Post #3846629
2026-07-15 20:41 UTC
Planning the Timberline was a fun challenge. Typical is 4 days starting from Timberline Lodge and that let's you neatly divide the mountain in quarters and camp at the main highlights.
For my 3 day itinerary I started from the Elk Meadows TH and went clockwise, camping at Paradise Park and Elk Cove. That divided up the mileage and elevation pretty neatly (see above) but technically I cut the corner off and skipped part of the traditional trail between Newton Creek and Mt Hood Meadows.
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Replies (1)
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@intrepidhero@mastodon.social 2026-07-15 21:07
Comparing the Timberline to the Loowit (around Mt St Helens), Timberline is better maintained and more gently graded. There's much less scrambling but there are more river crossings. You spend more time with the mountain obscured and it never feels as close, but there are highlights like Ramona falls and the alpine meadows that don't really have analogs on the Loowit. Loowit feels more wild and remote, there's more wildlife and fewer day hikers. Everything about Mt Hood feels bigger. 4/