Mt hood｜ Oregon (detailed guide included)
In early July, I took a three-day loop in Oregon, from Portland to Bend. Along the way, there were so many surprises: snow-capped mountains, forests, streams, waterfalls, and desert (High Desert). This article mainly introduces the snow mountain-related attractions. All the attractions mentioned here require just over 1 hour of pure driving time (blue route on p18).
p1-2 white river west sno-park In summer, there are streams formed by snowmelt from the mountain; in winter, it’s covered in snow. It’s not a well-known spot, but many RVs and elegant older couples come here with small stools to drink tea and chat.
p3-5 Parkdale RFPD - Mt Hood Station The first two photos are taken on the slope opposite the fire station, and the last one is on the road a bit further south of the fire station.
p6-11 Hood River Lavender Farm Lavender farm + wine tasting. The farm offers lavender ice cream full of ice crystals. You can pick lavender yourself. The souvenir shop sells lavender-related items like essential oils, sprays, and tea. The wine tasting area doesn’t have much food, only cold cuts and cheese platters, but the strawberries on the platter are surprisingly delicious. Facing north, you can see Mt Adams in Washington state; facing south, you can see Mt Hood.
p12 Hope Ranch Lavender Another lavender farm with fewer visitors. There are white chairs perfect for photos (unlike the colorful chairs at Hood River Lavender Farm, which don’t inspire photo-taking). You can see both Mt Adams and Mt Hood here. You can also pick lavender yourself, and the souvenir shop is similar.
p13 Panorama Point A parking lot next to a private residence, located at a higher elevation with no obstructions. You can enjoy a distant view of Mt Hood. Nearby are some private farms and orchards.
p14-17 Timberline Lodge This hotel was a filming location for The Shining, located halfway up Mt Hood. In summer, you can start hiking to the snow line from here. The trail is steep, so hiking poles are recommended.
p18 Overall route map in the photo. Starting from Portland, it takes 1 hour to reach point A, Panorama Point, at the northernmost side. After completing the blue route, heading west for about 1 hour 20 minutes will bring you back to Portland. Driving south for over 2 hours will get you to the towns of Sisters/Bend.
📷: sony a7r5