[Yana]

I'm planning on doing the 40 (ish) mile loop hike around Mt. Hood. I've read various descriptions and reports, just looking for additional information and recommendations. Planning on 4 days. Any camps that are particularly good? Any camps that are particularly bad? Should I be worried about camps filling up (the trip will include a Saturday night)? I know there are a few places with alternate routes - anyone have preferences when it comes to which way to go? Any compelling reasons to start anywhere other than Timberline Lodge? Any must do side trips? Anything else I'm not thinking of? I assume river and stream crossings will not be an issue this late in the summer (starting Aug 25).

[AlpineRose]

Yana, are you aware oregonhikers.org has a quite good description of the Hood circumnav in their Field Guide Timberline Trail? As well, there have been many Timberline Trail TRs posted on that site. I thought this recent TR was quite good.

[olderthanIusedtobe]

I haven't done the loop, have hiked bits and pieces of the TT on various day hikes. As far as starting at Timberline Lodge, if you go clockwise you will get to end your hike w/ a nasty climb out of the White River drainage up a somewhat sandy hillside. Not a lot of fun. Several nice side trips I'm aware to slighter higher vantages. McNeil Point is cool, as is the knife edged ridge above the stone shelter. If going clockwise, shortly after hitting the Vista Ridge intersection, and before you drop down to Elk Cove, there is a route that is partially decent user trail and partially bushwacking up to Barrett Spur and/or Dollar Lake. I think the TT passes right by the stone shelter in the Cooper Spur area. A trail splits off right by the shelter and ascends the Spur along the edge of the Eliot Glacier. You can ascend right up to the foot of steep snow/glacier on the NE flank of the mountain. Going downhill from there you could check out the Cloud Cap/Tilly Jane A frame area. Gnarl Ridge area, very short detour up to Lamberson Butte. Not sure how close the TT goes by it, Ramona Falls (near Sandy River) is worth checking out--it's gorgeous. I think that's all I got. I have no idea about how crowded campsites get or if there are sites better avoided. Oregonhikers.org would have a bunch of beta for you. I'm sure you've read about river/creek crossings, Mt. Hood National Forest isn't into bridges so much. Some crossings can be problematic at times.

[olderthanIusedtobe]

One more, quite a bit of open wandering to be had in the Paradise Park area, generally upward toward Mississippi Head. Would be early on the first day if you went clockwise from Timberline Lodge. Also, one area I've been curious about but haven't checked out yet is Yocum Ridge. That would be quite a bit more of a detour from the TT. Oh, about the area approaching McNeil Point. I would ditch the TT and stay on the south side of Bald Mountain, where scores of hikers come up from Top Spur trailhead. Great view of Hood and some nice meadows along the ridge. Then I would take the short steep "climbers" trail directly up to the Point and the stone shelter. You can easily enough rejoin the TT using the network of trails up on that little plateau.

[olderthanIusedtobe]

It's a little disorganized, but here are various trip reports of mine including McNeil Point, Barrett Spur, Cooper Spur and Gnarl Ridge. https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8007724 https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8012281 https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8017088

[williswall]

My daughter and I found CW from timberline lodge to be quite pleasant. Eliot Creek crossing has been rerouted, repaired and officially reopened the trail, so even this difficulty is gone. Lots of water sources and great trail, a winner for sure. Enjoy.

[AlpineRose]

Three other things I recall from Oregonhiker TRs: the water has been turned off at Cloud Cap campground (some folks have used it as a water source), the most likely place to encounter the screaming hordes is at Ramona Falls, and the new Eliot Creek crossing is still challenging for some. The only reason I can think of not to start at Timberline would be to be able to spend a lovely night at Timberline Lodge as one of your "campsites" on the trail. I've not done the TT myself, but would really like to some day (maybe in my next life), so I've done a lot of research and keep up on TT developments.

[Yana]

Thanks all for the suggestions/links. I had read the oregonhikers trail guide, it is a really good resource for sure. Another question I have not yet found the answer to: why do most people do/suggest doing it CW?

[olderthanIusedtobe]

[xrp]

[Yana]

Thank you for the details, xrp! I'm kind of the opposite of you - I love higher elevation/open spaces, especially for camping (weather permitting, of course). One of the reasons I'm considering CCW from Timberline Lodge is specifically because of the comment about the difficulty of the sandy ascent from White River when finishing the trail CW.

[xrp]

[Yana]

We ended up doing it clockwise because the first two days of our trip were forecast to have sustained high winds and rain (starting the first night) - decided to save the most exposed, sustainably at higher elevation days for the better weather. Worked out well. All the crossings were fine. Coe Creek may have been problematic if someone hadn't made pretty good multi-tree-parts bridges. Eliot was definitely the pushiest. Very pretty and varied terrain. It was also an interesting mix of solitude and hordes (depending on how close you were to a trailhead, or if you were on the PCT).

[olderthanIusedtobe]

Cool, glad it worked out well. TR coming? I just saw one on oregonhikers this morning for a one day TT blitz. Went counterclockwise starting at Timberline Lodge. Was posted today but I think the trip was in in late July. Several creek crossings were waist deep. I love the variety and beauty of hikes within fairly close proximity of Seattle. I've also really enjoyed various day hikes around Hood when I'm down that way. It's just a bit different than stuff around here. Similar, but has its own flavor. Plus it's the mountain I grew up closest to so it has a special affinity for me.

[Yana]