The many visitors to the Mt. Hood National Forest enjoy fishing, camping, boating and hiking in the summer, hunting in the fall, and skiing and other snow sports in the winter. Berry-picking and mushroom collection are popular, and for many area residents, a trip in December to cut the family’s Christmas tree is a long standing tradition.

The Mt. Hood extends south from the strikingly beautiful Columbia River Gorge across more than sixty miles of forested mountains, lakes and streams to Olallie Scenic Area, a high lake basin under the slopes of Mt. Jefferson.

Some popular destinations that offer rewarding visits are Timberline Lodge, built in 1937 high on Mt. Hood, Lost Lake, Trillium Lake, Timothy Lake, Rock Creek Reservoir and portions of the Old Oregon Trail, including Barlow Road.

There are 189,200 acres of designated wilderness in Wilderness Areas on the Forest. The largest is the Mt. Hood Wilderness, which includes the mountain’s peak and upper slopes. Others are Badger Creek, Salmon-Huckleberry, Hatfield, and Bull-of-the-Woods. Olallie Scenic Area is a lightly surfaced road lake basin that provides a primitive recreational experience.

: Climate on the Mt. Hood changes with elevation.The area receives a high amount of precipitation. Much of the precipitation comes from October to April in the form of rain at the low elevations and as wet heavy snow in the higher elevations. Although snow is possible in the lowest elevations, it is infrequent. Late spring, summer and early autumn tend to bring clear, sunny days with moderate temperatures.

Location: The Mt. Hood is located twenty miles east of the city of Portland and the northern Willamette River valley. The Forest stretches about 60 miles south from the Columbia River. The Forest Headquarters is located in Sandy, with District offices in Dufur, Estacada, Mt. Hood-Parkdale, Welches, and Zigzag, Oregon.

Contact Info: Mount Hood National Forest16400 Champion WaySandyOR97055503-668-1700