Mount Hood

Mount Hood ranks 5th in the list of the best day trips from Oregon. It is a massive 11,250-foot potentially active stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc, about an hour southeast of Portland. The mountain is Oregon's highest peak and one of the most recognizable, lofty peaks in the contiguous United States. It is situated within the 1,067,000-acre Mount Hood National Forest, which offers over 1,200 miles of delightful hiking trails to visitors all year.

Every year, a large number of visitors flock to Mt. Hood to embark on a climbing adventure. In fact, the mountain attracts 10,000 climbers each year! Because the mountain has many snow fields and glaciers at 7,000 feet and higher, it's a winter wonderland all year. Once at those altitudes, there are numerous ice caves and other natural wonders to be discovered. The mountain is easily accessible, and the southern side is said to be the easiest to climb. If you do decide to climb Mt. Hood, make sure you have all of the necessary technical equipment because there are some difficult crevasses, stretches, and loose rocks.

Mt. Hood provides an excellent opportunity for hiking exploration. The Timberline Trail is one of Mt. Hood's most popular hiking trails. This trail is authentic. It was established in the 1930s by a group known as the Civilian Conservation Corps and has allowed people to experience the mountain's calm serenity and beauty. The trail circles around the entire mountain which means it’s a whopping 40 mile hike! Yikes! If you’re desiring to do some serious, long-distance hiking, then you’ll have the option to rise as high as 7,300 feet on the Timberline Trail.

Google rating: 4.7/5.0
Location: Cascade Volcanic Arc, Oregon
Distance from Oregon City: 38.3 miles
Travel Time from Oregon City: 51 minutes
Best Months to Visit: April - June