On Saturday I did a loop from the Barlow Pass trailhead to Upper Twin Lake and Palmateer Point. I’ve hiked to Upper Twin from the Frog Lake Sno Park before, but never from the north.
It’s a pretty easy amble along the PCT for awhile before picking up the trail to Upper Twin Lake. The hike is all in the trees with no views. Just before descending to the lake there is a sign for Bird Butte Summit, which is misleading since this spot is actually just a saddle, and the summit is off to the right.
The lake was peaceful. I sat here for awhile eating a snack and reading. Lovely.
From the lake I picked up the Palmateer Trail. I found the signage on this hike to be in great shape, but this was the only junction that had no signage (except for one of those yellow temporary signs tacked to a tree, faded and cracked). A ways up the trail is a ledge with a viewpoint:
Mt. Hood and Barlow Butte/Ridge are visible:
The hump in the background is Bonney Butte:
There was a big patch of colorful vine maple below the ledge:
The trail continues on for awhile until a junction with a signless post (but someone with a sharpie has written directions on the post). A short jaunt on the spur trail here takes you up to Palmateer Point.
As with the rock ledge earlier, there are views of Mt. Hood and Barlow Butte, only better:
Got a nice view of the vine maple on the slopes below Barlow Butte:
The twin humps of Frog Lake Buttes on the left, with Bird Butte on the right:
Looking south:
In his book, Sullivan says you can see down to the meadows below. While this may have been true at one point, the trees have grown up and you can’t see down there at all. I hung out here for awhile then headed back. The Palmateer Trail dumps you back out on the PCT which I followed back to Barlow Pass. A very nice hike on a gorgeous day!