Backpacking the Timberline Trail

[Aaron Zagrodnick]

The Timberline Trail is one of the classic trails in America and is classified as a National Historic Trail. It was designed in the 1930s primarily by the Civilian Conservation Core. For about forty miles the trail circumnavigates Mount Hood, the highest mountain in Oregon at 11,250 feet. Staying near treeline, a hiker on this trail will experience lush forest, wildflower meadows, rugged canyons with glacial fed streams, and view after view of Mount Hood. Driving nearly 2 hours through forests and up to the trailhead, my brother and I discovered a crowded parking lot and a snow-covered view of one of the Pacific Northwest’s most scenic mountains. We would have the chance to experience this mountain, Mount Hood, for the next three days as we journeyed around it on the famous Timberline Trail. Above the parking lot the sun shone brightly and the sky was blue. There was a haze in the distance from forest fires, but surrounding visibility and the views of Mount Hood were outstanding. We finished packing our gear, double checked that we had our sunglasses and sunscreen, and soon began the loop going clockwise starting from the Timberline Lodge...

@Eric shares this report after backpacking Oregon's scenic Timberline Trail - take a look at the full article below, from Issue 50:

Views and Volcanoes: The Diverse Landscapes of Oregon’s Timberline Trail

Issue 50 Page 1