Bald Hill & McCulloch Peak

Marys Peak from Bald Hill

  • Easy (to Bald Hill)
  • 3.2-mile loop
  • 430 feet elevation gain


  • Difficult (to McCulloch Peak)
  • 9.5-mile loop
  • 2000 feet elevation gain

Two very different loops climb to the lowest hill and the tallest peak of the west Corvallis ridgeline. The trailheads are so close together, however, that you could decide at the last minute whether you’d prefer a short stroll amid oaks or a long climb through Douglas fir woods. Both routes are as popular for dog walkers and bicyclists as for hikers. The Bald Hill loop begins on a paved bike path, while the McCulloch Peak loop is mostly on the gravel logging roads of OSU’s McDonald Forest. The shorter hill actually has the better view.

Start at the west Corvallis crossroads …

This chapter taken from the book 100 Hikes/Travel Guide: Oregon Coast & Coast Range.