The Trail Advocates site lists the Burnt Granite Trail as one of the routes now maintained by volunteers. Indeed, it is still shown on several maps, including National Geographic’s Mount Hood map. Access to the trailhead has changed recently as the 4650 road has been blocked at its lower end, and it’s necessary to travel farther along the Clackamas River Road (FR 46) to 4670, drive up that road 4.2 miles, and then turn right on gravel 4650 to go 4.0 miles to the unmarked trailhead.
"This is big time cougar country. Watch your back. Seriously. Not advisable to hike this trail alone. The cougars are in the thick rhododendrons.”
Well, I decided to hike the trail alone, but I began at a rather late hour. In fact, I never was very worried about cougars, understanding well their distaste for all things human, although I did glance back a few times to ensure that there was no teenager with more curiosity than sense on my trail. I saw signs of bear on the outing but no definitive kitty presence announced itself.
Indeed, I was in an area renowned in certain circles for larger and more elusive creatures.
Tarzan Springs, one of my goals, was supposedly named after a gold prospector who was reputed to cohabit there with a family of “ape-like” creatures. It is unknown whether this zoophile conceived a hybrid race that even today may reside in our midst.
Burnt Granite Peak, of course, was named after a burn – as one can discern from the open lodgepole pine bench on its east side. Also, it’s not granite, but andesite. However, Burnt Granite, or at least a rock pile on the southern end of its ridge, is also the site of one of the best-known sasquatch encounters: the Glen Thomas sighting, an event much cited in the lore surrounding this cryptozoological beast. In October 1967, Thomas observed a family of bigfoot grabbing rocks out of the pile, in essence burrowing down to find hibernating rodents, which they then popped into their mouths. The whole activity gives new import to the idea of “vision quest pit.”
The Burnt Granite Trailhead is about half a mile up FR 4650 from the Skyline Trail’s original crossing: the intervening tread has been obliterated by a clearcut. There is flagging here, and you hike up an abandoned road bed past an old trail board. The trail resumes the original tread and begins a series of slow traverses and switchbacks through montane forest and an encroaching understory of rhododendrons. There is timber down on the trail, and I used my saw to get rid of the most impedimental branches and trunks. I did not bring pruners, however, and the whole way up I endured multiple proverbial face slaps from rhododendron whorls.
Nice TR bobcat! I was there about 7 years ago, doing some sasquatch hunting. Beautiful area. I actually camped in an old quarry. Never did see one but there were constant tree rappings. Also, lot's of movement above the quarry, while I was sitting near the fire. Something was walking back and forth, for pebbles were coming down the quarry walls.