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Vancouver, WA: Bird Creek Meadows

Walk into a hikers' heaven on this 7.7-mile loop past waterfalls and through blooming meadows to a geologic hotspot of lava flows and active glaciers.

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Trail Facts

  • Distance: 9.8

Waypoints

BCM001

Location: 46.1419639587402, -121.439277648926

Head NE away from Bird Lake on Bluff Lake Trail 105

BCM002

Location: 46.1447792053223, -121.431800842285

Reach Bluff Lake. Stay L on 105; begin climb to Bird Creek Meadows

BCM003

Location: 46.1474571228027, -121.435218811035

Cross meadow to pretty 20-ft. waterfall; scan treetops for Western tanagers. (Male is redheaded; female has yellow head)

BCM004

Location: 46.1509170532227, -121.439399719238

R @ T onto Round the Mountain Trail 9

BCM005

Location: 46.1507415771484, -121.437683105469

L @ T onto Bird Creek Meadows Trail

BCM006

Location: 46.1542587280273, -121.440948486328

Go R for spur trail to Hellroaring Canyon

BCM007

Location: 46.1585006713867, -121.441864013672

Overlook: Snowfi elds line the deep U-shape of Hellroaring Canyon, Mazama Glacier courses down Mt. Adams, and Clark?s nutcrackers forage in nearby pines

BCM008

Location: 46.1509819030762, -121.44083404541

R onto Round the Mountain Trail 9, continuing W. Creek crossings ahead

BCM009

Location: 46.1490898132324, -121.452407836914

R @ Y, staying on Trail 9

BCM010

Location: 46.148983001709, -121.456466674805

Fun rock-hop near spring-fed waterfall

BCM011

Location: 46.1480140686035, -121.460861206055

Stay straight on Trail 9

BCM012

Location: 46.1484909057617, -121.469955444336

Stand on the hardened magma blocks of Aiken Lava Bed; Mt. Hood towers to S. Return to WPT 9 and turn R

BCM013

Location: 46.1467475891113, -121.453994750977

Pass below Crooked Creek Falls cascading over basalt cliff bands. Last 1.3 mi. descends back to Bird Lake, passing more creeks and healthy meadows

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