Trip report by Colby Phillips
Mid-August brings fields of blooming wildflowers to the slopes of Mt. Hood, and a section of the Pacific Crest Trail that skirts the mountain's base takes you to one of the best spots on the mountain. The PCT traverses around Mt. Hood, up and down through deep glaciated canyons on the flanks of the mountain to the Paradise Park Loop Trail and the meadows of Paradise Park. Campsites around the meadows are a great place to set up a base for exploring the extensive fields of flowers and the higher slopes of the mountain, and take in the wide-open views of Western Oregon.
Photo: Wildflower basin at Paradise Park. (Phillips photo).
Getting There: Drive 52 miles East of Portland to Government Camp, Oregon, and take the road up to the Timberline Lodge, a historic ski lodge built in the 1930s. The trailhead starts at the lodge and heads West under the ski lifts.
Maps: Mt. Hood Wilderness (USFS).
Stats: 12.2 miles round-trip to Paradise Park from the Timberline Lodge, with lots of elevation gain and loss through the canyons and ravines, though the elevation at Paradise Park is about the same as the trailhead at the lodge (5800').
Note: This is backcountry wilderness travel. Any trail can become very dangerous in winter conditions. You are responsible for informing yourself of the hazards and taking the necessary precautions. Please read Terms of Use.