OREGON’S MT. HOOD TERRITORY 2022 – 2023 TRAVEL PLANNER02 04 OUTDOOR RECREATION 14 FARMS & WINERIES 22 ARTS & HERITAGE 28 COMMUNITIES & EVENTS 46 LODGING W ELCOME TO MT. HOOD TERRITORY, a place made beautiful by our stunning natural environment — from Mt. Hood to our rivers, lakes and valleys — and the people in our vibrant communities. Love making a positive impact on the places and people where you travel? We thank you and want to help! This inspiration guide, our social channels @mthoodterritory and our website, mthoodterritory.com, all have helpful tips and local insider knowledge to make your trip unforgettable for both you and this place we’re so proud to call home. We’re also trying to do our part to help our planet and local communities. It’s why this guide is made with 100% paper from our very own Willamette Falls Paper Company in West Linn. With its innovative and sustainable process, half of the paper is made with wheat straw pulp from Southeastern Washington. The agricultural waste would otherwise be thrown away or burned, polluting the air. We want to partner with you to make an even bigger positive impact on our local businesses and residents. The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival, pictured on the cover, draws crowds from around the world each spring. But did you know there are nearby farms and main streets with unique, local experiences that would love for you to visit? You can help their local economies and livelihoods thrive when supporting boutique shops, restaurants and attractions. Scan the QR code to begin planning a meaningful spring trip. Above: Molalla River Brewing Company 03 TRAVEL TIPS TAKE CARE OUT THERE Make the most of your trip by understanding how to prepare, care and connect in Mt. Hood Territory during your stay. VISITOR INFORMATION CENTERS We’re ready to show you around when you get here. Chat with a local expert for all the best suggestions and tips. ITINERARIES Don’t know where to start? Check out our trip ideas! LOCAL GUIDES & OUTFITTERS Go with a guide for less planning time and more fun. Find out more reasons why guided experi- ences are the best and book a trip. 4 SEASONS OF FUN We are an all-seasons destination. Plan your trip around your favorite time of year. CAR-FREE TO MT. HOOD Go from the airport (or other public transportation stops) to the mountain car-free. It’s easy! WHAT’S COOKING, MT. HOOD? Mt. Hood Territory communities, restaurants and bounty are featured in a cookbook! Download your free copy and get inspired. SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER Get even more travel tips, inspiration, videos and event news every month. KNOW NOW Stay up to date on the things that might be a little different than you expected. View verified and current information. Above: Farmland in Boring after a springtime snow04 The Upper Clackamas River, with the closest class III and IV whitewater rapids to Portland International Airport, is accessible once again with the May 2022 reopening of Highway 224 near Estacada. Find a local guided tour and current details at mthoodterritory.com/clackamas-river. Pictured: Blue Sky RaftingOUTDOOR RECREATIONOUTDOOR RECREATION07 ESTACADA LAKE B etween fast-moving sections of the Clackamas River near the town of Estacada, you’ll find a stretch of water that flows at a much slower pace. As you dip your paddle into the smooth water, you too will settle into a calm, steady rhythm. If you have basic paddling skills, you have what it takes to navigate the serene waters of Estacada Lake. Just grab your canoe, kayak or stand-up paddleboard (SUP), or rent one from Clackamas River Outfitters on either side of the lake. To enjoy the experience even further, let them take you on a guided tour where you’ll learn a bit more about the history of what makes this place special, all while perfecting your technique. Whether you explore by kayak or SUP, on your own or with a guide, one thing is certain: You’ll come back energized. Ready to get out on the water? Access points on each side of the lake are the gateway to a great short getaway with family or friends. TIMBER PARK Located just one mile west of Estacada, you’ll find plenty of parking and a boat launch at Timber