Timberline Trail

Last updated
Timberline Trail
Timberline Trail north side.jpg
View of the north side of Mount Hood from the Timberline Trail
Length40.7 mi (65.5 km)
Location Mount Hood, Oregon, United States
Use Hiking
Elevation
Elevation change 9,000 feet (2,700 m) [1]
Highest pointLamberson Spur, 7,300 ft (2,200 m)
Lowest point Sandy River 3,240 feet (990 m) [2]
Hiking details
SeasonSummer to early Fall
MonthsMid-July through early October
Hazards stream crossings

Timberline Trail is a hiking trail around Mount Hood in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is mostly in wilderness but also goes near Timberline Lodge, Cloud Cap Inn (the oldest building on Mount Hood), and Mount Hood Meadows ski area. [3]

Contents

History

The Timberline Trail was constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the majority of their work taking place in the summer of 1934 at a cost of $10,000. [4] Sections of the trail have changed due to damage caused by landslides and washouts since then. [1]

In September 1938 a group of hikers completed the entire trail (36 miles at the time) in 47 hours, making local news and increasing awareness of the trail. [5]

Hiking the trail

The hike is typically completed in three to five days, but some ambitious hikers complete it in one or two days. The trail, Forest Service trail #600, shares eleven miles (18 km) 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 river and stream crossings, especially on the west side of the mountain and at the landslide-prone Eliot Branch near Cloud Cap which closed the trail there in 2007. The trail has several significant vertical ascents and descents totaling 9,000 feet (2,700 m), mostly at canyon crossings.

The trail is most easily accessible from the Timberline Lodge, which has Forest Service permitted parking (which you can purchase at Timberline Lodge) for backpackers, and through numerous connecting trails. There are multiple popular trail variations one can add as well, including Ramona Falls and Paradise Loop Trail.

Hazards

Risks associated with hiking along the Timberline Trail include hypothermia, falling, and drowning. Areas of special concern are the Sandy River crossing, where a hiker drowned in 2004, [6] the Eliot Creek, which washed out and closed a section of the trail in 2007, [7] and the Muddy Fork section, which washed out in 2007 and has deteriorated to a point where it is "barely passable" according to a United States Forest Service sign. The Sandy River can be crossed on log bridges that are erected seasonally.

A storm in November 2006 washed out The Eliot Creek section of the trail. Since then, hikers have either had to scramble down the loose and hazardous slopes or climb higher (onto the Eliot Glacier). There has been some discussion about re-routing the trail below the washout with the possibility of building a suspension bridge. [8]

The Muddy Fork section can be avoided by taking the Pacific Crest Trail (Trail 2000) from Bald Mountain to Trail 797 to Ramona Falls. This not only makes the hike much safer, but also shortens the total hike by 2.4 miles (3.9 km). A common problem with this shortcut is that the signs at the Bald Mountain crossroads mislabel the Pacific Crest Trail due to a re-routing of the Pacific Crest Trail several years ago.

The August and September 2011 Dollar Lake fire temporarily closed the Timberline Trail. It is open through the burned sections as of 2012. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

Pacific Crest Trail Long-distance hiking and equestrian trail in the western US

The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), officially designated as the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, is a long-distance hiking and equestrian trail closely aligned with the highest portion of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges, which lie 100 to 150 miles east of the U.S. Pacific coast. The trail's southern terminus is just south of Campo, California by the U.S. border with Mexico, and its northern terminus is on the Canada–US border on the edge of Manning Park in British Columbia; it passes through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington.

Mount Hood Stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc in Oregon, United States

Mount Hood is a potentially active stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc. It was formed by a subduction zone on the Pacific coast and rests in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located about 50 miles (80 km) east-southeast of Portland, on the border between Clackamas and Hood River counties. In addition to being Oregon's highest mountain, it is one of the loftiest mountains in the nation based on its prominence, and it offers the only year-round lift-served skiing in North America.

John Muir Trail Trail in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California

The John Muir Trail (JMT) is a long-distance trail in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California, passing through Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. From the northern terminus at Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley and the southern terminus located on the summit of Mount Whitney, the trail's length is 213.7 miles (343.9 km), with a total elevation gain of approximately 47,000 feet (14,000 m). For almost all of its length, the trail is in the High Sierra backcountry and wilderness areas. For about 160 miles (260 km), the trail follows the same footpath as the longer Pacific Crest Trail. It is named after John Muir, a naturalist.

