"Top of Oregon" Top 5 Page for this destination Mount Hood by mtncorg

Mount Hood Travel Guide: 86 reviews and 182 photos

apple blossoms and Mt Hood; Hood River Valley

Mt Hood is the highest peak in Oregon. It is a wilderness playground for Oregonians - snow sports in the winter: three major venues with one offering glacier skiing through the summer; and in the summer, hiking, climbing and just a leisurely drive up to see the mountain. The mountain is a glaciated dormant volcano - you will witness ongoing volcanic activity when, high on the mountain you wander past sulfur vents - the smell is unmistakable. There are an even dozen glaciers encircling the mountain.

Some say, that Mt Hood is the most climbed peak in the world. While that is probably not true, it is true that there are a lot of people on the mountain on any decent late spring weekend when the snows allow a fairly easy approach and the rockfall danger is not what it becomes lateer in the summer. Most people climb from Timberline Lodge at about 6000 feet. Their are several variations for experienced mountaineers seeking more solitude on the mountain. On a moonlit night it is quite an experience. To witness a dawn high on the mountain is a very natural high.

For others, there is a trail that goes around the mountain, the Timberline Trail, which covers around 40 miles. There are many nice places to camp around the mountain. The country is wilderness area - you will need a tent and backpack. The trail gives you a very intimate feel for the mountain and by circling the mountain, you can see its many different faces. You will also gain almost 10000 feet in elevation as the trail is continually going up and down, from one glaciated canyon to the next.

Hayfield on the north side of Mt Hood

Other nearby areas for the outdoor enthusiast include the world-class windsurfing opportunities in the Columbia River Gorge just north of the mountain. The wind areas within the Gorge extend from Rooster Rock State Park, in the west, to Roosevelt, WA in the east - an area some 100 miles along the river. Wind conditions varying with the pressure systems. If the temperatures are warmer on the East Side of the Cascades (ie The Dalles) than the West Side (ie Portland), than the wind is usually blowing strong through the Gorge. Some of the craziest windsurfers to be found are here playing in 6 foot swells, shooting high into the air.

Fishing is very big in the area; salmon, steelhead and sturgeon. Also, some great whitewater opportunities exist along the White Salmon and Deschutes Rivers - many others for those with the kayaking know-how.

Mountain Girl invites you to her playground

But what is great is just to get out on the mountain, itself. Experience the natural wonder of the mountain and the lifezones encompassing it. The flowers, the glaciers, the streams, the forests .....

I heard the expression 'Hausberg' in Austria. The Wiener Schneeberg and the Rax were described by people from Vienna as 'unsere Hausbergen', meaning 'our home mountains'. The same holds true for Mt Hood and Portlanders. And while we reserve the right to call a few other peaks as ours (St Helens, Adams), it is Mt Hood that is truly at our core.

Enjoy.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Snow sports, climbing, hiking, nature
Cons:Driving home from skiing at the end of a weekend day can be a pain
In a nutshell:Oregon Wilderness at its Best

Intro Updated Jul 1, 2003
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Reviews (25)

Smiles now the top is reached! - Mount Hood

SALMON BUTTE Off The Beaten Path (5)

Much of the beauty of the Salmon River Canyon and its surrounding peaks - the Salmon River, here, is a major tributary... more travel advice

East side of Mt Hood from atop Lookout Mt - Mount Hood

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN Off The Beaten Path (5)

Lookout Mountain is the tallest nearby mountain around Mt Hood at 6525 feet high - still almost 5000 feet lower than the... more travel advice

Time to click in and head up the slopes! - Mount Hood

MT HOOD MEADOWS Sports & Outdoors (1)

On the southeast side of Mt Hood, Mt Hood Meadows offers the best skiing terrain to be found of the resorts on and... more travel advice

Cigar, whiskey, and unending views. Yes, Paradise - Mount Hood

SUNSET IN PARADISE Nightlife (1)

Pick out a suitable knoll and watch the sun sink. You worked hard enough to reach this spot, so relax and let the scene... more travel advice

Restaurants (1)
Some of the best restaurants don't have...
Warnings and Dangers (2)
See All Snow on the trail can be Hazardous
Transportation (1)
Timberline Trail
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Comments (37)

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mirliya Mar 24, 2010 at 6:57 AM

Mark. Mt.Hood Pictures always interesting for me.Where is the Little Girl"s friend now
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richiecdisc Nov 18, 2009 at 12:40 PM

Invaluable hiking tips, Mark. Love the shots of the wine/shrooms but Little Girl generally seems to be stealing the show as usual.
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angiebabe Oct 29, 2008 at 2:44 AM

your page and pictures are so beautiful here! Its all here - snow, beautiful mtn scenery, flowers, forests, lakes, green meadows below beautiful mtns and snow!....and corgis!(had to come back&add the plural as youre blessed with 2 of'm!
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volopolo Jun 10, 2008 at 9:33 PM

Great information and pictures
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DPando May 12, 2008 at 11:37 AM

i tried to make pictures from the car after crossing Portland.. and wow !!! its Mt Hood !! im impressed !! lol
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Darby2 Oct 13, 2007 at 11:05 AM

Excellent photos!
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SURFIN7TH Apr 17, 2007 at 7:05 AM

Amazing views. I love glaciers.
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mvtouring Feb 7, 2007 at 2:20 AM

armchair travelling has taken me many interesting places, and this is just one of them ;-)
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roamer61 Dec 12, 2006 at 5:02 AM

Stunning photography of Mt. Hood. I love especially your photos of the Corgi.
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Pinguino Nov 27, 2006 at 4:37 PM

What a BEAUTIFUL pic!! Nicely done!