The Timberline Trail: The Best Backpacking Trail On Mount Hood

The Timberline Trail is one of the most iconic hiking trails in Oregon that loops around the base of Mount Hood. It is 41.5 miles (with options to make it longer) and 10,000 ft in elevation gain (and loss). There are multiple glacier river crossings, downed trees, beautiful views of Mount Hood, and so many options on how to hike it. I’ll be sharing everything you need to know about this backpacking hike, from the route options, gear needed and river crossings.

Timberline Trail Backcountry Permits

You do not need to get a permit ahead of time for the Timberline Trail. Wilderness permits are required whether you’re day hiking a section or doing the entire trail. The permits are located at the major trailheads are are free to all hikers. Just fill out the information (name, group info, days on trail, destination and entry point) and then return it to the box.

You’ll rip off the backside that you sign and carry it with you on the trail. I’ve never had a ranger ask to see mine so far, but always fill it out and keep it with you. These permits help them monitor trail use and allocate budgets to keep them maintained, as well as locate missing hikers, should you ever need locating.

Timberline Trail Regulations

Here are some basic regulations for the Timberline Trail. For more specific regulations visit Mount Hood Special Regulations.

• Leave No Trace
• No bicycles or motorized equipment
• No groups larger than 12
• No shortcutting switchbacks and trails
• No entering restoration areas
• No camping within meadows or areas stating no camping
• No camping within 100 ft of any lake or 500 ft of Ramona Falls

Timberline Trail Routes

Let’s start with the route options. Because it is a through hike loop, there are actually quite a few options/schedules you can follow depending on your time available and ability.

• Route Option 1: Timberline Lodge clockwise
• Route Option 2: Timberline Lodge counter clockwise
• Route Option 3: Cloud Cap Clockwise
• Route Option 4: Cloud Cap Counter Clockwise

Maps from nwhiker.com, fs.usda.gov and Maplets

There is no wrong route option with this trail. A majority of hikers choose option 1 because it allows for campers to easily break up the hike into 3-4 days with easy to find campsites on the way. Many people choose option 4 because it allows them to cross the two worst river , Eliot and Coe, first thing in the morning if they start early before the water rises. If you are a fast hiker, some people will do this route, hike to Timberline Lodge on day 1, get a room and hike back to Cloud Cap on day two. This allows them to only carry day packs rather than a heavier backpack.

The road to Timberline Lodge is paved and there are two large lots to park your car. The road to Cloud Cap on the other hand requires a high clearance car or you need to be comfortable driving your low clearance car on a road with some very large pot holes. I’ve driven my low clearance car up there before but we drove very slow over the potholes and scraped a few times. The parking lot at the top is extremely small too, so there is always a chance you won’t find a spot up there. Going early in the morning or a weekday will give you a better chance of snagging a parking spot.

My Timberline Trail Itinerary

Day 1:

I did option 1 with 3 nights and 4 days. I left Timberline Lodge around 1pm on a Friday and hiked 10 miles to Ramona Falls. The hike to Ramona is probably the easiest of the days because a majority of the hike is going to be downhill into the Sandy River crossing. The views of Mt. Hood are breathtaking and there’s plenty of huckleberries to munch on the way. I was able to get one of the last campsites in the area for the night. There are multiple campsites leading from the Sandy River Crossing to Ramona Falls, campsites at Ramona Falls and multiple options just past Ramona Falls.

Day 2:

When I left Ramona Falls, there was a detour due to the Timberline Trail having so many uncleared downed trees. I hopped back on the PCT and quickly gained thousands of feet of elevation. The upside to all the elevation gain was that there were huckleberries galore to munch on the entire way!

Once I reached the PCT/Top Spur junction, there were two options. One is to continue on the Timberline trail and go straight. The second option is to take a sharp right and do the Top Spur loop. It is slightly longer but has a beautiful open view of the canyon and Mount Hood ahead. I have hiked Top Spur before so I opted to do the shorter Timberline trail route. The Top Spur trail connects again to the Timberline trail and the trail continued gaining elevation until I reached camp at Elk Cove.

There are a lot of campsites in this area and it had a great water source. It is a popular campsite and fills up quickly. I rushed ahead of my parents to snag a site and all the sites around us were taken within 30 minutes of my arrival! Once these campsites filled up, there are others sprinkled throughout the trees further down the trail. There were stunning sunset views of Mount Hood from this campsite and meadows full of wildflower fields.

