Why backpack the Timberline Trail?
The Timberline Trail circles Mt. Hood in Oregon. This is a beautiful trail and a great way to see the scenery around the mountain. We loved experiencing the different terrain on all sides of Mt. Hood. From wooded valleys to sandy hillsides, there is a rich display of mountain views and key spots along the way. We hiked past Ramona Falls, forded rivers, and passed through the remnants of a forest fire. There is so much to see.
Timberline Trail Backpacking
Where is the Timberline Trail?
Maps of Timberline Trail
How to get to the Timberline Trail
We started and ended at Timberline Lodge on the southwest side of Mt. Hood. There are several other trailheads you can start from if you want to approach the mountain from a different direction.
From Timberline Lodge we hiked clockwise around the mountain. Again, you can go the opposite way, its personal preference. Look over the elevation map and the camp locations to decide how you want to lay out your proposed schedule. In this post I will refer to the trail assuming the starting point is Timberline Lodge.
Destination: | Distance: |
Hood River | 32 miles |
Timberline Lodge | 38 miles |
Portland, OR | 65 miles |
Salem, OR | 101 miles |
Bend, OR | 138 miles |
Eugene, OR | 165 miles |
Seattle, WA | 230 miles |
Boise, ID | 401 miles |
Do I need a permit to backpack the Timberline Trail?
There is a wilderness permit required when hiking the Timberline Trail. This can be found along the trail in a wooden sign in station (at least from Timberline Lodge going clockwise). Filling this out ensures that if you come across a ranger and they check to see your permit, you are covered. It also is precautionary as it gives the rangers an idea of how many people are on the mountain in case of an emergency situation.
To park at Timberline Lodge, you don’t need a pass (as of this post). Check out the United States Department of Agriculture website for more information on passes and permits for backpacking and parking.
How long is the Timberline Trail?
The Timberline Trail is a 40-mile loop. Depending on the source, the recorded length varies from 38.3 to a full 40 miles.
How long does it take to hike the Timberline Trail?
To answer this question, determine how many miles you want to hike in a day? Keep in mind that the elevation gain and loss makes the hike a challenge, especially carrying a backpack.
What is the elevation gain on the Timberline Trail?
This trail is rarely flat. In fact, when researching for our trip I came across Clever Hiker’s description: “if you’re not hiking up or down, you might want to check your map, because you’re probably on the wrong trail.” This describes it very well.
Here is an elevation map that we printed off and kept with us on the trail. It was nice to be able to see our progress and prepare mentally for what was ahead.
How hard is it to hike The Timberline Trail?
Can a beginner hike the Timberline Trail?
Along the Timberline Trail, there are offshoot trails that are day hike-able to some of the views. If you don’t have time to do the full circle, start by doing some of these shorter hikes.
Top Spur (McNeil Point) Trailhead
Are there water crossings on the Timberline Trail?
There are several water crossings along the Timberline Trail. We managed to stay dry because a dry summer lowered the water level.
We were prepared to cross through if we needed to. This can be dangerous, so before we went, I watched Marc Sterlings Backpacking How to Ford a River with John E. Hiker video to get some pointers on safely fording a river. Better safe than sorry.
What is the weather like on the Timberline Trail?
What is the best season to hike the Timberline Trail?
Are there bears on the Timberline Trail?
Are there bathrooms on the Timberline Trail?
There is a bathroom at the Timberline Lodge available for hikers. This is a great stop to start and end your route.
There is also a pit toilet at Cloud Cap campground about halfway around on the Timberline Trail.
Otherwise, you’re using the woods. Follow outdoor toilet protocols to ensure your health and the health of other backpackers. Do your business away from sources of water, off the trail, and bury what you leave.
Where can I park my car at the Timberline Trail?
We parked in the upper Timberline Lodge parking lot. Along the far edge looking out over the valley, there is a row of suggested parking for overnight backpackers.
For other starting points be sure to check if vehicles are allowed overnight. If overnight parking is prohibited consider having someone drop you off at that trailhead and pick you up when you’re done.
4-Day Itinerary – Backpacking The Timberline Trail
We wanted to do about 10 miles per day
40/10 = 10 miles per day for 4 days of hiking.
What we ended up doing was not exactly an even 10 miles a day.
By day 3 we were feeling pretty good, having worked through the initial body shock of long hiking days.
Day 1:
10 miles from Timberline Lodge to Ramona Falls
Day 2:
10 miles from Ramona Falls to Elk Cove
Day 3:
12 miles from Elk Cove to Gnarl Ridge
Day 4:
8 miles from Gnarl Ridge to Timberline Lodge
Activities to do on The Timberline Trail
This is a great trail for backpacking. The views are gorgeous and spending a few days enjoying them is a wonderful experience.
There are also shorter hikes around Mt. Hood to access at different trailheads.
We also came across many runners doing the whole Timberline Trail in a day. This is some serious intensity. If you are inspired to do this, here are some sources to get you started on researching and learning how to accomplish this challenging goal:
Mountain Lessons: Reflections from High Places
Photography
Mt. Hood
Mt. Adams
Mt. St. Helens
Visible while hiking along the north side of the Timberline Trail.
Mt. Jefferson
Visible when hiking the south side of the Timberline Trail.
Ramona Falls
Waterfalls
Rivers
Flowers
Burned forest
Terrain variance
Visit the Timberline Lodge
This was our starting and ending point. A cool spot to take a photo before heading out on the trail.
Make memories
Hiking and backpacking are both great opportunities to build memories with friends and loved ones.
I have so many good memories of trips backpacking with my dad, siblings, and friends while growing up.
We continue to make memories as we go out on expeditions together as adults.