Mount Hood National Forest

The Mount Hood National Forest is 62 miles (100 km) east of the city of Portland, Oregon, and the northern Willamette River valley. The Forest extends south from the Columbia River Gorge across more than 60 miles (97 km) of forested mountains, lakes and streams to the Olallie Scenic Area, a high lake basin under the slopes of Mount Jefferson. The Forest includes and is named after Mount Hood, a stratovolcano. The Forest encompasses some 1,067,043 acres (4,318.17 km2). Forest headquarters are located in Sandy, Oregon. A 1993 Forest Service study estimated that the extent of old growth in the Forest was 345,300 acres (139,700 ha). The Forest is divided into four separate districts - Barlow, Clackamas River (Estacada), Hood River, and Zigzag (Zigzag).

Oregon Route 35 Highway in Oregon

Oregon Route 35 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Oregon, running between Government Camp on the slopes of Mount Hood and the city of Hood River. OR 35 traverses part of the Mt. Hood Highway No. 26 and part of the Historic Columbia River Highway No. 100 of the Oregon state highway system. Along the Historic Columbia River Highway in Hood River, the route is silently concurrent with U.S. Route 30.

Mount Hood Wilderness Protected area

The Mount Hood Wilderness is a protected wilderness area inside the Mount Hood National Forest, in the U.S. state of Oregon. The area, covering 64,742 acres (26,200 ha), includes the peak of Mount Hood and its upper slopes, and ranges from temperate rain forests at the lower elevations, to glaciers and rocky ridges at higher elevations.

Zigzag River River in Oregon, United States

The Zigzag River is a tributary, about 12 miles (19 km) long, of the Sandy River in the U.S. state of Oregon. The Zigzag and one of its major tributaries, the Little Zigzag River, drain the Zigzag Glacier on Mount Hood, a high volcanic peak in the Cascade Range. Their waters flow westward to meet the Sandy River near the community of Zigzag. The river's flow ranges from 200 to 1,000 cubic feet per second.

Salmon River (Clackamas County, Oregon)

The Salmon River is a 33.5-mile (53.9 km) river in the Cascade Range in the U.S. state of Oregon that drains part of southwestern Mount Hood. The entire length of the river is a protected National Wild and Scenic River. Several portions are in protected wilderness. It is affluent to the Sandy River, a tributary of the Columbia River.

Snow Bunny

Snow Bunny is a small snow play area in Mount Hood National Forest on the south face of Mount Hood in Oregon, United States, about 65 miles (105 km) east of Portland. Inner tubing, tobogganing and other snow sports are on a maintained 20-foot (6.1 m) to 30-foot (9.1 m) hill of snow, popular with young children and families. It was established in 1952 as Mount Hood's first snow play area for children.

Mount Adams Wilderness

The Mount Adams Wilderness is a 47,708-acre (19,307 ha) wilderness area in the U.S. state of Washington managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The wilderness encompasses an ecologically complex and geologically active landscape. Weather differs between the dry eastside and moist westside of the mountain. At 12,276 feet (3,742 m), Mount Adams is one of the major Cascade mountains. The wilderness area is on the west side of the mountain and is part of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The east side of the mountain is part of the Yakama Nation, with the southeast side part of the Mount Adams Recreation Area, and includes Bird Creek Meadows.

Mount Thielsen Wilderness

The Mount Thielsen Wilderness is a wilderness area located on and around Mount Thielsen in the southern Cascade Range of Oregon in the United States. It is located within the Deschutes, Umpqua, and Fremont–Winema national forests. It was established by the United States Congress in 1984 and comprises 55,100 acres (22,300 ha).

Sierra High Route Off-trail route in Californias High Sierra

The Sierra High Route is a cross-country hiking route, 195 miles (314 km) long, through the Sierra Nevada. It was scouted by Steve Roper and described by him in his book Sierra High Route: Traversing Timberline Country.

Mount Whitney Trail Hiking trail to the summit of Mount Whitney in California, United States

The Mount Whitney Trail is a trail that climbs Mount Whitney. It starts at Whitney Portal, 13 miles (21 km) west of the town of Lone Pine, California. The hike is about 22 mi (35 km) round trip, with an elevation gain of over 6,100 feet (1,860 m). It is an extremely popular trail, and its access is restricted by quotas from May to October.

White River Glacier (Oregon)

White River Glacier is an alpine glacier located on the south slopes of Mount Hood in the U.S. state of Oregon. It ranges in elevation from about 10,000 to 6,200 feet. It is among the best known of the twelve glaciers on the mountain, and the lower reaches are a popular destination for Nordic skiing enthusiasts. The glacier is the source of the White River, a tributary of the Deschutes River, and has a long history of washing out the bridge where Oregon Route 35 crosses at 45.30307°N 121.67208°W.