Day 3:

I took off early on day 3 knowing I had to cross Coe and Eliot that morning before the water rose. Eliot is considered the most difficult of the river crossings, so I wanted to cross early. Between Coe and Eliot is a beautiful river crossing with a waterfall and it still had quite the snow pack in September. The hike to the river crossings is beautiful because there are views of Adams and Rainier to the north.

After crossing Eliot, I climbed up to Cloud Cap Inn. This was the perfect spot to stop for lunch since there is a campground with picnic tables, filtered water and a bathroom. After resting and resupplying water, I began the uphill climb to Gnarly Ridge. This route also will give you two options. You can continue on the Timberline trail or take a short detour up to the Cloud Cap Shelter, which is just above the trail.

On a clear day, this entire side of the mountain is exposed to the sun, but has stunning mountains views. When I reached Gnarly Ridge, the wind was howling and I could barely stand up there. The views are some of the best on the hike! From the ridge, it’s a downhill trek to Newton Creek and camp for the night. There are a few campsites tucked in the trees on the north side of the river, but more on the south side. There are plenty of spots along the river bed, but it is windy and exposed. I camped in the river bed and put rocks over my stakes to keep them in all night.

Day 4:

I crossed Newton Creek first thing in the morning and there was plenty of small streams and water sources on the other side of the river for filtering water. The final day was hiking up and down the last few ridges. There is a river crossing with a beautiful waterfall upstream as well as a waterfall I walked next to and then crossed over.

The trail took me through Meadows, one of the ski resorts and then down to the final river crossing of the hike, White River. Once I crossed White River, it was a 2,000+ ft. uphill climb to the Timberline Lodge parking lot. I was able to jump over White River with the assistance of other hikers, but many choose to put their water sandals back on and walk through it. It wasn’t more than mid-calf.

There were shady spots, but it was mostly exposed and extremely warm in the afternoon. This section is also one of the most difficult sections because not only was I tired from 40 miles of hiking, but we were hiking 1,000 feet up a sandy steep hill.

Places to Camp Along The Timberline Trail

Below is a list of major locations with multiple campsite, but there are spots between you can find too. There are plenty of single campsites tucked in the trees throughout the trail if these locations are full or you’re wanting to go a shorter/farther distance one day. Wherever you choose to camp, be sure to find a pre-existing campsite and always limit your footprint.

• Paradise
• Sandy River
• Ramona Falls
• McGee
• Eden Park
• Elk Cove
• Cloud Cap Inn
• Gnarly Ridge
• Neuton Creek

Drinkable Water Sources

Unfortunately, there is no way to tell you exactly were you can filter water on this hike because there’s seasonal flow, many of the rivers may be brown and undrinkable, but there was never a lack of water. I’ll list all the locations we passed that we were able to filter water from so you can use the maps above to help you know where fillable locations are. Know that all the major river crossings will not be good water sources because they are brown and murky.

Places I filtered water along the trail:

• Zig Zag Canyon
• Rushing Water Creek- just before Sandy River to the right
• Ramona Falls
• Small Streams between Top Spur Junction and Elk Cove
• Elk Cove
• Multiple small streams between Elk Cover and Eliot
• Cloud Cap Saddle Campground
• Newton Creek
• Heather Creek

Timberline Trail River Crossings

There are six large river crossings and dozens of walkover creeks on the Timberline Trail. The rivers can range from being able to carefully cross on logs to wading through glacier water. I wish I could tell you which rivers to expect to walk through and which ones you can walk over, but from hearing others’ experiences and reading reviews, one year may be completely different from the next. Even month to month, temperature changes can change your experience at each river.

Plan as if you have to cross them all by entering the water and pack water shoes, because chances are you will get your feet wet at least once. Below I will share how I crossed each of the major crossings and any information I know from previous hikers’ experiences.

One thing to always know about river crossings is that they will rise as the day goes on. Every minute that the sun is warming the glaciers above is another minute the water depth is increasing. Try to hit the river crossings earlier in the day or be prepared to cross them with water shoes. It’s also extremely important to unclip both the waist and chest straps on your backpack when you cross! If you lose your footing and fall, you don’t want to be strapped to your pack.

