The Timberline Trail
Length and elevation
The USFS trail page gives "~40 miles circumnavigating Mt. Hood". Its own Recreation Opportunity Guide measures the full loop at 41.5 miles including the Pacific Crest Trail overlap, with an elevation range of 3,480 to 7,320 ft. Hiking guides measure 38.3 to 41 miles depending on the route variant, and Oregon Hikers puts the total climbing at about 9,000 ft; there is no official figure for gain. Most backpackers take 3 or 4 days for the whole loop, per the USFS.
Part of the loop overlaps the Pacific Crest Trail, which runs west from Timberline Lodge to Zigzag Canyon. Side trails lead off it to McNeil Point, which the USFS calls "a short hike from the Timberline Trail".
Season
The USFS gives the season as "July - October". Before July, snow lies on the high sections, and the USFS notes that high trails such as McNeil Point often take until the end of June to melt out. The best time to hike page covers meltout around the mountain.
River crossings
The trail crosses glacier-fed streams without bridges in several places. The USFS names the "Newton, Coe, Muddy Fork, Sandy and White Rivers" as the main fords, "typically not more than knee deep", and its trail guide adds the Eliot.
The Eliot Branch crossing on the north-east side washed out in 2006. According to Oregon Hikers, a reroute opened in 2017 that crosses "700 feet lower down the canyon" and adds about 1.5 miles. There is no permanent bridge, and conditions vary from year to year. Older guides that describe the loop as "closed" at the Eliot refer to the years before the reroute; the current USFS trail page lists no closure there.
The current blowdown alert
The USFS trail page carries an alert for "significant blowdown between Muddy Fork and Yocum Ridge" on the west side, and notes that "This trail is not fully maintained." Its suggested bypass is the Pacific Crest Trail from Ramona Falls to Top Spur. The Mt. Hood National Forest alerts page has the latest wording.
Wildfires closed a number of trails on the east side of the mountain in late summer 2026; check the Mt. Hood National Forest alerts page before setting out. Alerts for the loop can change at short notice.
Permits and trailheads
The loop lies in the Mount Hood Wilderness. "Free, self-issued Wilderness permits are required from May 15 to October 15 when provided at a portal", per the USFS. Parking rules depend on the trailhead chosen:
- Timberline Lodge: no recreation pass needed in summer, per the USFS; a Sno-Park permit from November 1 to April 30.
- Ramona Falls: a Recreation Pass from May 1 to October 31 at the Ramona Falls trailhead, where the USFS strongly recommends high-clearance vehicles.
The passes and permits page sets out the rules.
Who built it
The Timberline Trail was built "primarily by Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930’s", according to the USFS trail guide. Timberline Lodge, where many hikers start, was built by a different New Deal program, the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The two are often mixed up; the Timberline Lodge page covers the lodge.
Planning notes
- Direction and daily stages are the hiker’s choice; the USFS gives 3 or 4 days as typical.
- Wildlife rules apply: the USFS asks visitors never to approach or feed wild animals and to store food, including pet food. The safety page covers more.
- Day hikers can walk sections from Timberline Lodge or Ramona Falls. The day hikes page lists them.
Day sections of the loop
Several day hikes use part of the Timberline Trail or start from it, so a section can be walked without the full circuit:
- Timberline Lodge to Zigzag Canyon, west on the shared Pacific Crest Trail: 4.4 to 5.4 miles round trip depending on the hiking guide. See the Zigzag Canyon page.
- Ramona Falls, on the west side: 7 miles round trip with about 1,000 ft of gain per the USFS, with a ford of the Sandy River. See the Ramona Falls page.
- McNeil Point, which the USFS calls "a short hike from the Timberline Trail up to the McNeil Point Shelter"; it publishes no distance, and snow often lingers through June.
- Paradise Park, whose own trail #778 climbs about 5.9 miles from 2,800 ft to 6,240 ft, per the USFS, to the meadows.
Marking the USFS-suggested bypass on the Pacific Crest Trail, from Ramona Falls to Top Spur, on the map before setting out leaves an alternative ready if the blowdown section is impassable.
For a day at the mountain without driving
No guided backpacking trip is sold on GetYourGuide. The Portland: Mt. Hood Day Tour stops at Timberline Lodge, where the loop passes, for 30 minutes of "free time, hiking, self-guided tour", according to its listing.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Timberline Trail?
About 40 miles, per the USFS. Its own trail guide gives 41.5 miles including the Pacific Crest Trail overlap, and hiking guides measure 38.3 to 41 miles. See the day hikes page for shorter options.
When can you hike the Timberline Trail?
The USFS gives July to October. The best time to hike page covers snow and meltout.
Do you need a permit for the Timberline Trail?
A free, self-issued Wilderness permit is required from May 15 to October 15. See the passes and permits page.
Is the Eliot crossing open?
A reroute opened in 2017, according to Oregon Hikers, and the USFS trail page lists no closure there. There is no permanent bridge. Check the safety page for river crossings.