Little Zigzag River

The Little Zigzag River is a tributary, about 5 miles (8.0 km) long, of the Zigzag River in the U.S. state of Oregon. The Zigzag and Little Zigzag drain the Zigzag Glacier on Mount Hood, a high volcanic peak in the Cascade Range. Their combined waters flow westward to meet the Sandy River near the community of Zigzag. Little Zigzag Falls, a popular hiking destination, is on the river near U.S. Route 26 east of Zigzag.

Mark O. Hatfield Memorial Trail Proposed hiking trail in Oregon, U.S.

The Mark O. Hatfield Memorial Trail is a proposed long-distance trail through the Columbia River Gorge in Multnomah County and Hood River County, Oregon. The trail will be approximately 60 miles, although the trail is still unofficial and its exact course is yet to be determined. The trail was first proposed by Tom Kloster on June 20, 2010 and suggests the Mark O. Hatfield Memorial Trail use existing trails from Multnomah Falls to Starvation Creek. Prior to this suggestion, the Talapus Trail, connecting the Pacific Crest Trail and Larch Mountain was slated for construction in 1974. Hikers openly used trails in the Bull Run into the 1980s, including the Talapus Trail.

Mount Adams Recreation Area

The Mount Adams Recreation Area is a 21,000-acre (8,500 ha) recreation area in the U.S. state of Washington managed by the Yakama Nation Tribal Forestry Program. The area encompasses an ecologically complex and geologically active landscape. The region features the most rugged side of Mount Adams, including canyons and the Great Gap section of the Mount Adams circumnavigation route, a three-mile trail-less section over two great canyons and many difficult glacial creeks. At 12,276 feet (3,742 m), Mount Adams is one of the major Cascade mountains. The recreation area is on the east side of the mountain and is part of the Yakama Indian Reservation and includes the popular Bird Creek Meadows area.

West Fork Salmon River (Clackamas County, Oregon)

The West Fork Salmon River is a tributary of the Salmon River in Clackamas County in the U.S. state of Oregon. Beginning near Timberline Lodge at the base of Mount Hood in the Cascade Range, it flows generally south to meet the main stem Salmon near Red Top Meadow, slightly south of the intersection of U.S. Route 26 and Oregon Route 35. The entire course of the river, which has no named tributaries, lies within the Mount Hood National Forest.

Yocum Falls, is a waterfall located in the heart of the Mount Hood National Forest, in Clackamas County, in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is located in a privileged area in Zigzag canyon with several waterfalls including Little Zigzag Falls and Ramona Falls. The name, as well as Yocum Ridge, the south ridge of the Sandy Glacier on the west slope of Mount Hood, comes from businessman Oliver C. Yocum.

Oregons Matterhorns Subset of an informal group of volcanoes in Oregons Cascade Range

Oregon's Matterhorns is an informal group of volcanoes in the Cascade Range, in the American state of Oregon, named after the original Matterhorn. The Pacific Crest Trail passes near, to all volcanoes of Oregon's Matterhorns.

References

  1. 1 2 Judd, R. & Nelson, D. (1995). The Complete Guide Pacific Northwest Hiking . Foghorn Press. ISBN   0935701044.
  2. ↑ Mt. Hood Climbing/Timberline Trail Map 462S. Green Trails Maps. 2005.
  3. ↑ Richard, Terry (September 10, 1997). "MOUNT HOOD'S TIMBERLINE TRAIL N0. 600 TRAIL PLANNER". The Oregonian.
  4. ↑ Unknown (September 16, 1934). "The Sunday Oregonian". The Oregonian.
  5. ↑ Unknown (September 14, 1938). "High School Boys Hike Around Hood in 2-Day Jaunt". The Oregonian.
  6. ↑ "Mount Hood solo hiker drowned while crossing swollen Sandy River". Traditional Mountaineering. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
  7. ↑ "A Day on the Snow Dome". Off-Piste. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
  8. ↑ Milstein, Michael (July 12, 2007). "Mt. Hood's Timberline Trail tumbles, may stay that way". The Oregonian.
  9. ↑ US Department of Agriculture. "Mt. Hood National Forest Fire Info and Closures Related to Dollar Lake Fire and Mother Lode Fire Updated 9-28-11 2:00 p.m." Retrieved August 6, 2012.

Coordinates: 45°24′10″N121°43′46″W / 45.40278°N 121.72944°W / 45.40278; -121.72944

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.