Mount Hood and Timberline Lodge

Timberline Lodge was built between 1936 and 1938 as a public works project during the Great Depression, and it was made almost entirely by hand. Local craftspeople shaped its huge timbers and stone, forged its ironwork, and wove and carved its furnishings, creating a building that feels grown from the mountain itself. At its center rises a massive stone chimney and hearth, and the whole lodge is now a National Historic Landmark.

It is open to everyone. Day visitors are welcome to explore the great rooms, admire the craftsmanship, warm up by the fire, and dine with sweeping views of the peak and the valleys below. Its rugged silhouette is famous far beyond Oregon; the exterior even stood in for a haunted hotel in a well-known film, though in person it is warm, grand, and full of life.

Mount Hood is a true year-round playground. Because snow lingers high on the mountain through the warm months, Timberline is famous for skiing and snowboarding that continue into summer on the upper snowfield, long after other resorts have closed. In winter the whole mountain is a hub for downhill and cross-country skiing.

When the snow melts off the lower slopes, the mountain turns green and busy in a different way. Hikers set out on the high meadow trails and the long Timberline Trail that circles the peak, families ride the alpine slide and play mountain disc golf, and chairlifts carry sightseers up for a closer look at the glaciers and the enormous view. It is the rare place where you can ski and hike on the same summer day.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Yes. Timberline is a working historic lodge, but day visitors are welcome to wander its grand hand-built rooms, warm up by the enormous stone fireplace, admire the 1930s craftsmanship, and eat with big views of the mountain. You do not need a room, or to be a skier, to enjoy it, which makes it one of the most rewarding free stops on Mount Hood.

Yes, and it is famous for it. Because snow lingers high on the mountain, Timberline offers lift-served skiing and snowboarding that continues into summer on the upper snowfield, long after other resorts have closed. It is a rare chance to ski in shorts weather, and even non-skiers enjoy watching from the lodge. Winter, of course, brings full downhill and cross-country skiing across the mountain.

Plenty. When the snow melts off the lower slopes, hikers set out on high meadow trails and the long Timberline Trail that circles the peak, families ride the alpine slide and play mountain disc golf, and scenic chairlifts carry sightseers up for closer views of the glaciers. Nearby, Trillium Lake offers a classic mirror reflection of the mountain and an easy loop walk.

Yes, its dramatic exterior stood in for the haunted hotel in a famous horror film, which is why the silhouette may look familiar. In person, though, it is the opposite of eerie: warm, grand, and full of life, with hand-forged iron, carved wood, and woven textiles made by Depression-era craftspeople. It is a National Historic Landmark worth exploring for its own sake.

The lodge sits around six thousand feet, where the weather changes fast and snow can linger late, so bring warm layers any time of year and check conditions before you go. In winter, carry traction devices or chains and be ready for mountain driving. It is a popular spot on sunny weekends, so an early arrival means easier parking and a calmer visit.