Timberline Trail: Timberline Lodge to Ramona Falls Trailhead (2020)
Updated: Aug 7
A point-to-point day day hike along a section of the Timberline Trail in Mount Hood National Forest.
Start: Timberline Lodge
End: Ramona Falls Trailhead
Access: Trail
Distance: 12.8 miles
Direction: Clockwise
Elevation Range: 2441′ to 6086′
Ascent/Descent: +1401 ft / -4837 ft
Trail Type: Point-to-point
Outing Type: Day hike
Start time/End time: 8:20am – 3:30pm
Time: 7 hr 10 m
Permits/Fees: Northwest Forest Pass required at parking lots and free wilderness permit at trailhead required for trail.
Location: Trail circumnavigates Mount Hood in Mount Hood National Forest, Oregon, U.S.A.
Administration: Mount Hood National Forest
Ranger District: Zigzag Ranger District
Wilderness Area: Mt Hood Wilderness
Other Posts: Timberline Trail,
Timberline Trail: Timberline Lodge to Ramona Falls Trailhead 2024
Date Accessed: August 5, 2020
There were a lot of people at the Timberline Lodge parking area going skiing. I didn’t realize people could ski during the summer. I had a bit of a hard time finding the trail behind Timberline Lodge. It was a whole lot easier than I thought. The PCT was easy to follow once I found it. It wasn’t as far away from the lodge as I thought it might be. It was pretty flat and slightly downhill at the start. It was so beautiful! I hiked through the ski area and under the lifts which was sorta cool. The trail went through small sections of trees and bushes. I was barely below the tree line. It was so pretty. There were tons of purple flowers along the entire trail. I dipped down a few valleys. It wasn’t very steep and I was easily able to go uphill in those sections. Then I climbed up a ridge line. I could see the Zigzag River a long ways down in the valley below. The mountain was so beautiful. I went downhill, down switchbacks for a ways until the trail came out at the river below. I was a bit nervous about the river crossing because I had no idea how wide or deep the river was. I was able to find rocks I could easily walk across and didn’t have to get my shoes wet then I had a good climb uphill after the crossing. I passed some slow people on the trail. I wasn’t doing good about eating and felt like I was going to throw up a few times from the overexertion. I took the first trail that went up to Paradise Park. For only hiking a few miles I’d already come across many people. It felt awkward with COVID going on. When I passed other people and couldn’t maintain social distancing we’re supposed to mask up. Because of all the people out I’d barely allow myself to stop and didn’t really take any breaks. I didn’t do good about consistently munching on food either.
I should probably clarify what I mean by a lot of people. I prefer hiking on trails where there is no one or I only come across a few people. That’s my preference and I was thinking because it was a week day that maybe there wouldn’t be many people on the timberline. It wasn’t crowded or overrun by people I just came across more people than I expected.
It was a good climb up as the trail climbed up to paradise park. The forest opened up to tall hills covered in grass with switchbacks climbing up them. Once I got to the top I was in awe.. There were rolling fields of wildflowers with the mountain in the background. It was stunning. I followed the trail through paradise. There were little up and downhills.
There were some small and incredibly easy creek crossings. As I came out of the grassy field area there were some sections that looked barren and were just bare rock. I stopped and filled up my water at Rushing Water Creek. It’s the last creek crossing right before split rock. I hiked up to split rock which was here I planned on stopping for lunch. There was someone camping right next to the rock so I went a little ways down the trail and sat on a rock. I ate my lunch while looking at the incredible view of Mt Hood. I didn’t take a very long lunch break and I wasn’t very hungry. I ended up only taking a 20 minute lunch break. I felt kind of nervous about running into people or stopping and then slow people passing me and then I’d have to pass them.
There was an amazing viewpoint that looked down into a valley. There were 3 waterfalls and and epic view of the mountain. That section of trail was sandy. I had to stop twice to give my feet a break because they were really starting to hurt with all the downhill. I was starting to feel physically exhausted when I suddenly came across a huckleberry bush with a few ripe berries on it. It was just the mental boost that I needed. I made it down to the Sandy River crossing. I followed the cairns which lead me to the place where there were 2 logs across the river. There were 2 veins of the river I had to cross. The first was easy and I just walked across some rocks in the water. The second one had the two logs across it and the water was ferocious. I was able to cross safely. I followed the cairns again and there was a piece of pink tape marking where the trail started again on the other side.The trail soon met up with the Ramona falls junction. I decided I wasn’t going to go to the falls and just continue on to the trailhead instead. It was about 3.25 miles to the trailhead and I had one last river crossing across the sandy river (there were logs again). I stopped for a break 0.5 miles away from the trailhead and munched on some food. I continued on to the trailhead. Once I got there I waited for my mom and sister to get there to pick me up. I ended up just sitting on the ground and waiting for them for a half hour. I finished faster than I had anticipated I would.
I counted the number of people I came across on the trail:
35 people on the Timberline Trail/PCT section
57 people from the Ramona falls junction to the trailhead
Total of 92 people
Gallery
River Crossings
The conditions of river crossing change each year and by each season. There are no “bridges” across any of the river/creek crossings on the Timberline Trail. My pictures and descriptions only show what it was like for me. It could be very different even a day later from when I crossed. I’m sharing the photos and descriptions because I feel like it at least gives an idea of what the river crossings are like.
Zigzag River
WA1 - A dry crossing is possible by using rocks or logs.
Fairly easy. I was able to hop across rocks.
Sandy River
Sandy River (along Sandy River Trail)
Resources
Map Resources
FarOut now has a Timberline Trail map. When I did this trip in 2020 I used the FarOut PCT map since the PCT and Timberline Trail share the same trail for most of the west side of the mountain.
Trail Planning Resources
How to get there
Map
My Wild Adventure is not responsible for your safety, any possible injury, or anything that happens if you choose to follow anything on this website. Maps are not intended to be used for navigational purposes, but to give an overview of the route taken. By going outdoors you are solely responsible to know your strengths and limitations, be aware of current conditions and proceed with the appropriate caution. My Wild Adventure is not responsible for your choices and the outcome. Reference my disclaimer for more information on being responsible outdoors.
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