Mount Hood Wilderness - Trails

Trails

Journeys to the summit are popular, but are certainly not for everyone. Mount Hood offers experienced and novice mountaineers opportunities to traverse glaciers, snowfields, steep volcanic soil, and deal with rapidly changing and difficult to predict weather. More than 10,000 climbers annually make the attempt, making Mount Hood's summit the most visited snowclad peak in America.

Numerous trails circle the mountain, from Lolo Pass on the northwest (which the Pacific Crest Trail crosses) to Cloud Cap on the northeast to the ski areas on the south. There are several historic structures (predating the wilderness designation), one of which is the remains of a stone lodge near Cairn Basin on the northwest side. Numerous pristine areas are easily accessible, such as Elk Cove on the north side of the mountain near the tree line.

The best known trail is the forty-one mile Timberline Trail which circles the mountain. The trail, Forest Service trail #600, shares eleven miles with the Pacific Crest Trail and alternates above and below the timberline. The trail is rerouted periodically due to washouts and to avoid sensitive high altitude and alpine meadows. It has a handful of informal campsites for backpackers, although camping is permitted anywhere outside the meadows and at least 200 feet (61 m) from water bodies. There are several hazardous stream crossings, especially on the west side and at landslide-prone Eliot Branch near Cloud Cap which closed the trail there in 2007. The trail has several significant vertical ascents and descents totally 9,000 feet (2,700 m), mostly at canyon crossings. Elevation of the trail varies from 3,250 feet (990 m) (half a mile west of dramatic Ramona Falls on the west side) to 7,300 feet (2,200 m) on the east side. The trail is accessible from Timberline Lodge, which has free parking for backpackers, and numerous connecting trails.