Region
Highlights
- Mount Hood is the highest mountain in Oregon and the fourth highest in the Cascade Range.
- A stratovolcano considered the Oregon volcano most likely to erupt. Active sulfur boiling vents dot the mountain.
- Located about 50 miles from Portland, Oregon, it has convenient access and minimal technical climbing challenges.
- Home to 12 glaciers and very frequently climbed with about 10,000 people attempting to summit every year.
- The most popular route, called the South Route, begins at Timberline Lodge and proceeds up Palmer Glacier.
Routes
/-121.695919,45.373514,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
33 summits • 9.1 mi • 5,305 ft gain • 9 hr 6 min
/-121.695919,45.373514,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
29 summits • 7.0 mi • 5,414 ft gain • 8 hr 8 min
/-121.695919,45.373514,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
11 summits • 6.7 mi • 5,101 ft gain • 11 hr 11 min
/-121.695919,45.373514,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
9 summits • 7.3 mi • 5,369 ft gain • 12 hr 17 min
Latest summits

"Great December trip up the mountain in a beautiful weather window. Summited just before dawn and enjoyed some ultra clear skies along with great snow conditions. 4:30 hours from parking lot to summit, 1:50 down with the help of my splitboard." — oregon-mt-goat • Dec 4, 2020

"First day that Timberline parking lot is open after covid shutdown. Got a 2:30 am start into a near whiteout conditions, passed many climbers coming down. Skies cleared at the top of Palmer glacier and conditions were perfect all the way to the summit. This was the first time that I had to break the trail solo, but having the summit all to myself with only my footprints to show my accomplishment was worth the effort. Took the pearly gates route and summited at 8:30. The skies were amazingly clear with views from Rainier to the Three Sisters and no winds at all. Lots of people waited out the weather and were on their way up once I was back at devils kitchen. Until next year!" — oregon-mt-goat • May 15, 2020

"Beautiful day on the mountain. Took the Old Chute from Hogsback up to summit ridge due to congestion on the Pearly Gates and went back down the same way. Route was in very good climbing condition." — jodola • Jun 9, 2019

"Attempt up Mount Hood from the Silcox Hut. Epic storm conditions, -12-degree windchill, 30 mph winds, and a whiteout made for an adventurous outing on which I bailed as I was too cold and no longer having fun! Plus waffles awaited at the Silcox Hut." — markhadland • Jun 7, 2019

"Part of a 2 Cascade volcano road trip with CSMC and birthday ascent of Hood. Rick and I had bagged Mt St Helens in the heat on Thursday. We met the others at a roadside pull off Friday evening and bedded down for 4 hrs. I didn't sleep. Up at midnight and on our skis by 1:30am heading straight up the line of head lamps in 8C perfectly clear night. Passed endless groups of people thru 900m elevation gain in under 2 hrs and then switched to crampons as the ski cramponing was getting steep. Left the skis on the Hogsback and proceeded up Pearly Gates with the masses to summit around 6am just after sunrise. Waited for other party members to appear and enjoyed stellar bluebird morning looking north to previous summits of St Helens, Adams, and Rainier...and south to future summits Jefferson and the Sisters. Descended to Hogsback and waited in sun for an hour for snow to soften. Gave up at 9am and skied crud for 95% of the descent until hitting slush near parking lot. Laid down on thermarest for hour and a half while waiting the others to return. Hit lunch (felt like breakfast) at Charlies in Gov't Camp and then headed for Hood River. Home in Calgary Sunday evening after a mountain bike rid..." — alexjoseph • May 11, 2019

"Started up at 1:00am local time. Kept on following the trail of lights, which for a while I thought was related to the ski lift. Once the light came around it was a long line to the Pearly Gates. We're people dying to get in? haha. It was busy and a constriction point. From Crater Rock col, it was bucket steps to the top. The snow was hard which was good for the folks on foot. No one skied from the summit. That would likely have been suicidal. From Crater Rock Alex and Rick skied down and they said it certainly was survival skiing. Late in the morning we were walking off the last part by the ski area and the snow had gone unsupportive and I longed for the trudge to end." — BertB • May 11, 2019

"Joined hundreds of other people up the regular south route. Started at 1am. Was at the hogs back at approx sunrise. Went through the right side pearly gates which were pretty busy but good foot holds due to all the traffic. Wonderful views of the surrounding areas including Helens, Rainier, Jefferson and Adams. Descended via the same route. Great and sunny days and was even able to wear a tshirt on descent. Fantastic time. " — MarkJPerkins • May 11, 2019

"Drove down Thursday night. Climbed mid morning Friday to illumination rock, summit Saturday morning via pearly gates right. Desended old chute, as crowded up in the gates with teams that had roped up. " — ken_hercules • May 4, 2019

"Left Timberline parking lot at 1am. Passed Wilcox Hut @ 1:45. Took shelter inside Palmer Glacier lift shack, wind around 18mph steady and clouds moving in over summit. Passed 3 person team coming down at the Devils Kitchen @ 4:30 - they had decided the winds were too strong to summit. Chose to go up the right side of the Pearly Gates route, mixed ice and snow. 5:50am Gusts on summit approaching 30 mph and 10 ft visibility, not a total whiteout but no good sunrise photos. Dropped down through left side of Pearly Gates, snow was better but one tight chokepoint. Back at the Devils Kitchen for a rest at 6:30 and down to the car at 8:45. Not the worst conditions I have climbed in, but close. " — oregon-mt-goat • Apr 26, 2019

"South route ski descent. Started at 3am. Could've started later but we had large group and were unsure of some members comfort zone. Bluebird day. Only busted out ice axe on pearly gates and on part of the ski descent. Booted from top of lift line. " — alexjcoleman1234 • Apr 20, 2019