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Mount Hood, Oregon

Top Spots in and near Mount Hood

  • Mount Hood, Oregon

    Cooper Spur

    5.0
    6.87 mi / 3097 ft gain
    Cooper Spur is located on the north east side of Mount Hood. This is the hike to do if you want to get up close and personal with the mountain. To get there you have to drive around 10 miles up a bumpy dirt road, once off the main road. Low-clearance vehicles can make it but high clearance vehic...
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  • Government Camp, Oregon

    Climb the Mt. Hood Summit

    4.8
    7 mi / 5239 ft gain
    Starting at 6,000 ft of elevation at Timberline Lodge, start your climb up the south side of Mt. Hood. If you head out at noon, in 6 hours you can make it about an hour past the last ski lift, called Palmer, where you can set up camp for the night. You may need to dig out a flat spot for your ten...
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  • Government Camp, Oregon

    Hike Paradise Park

    5.0
    12 mi / 2300 ft gain
    The hike begins at Timberline Lodge, which sits on Mount Hood at 6,000 feet of elevation. Find the Timberline trail behind the lodge by following any of the maze of trails heading east and you will be on your way! After 1.2 miles, you reach Little Zigzag Canyon where you will descend approximatel...
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  • Government Camp, Oregon

    Climb to Mt. Hood's Illumination Rock

    5.0
    6 mi / 3600 ft gain
    The Pacific Northwest has an abundance of beautiful, technical and fun Alpine ascents.  For those looking to feel the rush of mountaineering but not wanting to push for a summit attempt, Illumination Rock on the southwest ridge of Mt Hood, offers a beautiful way to spend an afternoon or potential...
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  • Government Camp, Oregon

    Snowshoe to the top of Mount Hood's Palmer Ski Lift

    4 mi / 2560 ft gain
    Ending just a few thousand feet shy of the mountain top, Palmer Lift doesn't start operating until most ski resorts are nearing their close. This leaves most of the mountain nearly uninhabited and ideal for exploring with close up views of the complex summit above and well into Oregon down below....
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  • Government Camp, Oregon

    Photograph the Wildflowers at Timberline Lodge

    4.0
    From the mount hood scenic byway in Government Camp, Oregon turn on the road that heads up to the Timberline Lodge. Follow that road to the end and park in the lot all the way at the top. In the ski season you need a pass to park there, but if you go in June, July, Or August (aka when the wildflo...
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  • Mount Hood, Oregon

    Snowshoe to Umbrella Falls

    0.5 mi / 100 ft gain
    Just 66 miles east of Portland, and 35 miles south of Hood River the infamous Mt Hood breaks through the clouds for all to see. The highest peak of Oregon is the ultimate explorer's paradise offering something for every season... and in this case we mean snow shoeing and hiking!!Our trek begins ...
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  • Hood River County, Oregon

    Camp at Elk Meadows

    4.5
    4.5 mi / 1200 ft gain
    This is a great trip for those who are new to backpacking. The hike to the quiet, peaceful Elk Meadows is relatively short, but the Newton Creek crossing presents enough difficulty to make this a fun and challenging adventure.Start at the Hood River Meadows Trailhead parking lot. Though there are...
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  • White River West Sno-Park, Oregon

    Snowshoe Pacific Crest Trail at White River West

    3.4 mi / 800 ft gain
    Park at White River West Sno-Park. Walk to the north end of the parking lot. Start a very brief way up the White River Trail. After 100-200 feet, step off the main trail, to your left, and head into the woods for some solitude. To get to the Pacific Crest Trail, look for the blue diamond trail ma...
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  • Mount Hood, Oregon

    McNeil Point via Top Spur Trailhead

    4.9
    7.17 mi / 2428 ft gain
    The hike to McNeil Point begins at Top Spur Trailhead, in the Mt. Hood National Wilderness. Follow signs for McNeil Point along the Pacific Crest and Timberline Trails heading north. Though there are numerous camping opportunities along the way (most of the route follows the PCT), an old stone s...
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  • Mount Hood, Oregon

    Hike to Sandy Glacier Caves

    4.5
    12.5 mi / 2800 ft gain
    The hike to the caves begins at Top Spur Trailhead. The hike to McNeil Point is 5.4 miles one way, and 2200 feet of elevation gain. The trail starts in the forest, but will eventually open up to views of Mt Hood, as well as St. Helens, Adams and Rainier on a clear day.There is a shortcut up to Mc...
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  • Mount Hood, Oregon

    Timberline Loop Trail via the Top Spur Trail

    4.0
    2.26 mi / 627 ft gain
    Starting at the parking area, cross the dirt road to start hiking up from the Top Spur Trailhead. In 0.4 miles you will reach the Pacific Crest Trail intersection, take a right onto the Pacific Crest Trail. In a couple hundred feet you will reach a larger intersection of a bunch of different trai...
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  • Mount Hood, Oregon

    Snowshoe Mt. Hood's White River

    5.0
    4 mi / 800 ft gain
    The White River West Sno-Park is a hub of winter activities at Mt. Hood. At 4200', this area is easily accessed directly off of Route 35. The large parking lot fills up quickly on snowy weekends so arrive early to get a spot and make sure that you have an Oregon Sno-Park Permit*.The White River r...
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  • National Forest Development Road 3550, Oregon

    Snowshoe/Ski Bennett Pass Sno Park

    5.1 mi / 900 ft gain
    With easy parking right off Hwy 35 on the east side of Mt Hood, Bennett Pass is a perfect destination for a straightforward lap on cross country skis, snowshoes or accessing easy backcountry terrain for skiers and boarders.  Bennett Pass Road is a well-graded 5.1 mile out-and-back with several tr...
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  • Mount Hood, Oregon

    Snowshoe to the Tilly Jane A-Frame

    5.0
    2.7 mi / 1900 ft gain
    Built in the 1930's, the Tilly Jane A-Frame sits on the North side of Mount Hood at around 6,000ft. The cabin is very popular during winter months as it is located only 1,000ft below the tree line and offers beautiful snowshoeing, hiking, skiing and snowboarding opportunities, yet is also a popul...
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  • Mount Hood, Oregon

    Kayak Laurance Lake

    5.0
    This lake is found about 25 miles south of Hood River, Or. $5 for day use and now other passes are accepted, just keep that in mind. There are camping sites all over the lake as well, so if you are thinking of making a weekend out of it.  It wasn't very crowded on a weekend during the summer so y...
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Camping and Lodging in Mount Hood

Tilly Jane Guard Station
Mount Hood, Oregon

Tilly Jane Guard Station

Still Creek
Government Camp, Oregon

Still Creek

Kinnikinnick (Laurance Lake) Campground
Mount Hood, Oregon

Kinnikinnick (Laurance Lake) Campground

Nottingham Campground
Oregon 35

Nottingham Campground

Sherwood Campground
Oregon 35

Sherwood Campground

Lost Creek
Rhododendron, Oregon

Lost Creek

Guides, Insights and Stories from Mount Hood

Rafting the Lower Deschutes

Rafting the Lower Deschutes

Ben Kitching

The 10 Best Campsites near Portland, OR

The 10 Best Campsites near Portland, OR

The Outbound Collective

My Five Favorite Parks in Portland, OR

My Five Favorite Parks in Portland, OR

Adam Edwards

10 Must-Do Winter Adventures near Portland, Oregon

10 Must-Do Winter Adventures near Portland, Oregon

The Outbound Collective

The Best 7 Hikes Within 90 Minutes of Portland

The Best 7 Hikes Within 90 Minutes of Portland

Austin Jackson