Picnic Rock Loop Hike

Overview

The Mt. Hood Meadows trail complex within the resort’s permit ties in with existing national forest trails so that several loop options are possible. This shorter loop, which includes most of the lower trails at the resort, takes in two picturesque features of the area: Umbrella Falls and Picnic Rock. Then you’ll hike up to the Timberline Trail and cross a series of ski run meadows before descending to the lodge. Families with children may want to take the Stadium chairlift up and follow the loop in a clockwise direction back to the lodge. Make sure you print out your own copy of the trail map before you leave home. In the field, the trails, which all have names, will be marked with numbers only. Walk down to the bottom of the large parking area, and pick up a trail that descends through a goldenrod meadow. Soon the trail splits: keep left find yourself alongside the main branch of the East Fork Hood River and a small waterfall. The trail descends from here to a junction with the Umbrella Falls Trail. Here, you’ll go left to cross the footbridge below the pretty veil of Umbrella Falls. Bear right after crossing the bridge, and descend gradually in a beautiful lush parkland of mountain hemlock, subalpine fir, Engelmann spruce, huckleberry, bear-grass and false hellebore. You’ll cross a couple of creeks and keep left at the junction with the Sahale Falls Trail. After crossing another creek, you’ll arrive at the junction with Trail #4 in the Mt. Hood Meadows system. Turn up the ridge here, winding up under the mountain hemlocks until you reach the junction with Trail #1 (the Bear Grass Trail) at the edge of a ski run that blooms profusely with bear-grass in July. Head right to get views up to Mount Hood, and pass through a wooded corridor to cross the next ski run. Another ski run has no views up to the mountain, and then you’ll pass under a chairlift to reach the Picnic Rock Spur Trail #3 and a great view towards Bonney Butte and Mount Jefferson. Turn off on the spur trail, and hike up along a forested ridge

Trail Stats

Photos

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