’s Mt. Hood National Forest, built around reaching Tumala Mountain’s area from the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness side. It’s an out-and-back hike near Welches, Oregon, with a long main climb followed by the same route back.

The trail runs through thick forest and is described as entering the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness. Expect a route atmosphere dominated by old-growth stands and sustained tread work rather than an easy stroll.

On the approach, the route climbs hard enough to rack up substantial elevation gain, and it’s commonly characterized as having challenging ascents for day hikers making a longer round trip.

Allowed uses include hiking and horseback riding, plus primitive camping. That combination matters for planning if you’re pairing the hike with a longer stay in the backcountry rather than treating it as strictly day-use.

The route forms linkages with other nearby trails in the area, including Fanton Trail #505, Plaza Trail #783, and Eagle Creek Cutoff—useful if you’re building a longer itinerary beyond a simple out-and-back.

A notable feature associated with the Old Baldy Trail #502 experience is connection toward the Tumala Mountain Summit area, tied to the remains of a former fire lookout site there. The remnant lookout and the summit area are treated as the destination point for this route’s longer hike plan.

More information: Visitor information, Visitor information, White Iris-Bissell Trail Loop Hike - Oregon Hikers