Zig Zag

This was the first river crossing I came across on the Timberline Trail. It is at the bottom of the canyon and I have crossed it three different times now day hiking and backpacking. There is a log and plenty of rock options you can cross over, so you hopefully wont have to switch into water shoes here. When I crossed it in June it was higher, but I never got my feet wet.

Sandy

The Sandy river is a much wider canyon than the Zig Zag. When reaching the river bed, I chose to go upriver slightly and cross a log. There were some logs just down river as well, but they were longer and higher above the river so this log seemed like the easier option for me at the time. If the water had been higher, the raised logs would be the better option. The water was flowing well at this crossing, even in September, so I’m sure in earlier months there could be multiple sections to cross or a higher water flow.

Coe

This was the only crossing I had to put my water shoes on for, and I did not expect to! I talked to people that crossed it the summer before and had no problems crossing it with dry feet. I reached this one early in the morning and was still mid-calf in freezing glacier water. The easiest crossing point was upstream through the trees and rocks a ways to find the easiest point to cross. There was a small rope a ways up, but with how strong and high the water was, it didn’t seem like a safe crossing point.

Eliot

This was the river crossing I knew would be the most difficult to cross and most likely to require me getting my feet wet. I planned to get to the crossing early in the day so the water was lower. Surprisingly I was able to cross without getting my feet wet, but had I been 30 minutes to an hour later, that would not have been the case.

When I reached the canyon, I carefully worked my way diagonally down the canyon wall towards the waterfall. There is a large boulder with a few small logs that reach across the river. If you can get there early enough, you can cross over the logs. It was not a comfortable log crossing and one wrong step you would be mid-thigh in freezing cold water. My nerves were high crossing over the logs, but it is easier if you have people to help you.

The logs end up submerged in water making them impassible as the day goes on. Just below the boulder was a mid-thigh pool where people were crossing because the water was slightly calmer. A third option to cross is down stream. There is a small yellow rope strung across the river just below a small fall. People have said that the pool below the rope is relatively calm, but you will be mid-thigh to waist deep.

Neuton Creek

I crossed Neuton Creek early in the morning since I camped right next to it. Walk up the river bed and there is a log that will take you across the river. The water was strong even in the morning, but people were able to cross the logs in the afternoon. In September there was only one section of water I had to cross, but the time of year, yearly snowpack and weather all affect the river crossings differently.

White River

This was honestly one of my least favorite crossings. The water was relatively shallow and can safely be crossed with water shoes. Because it was a wide crossing, there weren’t logs or easy rock points to jump/step between to get over. We saw some people walk across ankle deep. We crossed upstream between two rocks that were somewhat close together. Another hiker grabbed my pole and on three pulled me as I jumped over. I then helped my parents do the same.

If there’s anything you take away about the river crossings, it’s be prepared for anything because every year and hour is different. Know that you will most likely get your feet wet at some point on this trail, therefore pack water shoes that strap on well. Going prepared with water shoes and planning out the time of day you want to hopefully cross each crossing will help you feel more comfortable.

Timberline Trail Wildlife

There are various types of wildlife along this trail that you may encounter, including black bears. I actually had a black bear encounter on day three of the hike and saw there was a bear sighting near Cloud Cap the day before I arrived. Although most bears in Oregon are pretty skittish and rare to see, always be prepared and carry bear spray. Other animals you may encounter on this trail are elk, deer, rodents like squirrels, mice and chipmunk and various birds. Depending on the time of year you hike, there will be plenty of mosquitoes. June-July will be the worst month for insects because of melting snow on the mountain.

Never approach wildlife, feed wildlife or touch wildlife. Always store your food properly by either carrying a bear can or using a bag and hang it in a tree to keep predators and small rodents out of your food. You can do this by carrying rope, a caribeaner and a bag. Throw the rope over the branch of a tree and hoist all food and scented items up anytime you leave camp and at night. Using a no scent bags is also great to keep animals from smelling your food.

Gear to Pack on the Timberline Trail

For a general backpacking gear list, check out my “Backpacking Gear” guide. Below is a list of specific gear I choose to pack on trail. Anything you choose to pack on top of the gear checklist list would be your personal luxury items or gear you love to have with you.

