Oregon's highest mountain, Mount Hood, is a state icon.
Hikers make use of its lowland trails, like those around Timothy Lake, while waiting for the higher snow to melt, which this year is just about now.
Timberline Lodge is smack dab on the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, with its many great views. From the lodge, the famous trail works its way north by rounding Mount Hood's west side. This is a beautiful area but relatively busy, so hikers who want more solitude head to Mount Hood's east and north sides.
The east side is busy during winter with skiing and snowboarding, but is relatively quiet in summer. Trails from there head into the Mount Hood Wilderness Area, where hikers go for solitude at Elk Meadows and then higher up. The same holds sway on the north slope of the mountain, via the Vista Ridge Trail (and several others).
Scenery: Elk Meadows is a grassy oasis in a sea of conifers. Gnarl Ridge above it offers a close-up view of Mount Hood's awesome east face, with its Newton Clark Glacier. Creeks flowing off the glacier cut through a pair of raw, exposed canyons. The Clark Creek crossing is on a log bridge, but you will need to scramble across Newton Creek twice, either on boulders or by fording. Bring a pair of sandals. Orange ribbons and small rock piles called cairns mark the way to the best creek crossings, which change each year. The crossing is safest after most of winter's snow has melted.
Get there: Drive to the junction of U.S. 26 and Oregon 35 on the southeast side of Mount Hood. Take the Oregon 35 turnoff, signed for Mt. Hood Meadows ski area. Continue past the main ski area entry to the nordic parking lot. Turn west there and drive a quarter mile to the trailhead parking area, which is 36.5 miles south of Hood River on Oregon 35.
Trail log: One of Mount Hood's classic hikes is the loop around Elk Meadows, continuing with an uphill jaunt to spectacular views from Gnarl Ridge. From the trailhead, head north and get a self-issuing permit at the wilderness boundary, then continue straight for two miles to spongy Elk Meadows. (The former route starting from the Clark Creek Sno-Park is no longer viable due to highway reconstruction.) Walk the meadows' perimeter loop and grassy fields, then head northwest on the Gnarl Ridge Trail to its junction with the Timberline Trail. Hike 1.8 miles north for views at the 7,000-foot level of Gnarl Ridge, then retrace your steps to the Gnarl Ridge Trail junction. Continue past the junction on the Timberline Trail for 1.1 miles to the Newton Trail. Turn left, head downhill for 1.8 miles to the Elk Meadows Trail and continue to the parking lot.
Details: $5 Northwest Forest Pass (have it before you get there). Hikers only; horses are not allowed on the Timberline Trail, which passes through the area, and bikes are prohibited in wilderness areas. Rated very difficult to Gnarl Ridge, moderate to Elk Meadows. Distance is three miles one way to Elk Meadows, about 13 miles round trip to the viewpoint on Gnarl Ridge; 2,750-foot gain to the 7,000-foot level on Gnarl Ridge, or 1,000-foot gain to Elk Meadows. Best July through fall.
If you're looking for easy hiking, you're not going to find much of it once you enter this part of the Mount Hood Wilderness Area. The same trailhead does have an option though to stay out of the designated wilderness and make a four-mile around Hood River Meadows, featuring views of Umbrella and Sahalie falls.
Scenery: Mount Hood's north face, when seen rising above the Hood River Valley after fresh winter snow, has to be Oregon's most spectacular mountain view. To get into that face of Mount Hood, head for the Vista Ridge Trail.
Get there: To reach the Vista Ridge trailhead, drive U.S. 26 east of Portland to Zigzag, then go north on the Lolo Pass Road (Mount Hood National Forest Road 18). Drive up Lolo Pass and continue down the other side on Road 1810 to the right (don't take Road 18 on the left, because a short section is very rough). After three miles rejoin Road 18, then continue 3.5 miles to Road 16. Take Road 16 back sharply south toward the mountain for 5.5 miles to Road 1650. Follow this to its end at a small parking area.
Trail Log: After the dusty drive, this moderate hike is a breeze once snow melts in mid-July (later in some years). Hike the trail south 2.7 miles to join the Timberline Trail in Wy'east Basin, an area of meadows and streams where trees give way to wildflowers at 5,700 feet. Continue hiking upward on user-made paths to reach even better views -- all the way to the 7,863-foot top of Barrett Spur if you dare -- or stroll east or west on the Timberline Trail.
Details: Six miles round trip to the meadows at timberline, with a gain of 1,100 feet; nine miles and 3,400 feet to Barrett Spur.
Scenery: Short or long, you make the call, when hiking in the beautiful headwaters of the Clackamas River south of Mount Hood. Be content with a quarter-mile boardwalk stroll to aquamarine Little Crater Lake, or hoof it 13 miles all the way around Timothy Lake from the same starting point. Or just hang out at any of the five developed campgrounds on Timothy Lake, hiking to and fro on the Lakeshore Trail as you please.
Get there: Look for the signed turnoff to Skyline Road from U.S. 26 southeast of Government Camp at milepost 66.4. This is 7.4 miles south of the U.S. 26/Oregon 35 junction. Follow signs to Timothy Lake, with its busy campgrounds, to begin the hike on the Lakeshore Trail from your campsite (fees apply).
Or begin at Little Crater Lake Campground (as described here), by driving four miles west on Skyline Road from U.S. 26, then 1.4 miles north to the sign for Little Crater Lake Campground. Park in the day-use area (no fee required) on the west side of the campground.
Trail log: Timothy Lake is a reservoir on the Oak Grove Fork of the Clackamas River. Begin by hiking west from Little Crater Lake Campground, passing its namesake emerald jewel and reaching a junction with the Pacific Crest Trail in one-third mile. Continue west another one-third mile to another junction. Follow the PCT south, but note the trail coming in from the west because you'll be walking it hours later to complete the loop.
Hike the PCT 3.6 miles clockwise around Timothy Lake, passing some lovely views of the lake. This part of the trail is used heavily by equestrians, so expect some dust and unpleasant smells. Where the PCT crosses the Oak Grove Fork inlet stream to Timothy Lake, watch for a junction. Leave the PCT and take the Timothy Lake Trail. You'll be on varying versions of this trail for the next eight-plus miles. A confusing place comes at the dam at the west end of the lake. Just keep making a clockwise circuit of the lake and you'll pick up the trail after you pass gravel parking areas. Continue around the lake to the junction for Little Crater Lake, as noted above.
Details: It sounds like a major undertaking to walk 13 miles around, but the elevation change is minimal because the trail sticks close to the shoreline. Plan for six to eight hours to hike around the lake. Bicyclists also make the loop but must detour off a short section of the Pacific Crest Trail. Portland General Electric maintains the dam at the lake and publishes a site guide with map at portlandgeneral.com.
Maps: Mount Hood Wilderness has maps published by Geo-Graphics and also by National Geographic.
Manager: Mount Hood National Forest, Zigzag Rangers Station, 503-622-4822 (Timothy Lake); Hood River Ranger Station, 541-352-6002 (Vista Ridge and Elk Meadows); mthood.info, fs.usda.gov/mthood/.