Outbound Collective logo

Mount Hood, Oregon

Looking for the best camping in Mount Hood? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Mount Hood. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Camping Spots in and near Mount Hood

  • Government Camp, Oregon

    Climb the Mt. Hood Summit

    4.8
    7 mi / 5239 ft gain
    Starting at 6,000 ft of elevation at Timberline Lodge, start your climb up the south side of Mt. Hood. If you head out at noon, in 6 hours you can make it about an hour past the last ski lift, called Palmer, where you can set up camp for the night. You may need to dig out a flat spot for your ten...
    Read more
  • Government Camp, Oregon

    Climb to Mt. Hood's Illumination Rock

    5.0
    6 mi / 3600 ft gain
    The Pacific Northwest has an abundance of beautiful, technical and fun Alpine ascents.  For those looking to feel the rush of mountaineering but not wanting to push for a summit attempt, Illumination Rock on the southwest ridge of Mt Hood, offers a beautiful way to spend an afternoon or potential...
    Read more
  • Hood River County, Oregon

    Camp at Elk Meadows

    4.5
    4.5 mi / 1200 ft gain
    This is a great trip for those who are new to backpacking. The hike to the quiet, peaceful Elk Meadows is relatively short, but the Newton Creek crossing presents enough difficulty to make this a fun and challenging adventure.Start at the Hood River Meadows Trailhead parking lot. Though there are...
    Read more
  • Mount Hood, Oregon

    McNeil Point via Top Spur Trailhead

    4.9
    7.17 mi / 2428 ft gain
    The hike to McNeil Point begins at Top Spur Trailhead, in the Mt. Hood National Wilderness. Follow signs for McNeil Point along the Pacific Crest and Timberline Trails heading north. Though there are numerous camping opportunities along the way (most of the route follows the PCT), an old stone s...
    Read more
  • Mount Hood, Oregon

    Snowshoe to the Tilly Jane A-Frame

    5.0
    2.7 mi / 1900 ft gain
    Built in the 1930's, the Tilly Jane A-Frame sits on the North side of Mount Hood at around 6,000ft. The cabin is very popular during winter months as it is located only 1,000ft below the tree line and offers beautiful snowshoeing, hiking, skiing and snowboarding opportunities, yet is also a popul...
    Read more
  • Rhododendron, Oregon

    Burnt Lake and Zigzag Mountain

    5.0
    12.27 mi / 3225 ft gain
    After getting your back country permit from a park ranger, you can park your car and head up Zigzag Mountain. There's a tiny 'parking lot' (lot of dirt) where you park that's right by the trailhead. The hike up to the campsites is roughly 4 miles, and it is all uphill. Not only are you surrounde...
    Read more
  • Government Camp, Oregon

    Camp at Trillium Lake

    4.5
    The reflection of Mt. Hood on the lake makes this trip definitely worth the visit.Try to arrive during the day so you can watch the sunset. For photographers, the south side of the lake is an amazing spot to take photos, especially on a windless day. For those looking to kayak or fish, there is a...
    Read more
  • Government Camp, Oregon

    Snowshoe or Cross-Country Ski to Trillium Lake

    5.0
    3.6 mi
    Starting at the parking lot for Trillium Lake located right off of Highway 26, go past the locked gate and begin walking downhill. After about a mile, you will see a fork in the road. Either way will eventually take you to the lake, but going left will be much quicker and take you to the best spo...
    Read more
  • Government Camp, Oregon

    Tom Dick and Harry Mountain

    5.0
    8.28 mi / 1726 ft gain
    Looking to score those iconic photos of Mt. Hood? Climb the well-graded trail to Tom Dick and Harry Mountain, one of the most accessible summit hikes to Portlanders, and see where they were all taken. Starting from the busy Mirror Lake Trailhead, climb roughly 900 feet and 1.5 miles to Mirror La...
    Read more
  • Government Camp, Oregon

    Trillium Lake

    4.9
    1.89 mi / 108 ft gain
    Trillium Lake is a popular camp spot at the base of Mount Hood. It's known for it's scenery, abundant recreational activities, and is family friendly. Boating, swimming and fishing are quite popular on the 63 acre lake. There is a small boat ramp within the campground and a larger ramp available ...
    Read more
  • Government Camp, Oregon

    Veda Lake Trail

    4.0
    2.5 mi / 748 ft gain
    This hike starts at the Fir Tree Trailhead and is an out and back 2.8 mile round trip. It's short, but there's 660 feet of elevation gain. To start, you climb steeply then it's an easy hike to a beautiful viewpoint overlooking the lake. The trail descends via switchbacks down to the lake for the ...
    Read more
  • Cascade Locks, Oregon

    Camp at Lost Lake

    4.7
    When the temperature starts to creep up in the summer, Lost Lake is the perfect escape. The campground provides you with everything you could want – miles of scenic hiking, a multitude of water activities, and even a general store for anything you might have forgotten at home.The lakeside tent ca...
    Read more
  • Government Camp, Oregon

    Camp at Clear Lake

    4.0
    Located just 1.5 Hours from Portland and on the east side of clear lake, this campground offers multiple water activities such as Kayaking, SUP, Fishing, and Swimming. What's great about this campground is that the sites are large and are shaded by the old growth trees which makes it feel more s...
    Read more
  • Cascade Locks, Oregon

    Tomlike Mountain

    4.5
    7.65 mi / 1198 ft gain
    Beginning at the Wahtum Lake trailhead, follow the Wahtum Lake Express trail down to the shore and head east (right) around the lake. At the junction with the Pacific Crest Trail, follow the Herman Creek Trail to the east (right, again). You'll begin your ascent out of the Wahtum Lake bowl and to...
    Read more
  • Cascade Locks, Oregon

    Chinidere Mountain

    4.8
    3.18 mi / 1150 ft gain
    The easy version of the Chinidere Mountain hike starts Wahtum Lake Trailhead. The road to the parking lot for Wahtum Lake is paved and thus very easy to access in summer and before snowfall in autumn! The mountain sits across the lake from the parking lot and there are several trails that will ta...
    Read more
  • Clackamas County, Oregon

    Little Crater Lake to Timothy Lake Campground

    3.42 mi / 338 ft gain
    Little Crater Lake to Timothy Lake Campground is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a lake located near Government Camp, Oregon.
    Read more