Mount Hood National Forest Clackamas River Road

Forest Road 46 follows the wild Clackamas River for 40 miles through Mount Hood National Forest, passing Bagby Hot Springs and threading between clear-cuts and cathedral groves of old-growth Douglas fir. This was the main timber highway into the upper Clackamas basin, and you’ll see remnants of splash dams, logging railroad grades, and abandoned mill sites. The road crosses the river multiple times on historic wooden bridges before ending at the Clackamas Lake trailhead beneath Mount Jefferson.

Easy to moderate difficulty suitable for any high-clearance vehicle, though winter closures run October through May due to snow. Stock up in Estacada—no services for 40 miles. The road can be dusty in summer logging season and muddy during spring melt. Dispersed camping opportunities abound along the river, and Bagby Hot Springs offers a perfect soak after dusty miles. This is classic Pacific Northwest forest driving through some of Oregon’s most pristine timber country.