Park. Put in and begin paddling away from Mill River Dam, heading upstream. This section of the lake starts out wide at first, but as you move south, it becomes narrower and more secluded. Admire Douglas fir trees clinging to the banks as you make your way across the quiet water toward the artful spans of the Highway 211 Bridge. Explore as far as you like — just remember to save some energy in your arms for the paddle back. OUTDOOR RECREATION Opposite: Kayaking on Estacada Lake Right: Clackamas River from Springwater Road Below: SUP on Estacada Lake MILO MCIVER STATE PARK On the other side of the lake from Timber Park, Milo McIver State Park offers amenities like a campground with reservable sites, a disc golf course, trails for hiking and horseback riding, and even a fish hatchery. At the far southeast corner of the park, an ADA accessible fishing dock lets you cast a line even without a boat. Paddlers will also find an easy-to-navigate boat launch. Enjoy an afternoon exploring the craggy shoreline heading away from the dam. Always remember to wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life vest and go boating with a friend. And when camping, remember to pack out everything you bring in and adhere to campfire bans and sanitation rules.M ost mountain bikers would consider themselves lucky to have one amazing day at an equally amazing bike park — complete with top-notch trails and thrilling terrain in a signature Pacific Northwest setting. But riders in Mt. Hood Territory can take it up a few notches. How about three incredible bike experiences in three days? That’s just what The Territory offers up with Timberline Bike Park, the Timberline to Rhododendron Mountain Bike Trail and Sandy Ridge Trail System, all of which carve their way through the flanks and foothills of The Territory’s signature peak. TIMBERLINE BIKE PARK The only lift-assisted mountain biking on Mt. Hood proper, the Timberline Bike Park lets riders barrel down the mountain and cruise through classic alpine terrain, then ride back up and do it all over again. Miles of trail range from beginner to expert, so there’s something for everyone, and the park rents all the gear you’ll need, including bikes, pads and helmets. TIMBERLINE TO RHODODENDRON TRAIL Starting at historic Timberline Lodge, your journey descends 4,400 feet down Mt. Hood on this a 15-mile, challenging route through history following some paths Oregon Trail pioneers took back in the 1800s. Connecting with the Pioneer Bridle Trail farther down THREE DAYS OF PERFECT PEDALING the mountain, the difficulty factor increases as you encounter loamy, single-track alternates and loose, rocky sections. The trail then levels out as you cross Highway 26, where a mixture of single and double-track will get you back to Rhododendron. SANDY RIDGE TRAIL SYSTEM In the western shadow of the Mt. Hood foothills, Sandy Ridge Trail System snakes through a signature Pacific Northwest forest of firs and cedars not far from the Sandy River. There’s no lift assist here, so you’ll be pedaling up and down — but it’s worth it. The system’s 17 miles of trails range in difficulty from beginner to expert and offer rollers, tabletops and other fun features, plus spectacular views of Mt. Hood. RENTALS Looking for a bike and gear to hit all three spots? Mt. Hood Bicycle in Welches has everything you need and is centrally located. CAR-FREE CRUISING Believe it or not, you can hit all three of these fantastic mountain biking destinations without a single minute in a car. The Mt. Hood Express shuttle runs regular routes between Sandy and Timberline and has bike trailers for hauling your ride. OUTDOOR RECREATION Left: Sandy Ridge Trail System Above, top: Cyclists boarding Mt. Hood Express Above, bottom: Lift-assisted bike trails at Timberline Bike Park09 F ootpaths through urban parks that feel more like wilderness jaunts. Tucked-away walks with wildflowers bursting with springtime color. Hidden waterfalls. Storied old-growth forests. Unforgettable alpine panoramas that only come at the end of a challenging, rewarding trudge. Welcome to hiking in Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory. Here we’ve got more than 1,000 miles of trails that offer