If from downtown Portland you head north towards the Cascade Mountains range, the panoramic Cascade Lakes Highway will take you to the summit of Mount Hood in just over an hour.
Mount Hood is a magnificent mountain which becomes even more gorgeous when it’s snowy. Thanks to its size and height, it is well visible from all hills around Portland and from the south-east side of the city and not everyone knows it is an active volcano. It’s what is known as a stratovolcano, a term which describes a cone-shaped volcano composed by many layers of volcanic ash, rock and lava that has hardened over centuries. Mount Hood is considered a dormant volcano but it erupted once at the beginning of the 20th century. It is a hugely popular destination for climbers and hikers and it has become a top ski destination for Oregonians and visitors from neighboring states.


Mount Hood is the second highest elevation in Oregon state with its 3,400 meters and, on rare but amazing clear days, from its peak, you can enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the forests and lakes that surround the mountain. A forest of Douglas fir covers much of the lower elevations, supported by a lush vegetation of rhododendron and berries bushes. More than a dozen waterfalls brighten river valleys that lie in the shade of its deep forest which is inhabited by marmots and brown bears. There are warnings on all the trails in the park and near the lake regarding the bear population but these bears are not particularly dangerous to people but they are always on the look-out for unattended food and picnic baskets, especially during the cold months when food runs low at this height.


On top of majestic Mount Hood is the Timberline Lodge, a National Historic Landmark located in the Mount Hood National Forest. This remote mountain lodge served as the Overlook Hotel in the outdoor shots of the Kubrick’s movie “The Shining” and its facade was meticulously reconstructed in the grounds behind the Studios in Hollywood in the 80’s when the movie was shot.
In the movie, the characters were trapped here after a snowstorm; Mount Hood receives indeed an incredible amount of snow from November to March which often makes it difficult to reach the area in spite of the many efforts to keep the roads clear and safe.