Mount Hood

State: Oregon. Type: active stratovolcano, part of the Cascade Volcanic Arc. Elevation: 11,249 feet, Oregon's highest peak. Location: straddles Clackamas and Hood River counties, about 50 miles east-southeast of Portland. Contains 12 named glaciers and snowfields (about 3,331 acres). Last eruption: 1865-1866. Encompassed by the 1,067,043-acre Mount Hood National Forest.

Mount Hood dominates the skyline east of Portland as Oregon's tallest mountain and one of the most visited volcanoes in the United States. An active stratovolcano within the Cascade Volcanic Arc, it formed through subduction-zone volcanism over the past 500,000 years and last erupted in 1865-1866; geologists consider it capable of future eruptions that could trigger glacial-melt lahars. The mountain carries 12 named glaciers, including the voluminous Eliot Glacier, though these have shrunk by an average of 34% since 1907. Mount Hood National Forest, covering more than a million acres around the peak, offers over 1,200 miles of hiking trails and five ski areas — Timberline, Mount Hood Meadows, Mount Hood Skibowl, Summit Ski Area and Cooper Spur — with more than 4,600 combined acres of skiable terrain. Roughly 10,000 people attempt to summit Mount Hood each year, making it one of the most-climbed glaciated peaks in North America, though the climb carries real risk: falls and hypothermia have caused most of the more than 130 recorded fatalities since 1896, and around 50 climbers require rescue annually.

Mount Hood sits about 50 miles east-southeast of Portland, straddling Clackamas and Hood River counties in northern Oregon within the Cascade Range. The peak and its surrounding recreation areas fall inside the 1,067,043-acre Mount Hood National Forest.

As a high Cascade volcano, Mount Hood has an alpine climate with heavy winter snowfall that supports year-round skiing at Timberline and a network of Sno-Parks; conditions turn colder and snowier with elevation and can change rapidly. Summers at lower trailheads are mild, but weather near the summit remains unpredictable and can shift quickly even in warmer months, a key factor in the mountain's climbing hazards.

Winter through spring is prime time for skiing and snow sports, with Timberline offering skiing essentially year-round. Summer (roughly July-September) is the main window for climbing and lower-elevation hiking, when trails are more likely to be snow-free and weather more stable, though conditions above treeline can change quickly at any time of year.

Mount Hood formed over the last 500,000-plus years through subduction-zone volcanism along the Cascade Volcanic Arc, and it last erupted between September 1865 and January 1866. The first recorded ascent came on July 11, 1857, by Henry Pittock, W. Lyman Chittenden, Wilbur Cornell and Rev. T. A. Wood. The mountain has since become one of the most frequently climbed glaciated peaks in the country, with an estimated 10,000 attempts annually; more than 130 climbing deaths have been recorded since 1896, mostly from falls and hypothermia rather than avalanches. Its glaciers, a defining feature of the peak, have retreated significantly, shrinking by an average of 34% since measurements began in 1907, a trend tied to a warming climate.

Skiing and snowboarding are a major draw, with five operations — Timberline Lodge, Mount Hood Meadows, Mount Hood Skibowl, Summit Ski Area and Cooper Spur — offering more than 4,600 combined acres of terrain; Timberline is known for near-year-round skiing on its upper slopes. Hikers can choose from over 1,200 miles of trails across Mount Hood National Forest, ranging from short nature walks to multi-day backcountry routes. Experienced mountaineers attempt the summit climb, most commonly via the South Side route from Timberline, though this requires technical glacier-travel skills and should not be attempted without proper training and gear.

Timberline Lodge, a National Historic Landmark built in the 1930s on Mount Hood's south slope, is a destination in its own right beyond its ski operations. The mountain's glaciers and viewpoints along the Mount Hood Scenic Byway are popular photo stops, and the broader national forest includes lakes, waterfalls and old-growth forest areas accessible from surrounding trailheads.

Mount Hood is about 50 miles east-southeast of Portland, roughly a 60-90 minute drive via U.S. Highway 26 or Oregon Route 35, depending on the specific destination on the mountain. Most visitors arrive by car or rental car from Portland International Airport, since there is no direct public transit to the mountain's recreation sites.

The mountain and national forest trails are generally accessible year-round, weather permitting, though many trailheads and Sno-Parks are snowed in during winter and require winter tires or traction devices. Individual ski areas and Timberline Lodge set their own seasonal operating hours, which should be confirmed directly before a visit.

A Northwest Forest Pass is required at many Mount Hood trailheads and day-use sites from roughly early May through the end of October, costing $5 for a day pass or $30 for an annual pass. In winter, a Sno-Park permit is required for parking at Mount Hood's snow parks from November 1 through April 30, priced at $4 for one day, $9 for three days, or $25 annually. Ski areas set their own separate lift-ticket pricing.

A day trip from Portland is enough for skiing, a short hike, or sightseeing at Timberline Lodge, but climbers attempting the summit typically plan for an overnight approach and an early pre-dawn start, and multi-day backcountry hikers can spend several days exploring the wider national forest.

Timberline Lodge, on the mountain's south slope, offers historic on-mountain lodging. The nearby towns of Government Camp and Hood River offer additional hotels, inns and vacation rentals for visitors basing themselves near the mountain, while Portland, about 50 miles away, offers a full range of city lodging for day-trippers.

Government Camp, the small community closest to the mountain's south side, has casual dining options catering to skiers and hikers, and Timberline Lodge operates its own on-site restaurants. Hood River, on the mountain's north side, has a more developed dining scene tied to its wine and outdoor-recreation tourism.

Hood River, known for its fruit orchards, wineries and windsurfing on the Columbia River, sits north of the mountain. The Columbia River Gorge, with its waterfalls and scenic byway, is a common pairing for visitors coming from Portland. Government Camp serves as the main gateway community on the mountain's south side.

Portland International Airport (PDX), about 50-60 miles away, is the nearest major airport; a rental car is the most practical way to reach Mount Hood, since public transit options to the mountain's trailheads and ski areas are limited.

Mountaineers should be aware that most climbing fatalities on Mount Hood result from falls and hypothermia rather than avalanches, and about 50 climbers need rescue each year, underscoring the value of proper glacier-travel training, gear and weather checks before attempting the summit. Winter visitors need a valid Sno-Park permit and should carry tire chains or traction devices, since mountain roads can be snow-covered. Weather near the summit can change rapidly regardless of season.

Climbers should carry standard glacier-travel and mountaineering equipment (ice axe, crampons, helmet, and appropriate layers), while day hikers and sightseers need warm layers, sturdy footwear, and a Northwest Forest Pass or Sno-Park permit displayed in their vehicle as required by season.

Check current weather and avalanche/route conditions before any climb or backcountry outing, since alpine weather here can shift quickly. Carry tire chains in winter, since snow and ice are common on approach roads. Buy the correct seasonal pass — a Northwest Forest Pass in summer or a Sno-Park permit in winter — before you arrive, since both are required at most trailheads and ski parking areas.

For any emergency, including mountain rescues, dial 911. Search-and-rescue on Mount Hood is typically coordinated through the local county sheriff's office given the mountain's location across Clackamas and Hood River counties.

Mount Hood National Forest (USDA Forest Service) - https://www.fs.usda.gov/mthood

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.