Mountaineer Trail Loop Hike

Overview

Timberline Lodge is unique because there is such an easy road that goes so high on the mountain. At other places, you have to drive miles on a gravel road and/or walk several miles to get up to the alpine areas. Consequently, this area is very crowded. The lodge is known world wide, so there are a diverse group of tourists. You can stay overnight at the lodge and there are a couple restaurants. The easiest hiking opportunity is to just stroll in any direction you feel like. There are a few paved trails and many gravel trails. If you go up about 75 feet of elevation gain on any convenient trail you select, you will reach the Timberline Trail/Pacific Crest Trail. You can walk a mile in either direction, or further - see Zigzag Overlook from Timberline Lodge Hike or the Mount Hood Meadows via White River Canyon Hike. For a more difficult hike, try walking up the Mountaineer Trail #798 to the Silcox Hut. This is at almost 7000' in elevation, almost as high as any trail on Mount Hood. You get great close up views of Mount Hood, the Cascades to the south, and the Coast Range to the west. The hut is open to paying guests only. Head up the steps across from the parking lot area and go right after 20 yards. At a second junction, go right again for the Timberline Trail, Mountaineer Loop Trail, and the Silcox Hut. Cross a small creek and head up on a rubbly tread among mountain hemlock, subalpine fir, and whitebark pine. In late summer the Newberry’s fleeceflower is turning red on the pumice slopes. Reach the four-way Timberline-Mountaineer Trail East Junction and keep straight. The trail passes through a copse of mountain hemlocks and then heads around the old water tower to a road. From here, head up the road, which rises steeply up alpine fell fields. There are views up to the summit of Mount Hood and south along the Cascade crest to the Three Sisters. To the left is a snowy draw. As you keep rising, features of the mountain, such as Illumination Rock, the Hogsback, Crater Rock, the Palmer Glacier, and the White R

Trail Stats

Photos

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