Pets allowed
Allowed
Elevation Gain
9,000.00 ft (2,743.20 m)
Trail type
Loop
Distance
39.00 mi (62.76 km)
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Offering one of the most interactive ways to experience Mount Hood, the Timberline Trail provides constant, unique, and intimate views of the mountain as well as vistas across the surrounding areas. While many people are familiar with Mount Hood views from the ski areas to the south, many of the other aspects of the volcano take a little more effort to access. Within a relatively short distance, the trail takes you across every drainage and over every ridge radiating around the summit.

The length of the trail is almost 40 miles; however, the true challenge of the adventure comes from the constant change in elevation. By dropping down to cross every tributary fed by the snowfields and glaciers above, the trail gains and loses around 9,000 feet, which is more than 1.5 times the elevation change experienced by summiting the mountain itself.

While some use the loop as a challenging trail run done over a very long day, most spend at least two or three nights on the trail. This affords a more relaxing pace with time to take in the surrounding beauty and enjoy your remote alpine camps.  No matter where you start or which direction you choose, there are ample choices to make camp. From the forest cover near Ramona Falls and the alpine meadows in the Cairn Basin to the open slopes near Cooper’s Spur, there is certainly no shortage of diverse tent site options. While some areas of the trail will be more populated with weekend hikers or backpackers, the areas farther from the access points will provide more solitude and a true wilderness experience. About 11 miles of the loop follows the Pacific Crest Trail, so you may notice more traffic from Timberline Lodge to the Bald Mountain area.

Crossing and filtering water from rivers and creeks will vary depending on when the trip is made. From July into early August, much of the water is still being released from the melting snowfields. Some water sources may still be covered by the snow on the trail. Later in the season these drainages will be running with creek water while others will have dried up or only run in the late afternoon. Many of the larger crossings are too silty to filter.

Most of the crossings can be done quickly and easily, although the major creeks and rivers may require some care and more commitment to cross. Again, water levels fluctuate with the seasons, but the ones to watch for are the Zigzag River, Sandy River, Muddy Fork, Coe Creek, Eliot Creek, Newton Creek, Clark Creek and White River. While the section near the Eilot Creek is officially closed due to the impressively large washout of 2006, many hikers are able to make it through. Although the Forest Service recommends setting up a car shuttle to avoid this rough terrain altogether, continuing through can be achieved by two methods: either drop down and ascend the steep scree and sand slopes on either side of the creek from a few hundred yards higher than the actual trail, or cross much higher on the glacier above. Keep in mind that this consists of off-trail terrain that many backpackers may not be comfortable with, so make sure you have the adequate experience and skills before making your decisions on how to pass this section of the trail.

Although more strenuous and rugged than other backpacking adventures in the area, the rewards that come from the Timberline Trail experience will not easily be forgotten. A test for both your mental strength and physical capabilities, experiencing the beauty around Oregon’s tallest mountain will leave you with a new and unique perspective of this amazing wilderness.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Summer
Fall

Congestion

Moderate

Parking Pass

NW Forest Pass

Pros

Consistently great views. Varying terrain. Ample campsite options. Many water sources.

Cons

Some sections are crowded with dayhikers.

Trailhead Elevation

5,960.00 ft (1,816.61 m)

Features

Backcountry camping
Historically significant
Waterfalls
Big vistas
Wildflowers
Shelters
Geologically significant

Typically multi-day

Yes

Location

Nearby Adventures

Mt. Hood + Clackamas River Area, Oregon
Mt. Hood + Clackamas River Area, Oregon

Nearby Lodging + Camping

Mt. Hood + Clackamas River Area, Oregon
Oregon, Mt. Hood + Clackamas River Area
Mt. Hood + Clackamas River Area, Oregon

Comments

09/08/2018
I just completed this trail in two days! We started at the umbrella falls TH and parked a second car at Top Spur TH and car camped there. Both days were 20ish miles. It was nice to be able to hike it without a big backpack on. Also, Eliot stream crossing is rerouted and is a tough 1.5 mile detour and is not accounted for in most maps yet. Super easy to follow and signed, but not included in mileage total for most trip reports. Had a great time overall. Want to run it next year!
09/19/2017
Thank you for the Timberline Trail insight! Just an FYI - I contacted the local Forest Service regarding dogs on the trail and they are allowed along the full length of the trail.

Cheers,
Jen
07/08/2017
Added notes: As of 7/7/17, some sections have snow banks but it's all very passable. Be aware that a few stream crossings require extra caution.
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