Many visitors flock to Mt. Hood every year to embark on a climbing adventure. In fact, the mountain has an average of 10,000 climbers per year! Since the mountain has many snow fields and glaciers at 7,000 feet and above, it’s a winter wonderland up there year round. Once you reach those heights, there’s many ice caves and other natural wonders to be discovered. The mountain has easy access and the southern side of it is said to provide the easiest climb. If you do plan on climbing Mt. Hood, be fully prepared with the technical gear as there are some challenging crevasses, stretches and loose rocks. The best time to climb is from April to late June. However, even during the peak season, you should always be prepared for inclement weather conditions. Sometimes, the weather can change in an instant during climbing situations. With that being said, climbers’ favorite route starts at the Timberline Lodge and takes you to Crater Rock. From there, you can work your way to Coalman Glacier then to Hogsback and finally to Pearly Gates, near the summit. (However, if you’re one of those climbers that strives to reach the summit, please be aware that there are no trails directly to the summit.) This route is only one of 30 ways to reach the summit.
Mt. Hood provides the perfect opportunity to explore with hiking. One of the most popular hiking trails at Mt. Hood is the Timberline Trail. This trail is the real deal. It was created in the 1930s by a group known as the Civilian Conservation Corps and has given people the opportunity to experience the calm serenity and beauty of the mountain. 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.