Long hours of hiking from one location to the next, getting to see magnificent views together and experiencing creation is an incredible blessing.
We laugh a lot, work hard, overcome tough spots, and enjoy moments of simply being together.
There are challenging times too.
Take fun photos too
Taking photos along the trail is such a great activity to do as a group. Not only are you capturing the scenery, but getting selfies, group shots, or asking other hikers to snap a shot for you. Having these memories to look back on, like any other vacation, can give you a good laugh, or remind you of a special moment.
Here’s one that gives me a giggle. It’s the difference between my nineteen-year-old brother and my husband. Both of them are goof balls. When we went to brush our teeth the first night we discovered this amusing moment:
Prepare to backpack The Timberline Trail
Pack light.
If you are hiking with a group like we did, coordinate gear so that you aren’t carrying duplicates.
The challenge of hiking this 40-miles is also very satisfying when you climb the last hill and see Timberline Lodge laid out before you.
Tent
Sleeping bags and pads
Sleeping bag liner
Heat source
Stove and Fuel- We use a Jetboil. It heats water super fast so we can get dinner made and hot drinks served quickly.
Hiking poles
Hiking poles were my best friend! For uphill and downhill, it was nice to have the added stability, and it helped me endure longer. We bought Leki Cork Lite poles.
Water Filter
Water bladder
Water bottle
Food bag
First aid kit
Read our post, How to Build Your Own First Aid Kit for what to include
Compass
Clothes and personal items
- Smartwool base layer
I love Smartwool. I pack a Smartwool long sleeve shirt, leggings and socks on all of our backpacking trips because I get cold at night. The natural properties of wool are amazing, it keeps you warm and insulated when you’re cold, but it also naturally cools you down if it’s hot. Wool also doesn’t hold smells, so my Smartwool clothing stays fresh longer. This is a real perk when backpacking.
- Hat
- Hiking boots or shoes
- Tops
- Shorts
- Pants
- Underclothes
- Socks
- Jacket or sweater
- Rain jacket
What to eat on your Timberline Trail backpack trip
As a family, we like to end the day with a good, comforting, hot meal. Some backpackers see food as fuel. We’re somewhere closer to “backpacking gourmet.” This is a great time to cook, unwind, and talk about the day’s travels.
We discovered the convenience of ziplock bag cooking while traveling this trail. From the very beginning of our backpacking adventures, years ago, we decided to make and pack our meals, instead of relying on prepackaged foods. Though convenient, they are expensive and would have limited the number of trips we could have gone on.
Because of this, we have had years of experimenting with different food ideas, meal options, and cooking methods.
The ziplock method has become my favorite. It’s as simple as boiling water, pouring it into the baggie with the dehydrated meal and letting it cook. Just like those other backpacking meals you can buy at the outdoor stores, only cheaper.
Monica at The Yummy Life has some great recipes for dinners and many ideas for oatmeal options for breakfast. I made up several of her dinner and breakfast recipes, and we ate well on the trail. I highly recommend trying it out.
We pack quick snack lunches that we can eat on the go – without pulling out our stoves and heating water. We use less fuel and spend less time for midday breaks. Things like baby bell cheese, summer sausage, crackers, trail bars, chicken (from foil pouches) on crackers, salmon (from foil pouches), dark chocolate, dried fruit, nuts, and seeds.
Water
There are lots of water sources along the trail.
However, depending on how fast you are hiking and how hot it is, we found that filtering water at each stream we came to was a good idea.
There is a stretch from Cloud Cap to Gnarl Ridge that is sandy and doesn’t have rivers running through the area. This portion of the trail is open, without tree coverage, so it gets pretty warm. We filled up at Eliot Branch which is a glacier run off river you have to cross before climbing up to Cloud Cap Saddle Campground.
Electrolyte drink mix
Tips for backpacking
Fatigue and energy levels
Being on the trail, sleeping in a tent, cooking food over a little propane stove, being cold, or too hot, tired, hurting feet, sore shoulders, heavy pack…
Backpacking purposely puts us in an uncomfortable situation.
And sometimes that comes out in short tempers, frustration, fatigue, or negativity.
As a kid I remember being tired and my feet hurting and how that started to overwhelm all other feelings. For an eleven-year-old, that makes sense.
Now I have the experience to know that this if part of the deal.
It’s good to remember that as we get tired, everyone in our party will be a little less functional. Being mentally prepared for this seems to make it easier to overcome.
Communication
It takes a lot of patience and communication to work together.
As a family, we’ve had many years of practice. When doing trips like this with friends, it can be a learn-as-you-go kind of situation.
How long does everyone last before you’re hiking along in silence?
What is everyone’s recharge style?
Do they need alone time or group activity time?
Taking breaks
Do you need to take lots of short breaks to keep everyone energized and positive, or are longer stretches better?
More information
United States Department of Agriculture: Trail map, pass info, current conditions, fire danger info.
Oregon Hiker: Timberline Trail Around Mt. Hood Hike
NW Hiker: Interactive map with pictures.
What other bloggers are saying
Clever Hikers Timberline Trail Backpacking Guide
Helpful links
How to Build your own First Aid Kit
What is the Pacific Northwest {for travelers}
Other hikes in the Pacific Northwest
Latourell Falls Loop Trail, Columbia River Gorge, OR
Dog Mountain Trail, Columbia River Gorge Area, WA
Elk Mountain and Kings Mountain Loop Trail
Silver Star Mountain Trail, Skamania County, Washington
Tillamook Head Traverse Trail, Oregon
Cottage Grove Covered Bridge Trail – Oregon
If you hike the Timberline Trail, share a photo with us. Tag us on Instagram @jauntyeverywhere or use #jauntyeveryday.