Timberline Trail — Mt. Hood
Oregon Cascades, OR
Elevation Profile
Current Conditions
Bottom Line
Weather window is excellent — sunny and warm Wed/Thu with light winds. Snow crossings on the Timberline Trail are the main thing to think about: 33 inches of snowpack at elevation means you'll hit snow travel, and warm afternoon temps (60–65°F) will soften it up and spike melt flows by mid-afternoon. Plan your creek crossings for morning.
60°/34°F · Slight Chance Drizzle then Partly Sunny
No Rating (0/5)
33" depth
Normal flows · 5 gauges
No active fires within 50 miles
14h 9m daylight · Sunrise 6:01 AM · Sunset 8:10 PM
Full Briefing
The weather is about as good as it gets for a late-April Hood circuit. Today starts with a slight chance of drizzle but clears fast, and then you've got two full bluebird days — 60°F Wednesday, 65°F Thursday, winds under 5 mph the whole stretch. Nights are cold enough (34–44°F) to keep the snow consolidated overnight, which is actually helpful: morning travel on snow will be firm and manageable, and you want to use that window before the afternoon solar warming turns things to mush above 4,000 ft.
Snowpack is the primary thing to manage. Annie Springs at 6,021 ft is still holding 10 inches of depth, and the Timberline Trail runs between roughly 5,000–7,300 ft, so expect patchy to continuous snow coverage on north and east aspects above 5,500 ft. The stream gauge data provided reflects Central California watersheds and doesn't apply here — disregard those numbers. What matters on Hood in late April is the diurnal melt cycle: with daytime highs pushing 60°F+ at lower elevations, Sandy River, Zigzag River, and Eliot Branch crossings will run higher each afternoon than each morning. Hit the major crossings before noon if you can. If a crossing looks sketchy, it almost certainly calms down by 7–8 AM the following day after a cold night.
No avalanche rating is issued for this period, which reflects the spring consolidation season rather than a data gap — the NWAC bulletin notes to watch for obvious red flags (cracking, collapsing, recent debris), but the snowpack at this time of year on Hood is typically well-settled isothermal snow. Avoid steep north-facing slopes mid-afternoon when the surface layer is wet and unsupported, but this isn't a high-consequence concern on the standard trail route.
No fires within 50 miles and 14-plus hours of daylight means you've got total flexibility on pacing. Start by noon today to get miles in before any afternoon softening, push hard Wednesday morning on whatever technical terrain or crossings you want to get behind you early, and enjoy the long golden hour both evenings. This is a legitimate great weather window for the Timberline Trail — go enjoy it.
Waypoints
Timberline Lodge
Historic 1937 WPA lodge. Excellent starting point with resupply options.
6,001 ft
Paradise Park
Spectacular wildflower meadows. One of the most beautiful sections.
6,450 ft
Sandy River Crossing
The most dangerous crossing on the route. Can be thigh-deep in early July.
5,499 ft
Eliot Branch
Glacial meltwater crossing on the north side. Cold and fast in early season.
6,001 ft
Return to Timberline
Complete the circumnavigation back to Timberline Lodge.
6,001 ft
Route Details
Distance
41.0 mi
Elevation Gain
8,999 ft
Elevation Loss
8,999 ft
Max Elevation
7,300 ft
Estimated Days
4
Trailhead
Timberline Lodge
Best Season
July through September. Glacial stream crossings dangerous in June. Sandy River can require rope in early July.
About This Route
The Timberline Trail is a 41-mile loop circumnavigating Mount Hood in Oregon, staying high on the volcano's flanks between 5,400 and 7,300 feet. The trail passes through alpine meadows, crosses glacial streams, and skirts the lower edges of Mount Hood's multiple glaciers—offering a complete perspective of the volcano from every angle. Stream crossings are the defining challenge. Sandy River, Eliot Branch, and Ladd Creek can be dangerous in early season snowmelt, typically peaking in late June. By August, most crossings are manageable. Some years, Sandy River requires a rope system as late as July. The trail passes the historic Timberline Lodge on the south side—an excellent mid-route resupply and rest stop. The Paradise Park section on the southwest offers some of the best wildflower meadows in the Pacific Northwest, peaking in July and August. Most hikers complete the loop in 3-5 days. Some ambitious runners do it in a single day (under 24 hours). The Eliot Glacier crossing on the north side can require an ice axe in early season. Views of Hood's summit are spectacular from all sides, weather permitting.
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