Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

The sun is out, the snow is melting and adventures on Mount Hood beckon.

Oregon’s tallest mountain is naturally a beacon for outdoor adventurers, and in summer folks can do a little bit of everything on its slopes – even skiing.

There are opportunities for hikers, bikers and fishers. You can push your physical limits or spend a day lounging lazily by a lake. You can stay at lodges, campgrounds and (if you’re lucky) one of three fire lookouts on the mountain.

Whatever you do, you won’t likely be alone. While there are more than 300,000 acres of wilderness in the Mount Hood National Forest, most of the primary trailheads and campgrounds can get crowded on the weekends. There are quiet spaces, to be sure, but you might need to hike out to find them.

If you go, make sure to be respectful of the trails, campgrounds and natural spaces. Leave no trace and pack the essentials. The pictures might look idyllic, but Mount Hood is still a wild place. A dose of caution is necessary with every fun adventure.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

DAY HIKING

The Mount Hood National Forest is home to hundreds of day hiking trails that lead to high ridges, waterfalls and quiet alpine forest. Popular hikes include treks to Ramona Falls (which requires fording the Sandy River), Cooper Spur, Owl Point and Umbrella Falls. Remember to pack the essentials and leave no trace.



The U.S. Forest Service manages most of the trails and charges a $5 parking fee at the trailheads.

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

BACKPACKING

Aside from the miles of day-hiking trails, there are a lot of great backpacking destinations, some crossing through the more than 300,000 acres of designated wilderness found within the Mount Hood National Forest. The most notable is the roughly 40-mile Timberline Trail, which circumnavigates the mountain, beginning and ending at Timberline Lodge. Backpackers also make trips to McNeil Point, Paradise Park and Mirror Lake.



The U.S. Forest Service manages most of the trails and charges a $5 parking fee at the trailheads.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

LAKES

Mount Hood has more than 150 lakes, ranging from tiny backwoods spots to popular recreation destinations. Lost Lake on the northwest flank is one of the most popular, as are Timothy and Trillium lakes on the south side of the mountain. Lakes are popular for boating, fishing and swimming, but they're also great spots for camping and lounging by the water, usually with incredible views of the mountain.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

CAMPING

Most of the camping on Mount Hood is managed by the U.S. Forest Service, which runs more than 1,400 campsites across 77 campgrounds on the mountain. Some are designed for RVs and cars, while others are more primitive and found in remote reaches of the wilderness. The lakeside campgrounds are popular in summer, as crowds will flock to Timothy, Trillium and Lost lakes.



Camping fees vary by campground. Find campgrounds at fs.usda.gov/mthood and make reservations online at recreation.gov.

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Roger Jensen/The Oregonian

MOUNTAIN BIKING

Mountain biking opportunities have picked up around Mount Hood in recent years, thanks in large part to the popular Sandy Ridge Trail System, which opened in 2009 and today features 15 miles of trails. In all, the Mount Hood National Forest has about 140 miles of mountain bike trails, including trail networks at Mt. Hood Skibowl and around Government Camp. The popular Timberline to Town route runs 5.5 miles downhill from Timberline Lodge toward Government Camp.

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Steven Nehl/The Oregonian

FISHING

The best fishing on Mount Hood is in its lakes, which the U.S. Forest Service stocks primarily with brook, rainbow and cutthroat trout. Timothy and Trillium Lakes are among the most popular fishing lakes, where anglers can fish by boat, onshore or in the shallows. Most of the rivers and streams that flow off the mountain’s slopes are too small and cold for good fishing, but wild trout and salmon still swim through.

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Bruce Ely/The Oregonian

SKI AREAS

Mount Hood's ski areas aren't just winter destinations. In summer, Mt. Hood Skibowl opens its Adventure Park, where activities include a zip line, horseback riding and an alpine slide. Mount Hood Meadows, meanwhile, opens hiking trails and hosts special events, concerts and twilight dinners. Timberline usually manages to keep snow into the summer, allowing it to operate one of the longest ski seasons in North America.

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--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB



Read more about Oregon's tallest mountain in our latest book, "Mount Hood Revealed," coming out later this year. Pre-order a copy online now.