Gear Checklist:

• Hiking shoes
• Water shoes
• Backpacking backpack
• Shelter (tent, hammock)
• Sleeping pad
• Sleeping bag
• Water Filter
• Bladder/water bottles
• Cooking Stove
• Spoon
• Headlamp
• Battery Charger
• GPS device/Map
• Bear spray
• Shovel
• First aid kit
• Bear hang bag
• No scent bag
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray (depending on time of year)

Luxury Gear

• Collapsible cup
• Garmin Watch
• Pillow
• Sleeping bag liner
• Wet wipes
• Seat cushion
• Kula Cloth (instead of toilet paper)

Clothes I packed:

• Pair of hiking socks
• Pair of camp socks
• Fresh undies for every day
• Camp pants
• Camp top
• Down jacket
• Beanie
• Pair of gloves
• 2 shorts (one worn, one packed daily)
• 2 tops (one worn, one packed daily)
• 1 wind breaker
• 2 sports bra
• 1 buff

Toiletries:

• Travel toothbrush with toothpaste (mine)
• Contacts
• Small comb
• Deodorant
• Ear plugs
• Hand sanitizer
• Hair tie
• CBD rub
• Small face moisturizer

Whatever toiletries you bring, try to make them travel size or partially full containers to lighten the load because it adds up quickly. I often only pack one set of clothes, a pair to wear and a pair for camp. I choose to bring a second set of hiking clothes, but know every outfit you pack is extra weight. Try only having one outfit your first hike and see if you’re comfortable adding the extra weight because you may not care to have two outfits.

The more you backpack, the more you will learn which items you really want and don’t want with you. I also choose to carry wet wipes for toilet paper as well as to clean my body. They weigh more than just packing toilet paper, but it’s an item I prefer having, so I take on the weight.

To learn more about what I hike with go here to see my must-have gear, trail clothes and more!

Backpacking Responsibility

What does this mean? It means follow the Leave No Trace Principles and limit your impact on the trail. Read below to know how to follow these principles and leave nature better than you found it.

• Plan ahead and be prepared. This means researching the area ahead of time, knowing the weather forecast and packing accordingly. Planning and preparing for a trip is important to keep you safe and allow you to enjoy your trip stress free.

• Travel and camp on durable surfaces. This means finding a campsite where you can tell others have camp prior rather than finding a new campsite. Do not put your tent on vegetation or in meadows, causing harm to the plants. Be responsible in choosing a site and limit your footprint in the backcountry. Stay on trail and do not walk through sensitive environments like meadows.

• Leave what you find. Nature is amazing but belongs in nature. Do not pick wildflowers or bring home rocks or other items you may find. Do not mark on rocks or vandalize nature.

• Dispose of Waste Properly. All garbage should be packed back out and disposed of properly at home or designated trail head trash cans. Bring a ziplock bag for toilet paper. Use a shovel to dig a cat hole and bury any human waste 6-8 inches underground or pack it out with you if that is not an option. Food items such as peels and nutshells should also be disposed of properly in a bag and taken back off trail.

• Respect Wildlife. Do not feed or approach any wildlife. Minimize your noise by not playing music outdoors. Know the wildlife for the area so you are prepared for encounters. Do not leave food or garbage accessible (bear bag hangs are best).

• Minimize campfire impact. Always know the local guidelines for your area before starting a fire. Many locations do seasonal bans depending on the season. Use an existing fire ring whenever possible. If you must create a new ring, clear the ground of all debris and use a location with minimal impact to the vegetation. Make sure your fire is completely out by dousing it in water multiple times and never throw garbage into the fire.

• Be considerate of other visitors. Be aware of your noise levels and be sure to kindly share the trail. Know proper trail etiquette so everyone can enjoy their time outside in nature. Remember, others may be afraid of dogs or have allergies, so keep you dog on leash or safely away from others.

Fore more hiking around Mount Hood, check out my blog post “Best Hikes Around Mt. Hood.” If you’re new to backpacking and you want to learn more about how to be successful on trail, check out my “Backpacking for Beginners Guide.” It goes more in depth on terms and shares insider tips.

Mount Hood is an Oregon beauty and getting to experience her from every side is one amazing experience I hope you get to have one day. The Timberline trail is truly a magical through hike. It’s not easy and it will challenge you, even if you’re an experienced hiker. Take your time, it’s okay to take breaks and enjoy the views!

Visit nwhiker.com to see their interactive map.

Like it? Pin it!

Other Oregon Backpacking Guides

Oregon’s Strawberry Mountain Wilderness: Everything You Need to Know

Eagle Cap Wilderness: The Ultimate Backpacking Guide To Mirror Lake