Babyfoot Lake Trail, Oregon

Babyfoot Lake Loop Trail, Kalmiopsis Wilderness, TJ Howell Botanical Drive, Cave Junction, Oregon The Babyfoot Lake Trail is located at the end of the TJ Howell Botanical Drive, a scenic drive that takes you through a section of the Wild and Scenic Illinois River and climbs into the mountains through botanically diverse landscapes to the boundary of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. Twelve miles of this road are gravel and climbs for a total elevation gain of about 3000 feet from where it leaves Highway 199 to where it ends at the trailhead to Babyfoot Lake.

The distance from the parking area to the lake is about one mile in length with an approximate elevation drop of 250 feet from the parking area to the lake. It is possible to continue past the lake and climb to return along a ridge above the lake. The total distance of the loop hike is about three miles.

Babyfoot Lake Trail a year after the 2002 Biscuit Fire. Kalmiopsis Wilderness, TJ Howell Botanical Drive, Cave Junction, Oregon Most of the forest along the trail into the lake was heavily burned in the Biscuit Fire of 2002 and offers a unique opportunity for hikers to observe how the forest is recovering after a catastrophic fire. The intense fire killed most of the larger forest trees and baked the ground but this was not enough to kill the fire adapted plants now seen sprouting up from the forest floor.

CAUTION: Hiking in the burned forest can be hazardous especially in high winds and inclement weather. Trees may fall and rocks may break loose and roll down the hillside. Be aware that hiking in a burned forest subjects hikers to hazardous conditions. Check with the Forest Service for the latest hiking advisories in the area burned by the Biscuit Fire.

Directions
The Babyfoot Lake Trail is located at the end of TJ Howell Botanical drive (Eight Dollar Mountain Road), a drive that begins near Highway 199 mile marker 24 about four and a half miles from Cave Junction. Once on Eight Dollar Mountain Road, drive about fifteen miles from Highway 199 to the beginning of the hike. Twelve miles of this road are gravel and and it is recommended you have tires on your car that are suitable for driving on this type of surfacing. If you want to get the most of the drive to Babyfoot Lake Trail, you can download the TJ Howell Botanical Road Guide (pdf 350kb), a handout that provides a road log and suggested stops to see the botany, geology and stream ecology of the region as you drive to the trailhead. Longer hikes go into the Kalmiopsis wilderness than can be found on a Forest Service maps of the area.

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Disclaimer: All information in Highway199.org is accurate to the best knowledge of the author. However, conditions in outdoor settings can change dramatically after storms or fires. For this reason, travelers are advised to check current road conditions before traveling through the area, drive responsibly and take measures to understand safety issues in the region. When participating in outdoor activities, always plan and prepare for safe hiking, swimming or any other activities mentioned in the Highway 199 website. More on disclaimer and copyright...