something for every kind of ambler out there: families with little ones looking for outdoor adventure, hikers who want to save time with a wild escape close to home and hardcore trail hounds preparing for the big time peaks of Mt. Hood and beyond. What follows here are six hikes that give just a glimpse of what the happy trails of Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory have to offer. HIKING HIDDEN GEMS CAMASSIA NATURAL AREA LOCATION: 5000 Walnut St., West Linn, 97068 TRAILS: 1.4 miles total, easy HIGHLIGHTS: Native birds, an easy boardwalk amble and springtime wildflowers unmatched in the area High on a rocky plateau above West Linn, Camassia Natural Area makes for a pleasant, grassy stroll any time of year. But for a full-on wildflower show, spring is the ticket. That’s when more than 300 species of wildflowers — including camas lilies, buttercups and Oregon saxifrage — start to strut their stuff, splashing this 22.5-acre sanctuary with bright pinks, blues, yellows, whites and other hues. MARY S. YOUNG PARK LOCATION: 19900 Willamette Drive, West Linn, 97068 TRAILS: 4.5 miles total, easy HIGHLIGHTS: Soaring forest, birds galore, Willamette River beach and a wide-open, off-leash dog park This 128-acre forested park may be within the city limits of West Linn, but it provides an escape that feels miles away. The Heron Creek Loop Trail meanders around the treed perimeter of the park, while the Riverside Loop Trail wanders through a fir forest teeming with birds down to the banks of the Willamette River. BURNT LAKE LOCATION: Off F.S. Road 1825-109 in the Mt. Hood National Forest TRAIL: 6.6 miles round-trip, moderate HIGHLIGHTS: A stunning Mt. Hood view, a classic alpine lake, old-growth trees and a glimpse of the distant, charred past A classic Mt. Hood hike, Burnt Lake rewards those who make the trek with a picture perfect vista of Oregon’s tallest mountain reflected in the still waters of a pristine alpine lake. On the way to this jewel, the trail wends past giant stumps burned in a long-ago fire, under towering cedars and along and across quintessential Cascade creeks. OUTDOOR RECREATION HIDDEN FALLS NATURE PARK LOCATION: 14488 SE 152nd Ave., Happy Valley, 97015 TRAILS: 1.7 miles total, easy, but with a steep incline and decline HIGHLIGHTS: A scenic arched bridge, bike and pedestrian access linking the Mt. Scott/Scouters Mountain Loop, and one gem of a cascade This aptly named neighborhood park offers up just what you’d think it would: a pretty, cascading waterfall that had been all but hidden amongst a patch of lush suburban woods until the park officially opened in 2019. Experience the flora and fauna of this breathtaking spot by walking the 0.84-mile multiuse paved trail that leads to the viewing areas of the falls. Be prepared for steep, sometimes uneven terrain. MT. TALBERT NATURE PARK LOCATION: 10945 SE Mather Road, Clackamas, 97015 TRAILS: 3 miles (Summit Loop), 2.3 miles (Park Loop), easy to moderate HIGHLIGHTS: Birds and wildlife, Mt. Scott Creek, partial summit views and unique oak woodlands Spring wildflowers, seating for summertime picnics, fall mushrooms and exposed geologic history in the winter make Mt. Talbert the perfect all-year adventure. A volcanic butte formed millions of years ago, Mt. Talbert offers a quiet getaway accented with wildlife, meadows, and forests of firs and Oregon white oaks. Trails include the Summit Loop, which rolls up through a dense forest, and Park Loop, which is packed with giant cedars and ferns. HORSESHOE RIDGE TRAIL TRAIL: 10.8 miles round-trip, challenging LOCATION: Off F.S. Road 1825-109 in the Mt. Hood National Forest near Riley Horse Campground HIGHLIGHTS: Quiet and pristine forest terrain, adventurous creek crossings and jaw-dropping mountain vistas There’s a little bit of everything on this lesser known hike on Mt. Hood’s western flanks: moss-covered forest floors, jutting basalt outcrops, summertime wildflowers, and a rocky ridge that affords hikers expansive views of not only Hood but other Cascade peaks and foothills from the top of Zigzag Mountain at the hike’s zenith. Find all of our lesser known trails offering waterfalls, mountain views, alpine lakes and more in our Trails Guide.Next >