How far are you from the Portland International Airport?
62 miles.
How long does it take to drive to Timberline from Portland?
Expect a 1.5 -2 hour drive from Portland.
How do I get to Timberline?
From the Portland Airport:
Airport Way to I-205 South
205 South to I-84 East (The Dalles exit)
I-84 East to exit 16 "Wood Village"
Right at stop sign on to 242nd
Follow 242nd to Burnside (approx. 3 mi.)
Left on Burnside (U-Haul rentals on the corner)
Burnside turns into Hwy 26 East at the Newport Bay restaurant
Follow Hwy 26 East to the Timberline Road turn-off (about 40 mi.); pass through the towns of Sandy, Welches, and Rhododendron.
Turn left on the the Timberline access road; follow the road to Timberline (6 mi.)
From Seattle:
I-5 South to I-205 South
Take I-205 South to I-84 exit (The Dalles)
Follow "From Portland" directions above
From Salem:
I-5 North to I-205
Take I-205 North to Mt. Hood exit; turn right
Follow signs to Mt Hood/Government Camp
Follow Hwy 26 to the Timberline access road, just past Government Camp.
DRIVING AND TRANSPORTATION QUESTIONS
Do I need chains if I have 4-wheel drive?
Yes, you might. A chain requirement can be put into effect at any time.
If so, cars with 4-wheel drive must have it engaged and are required to
carry chains in the vehicle. Conditions in the Mt. Hood area often
change drastically in a short period of time. We strongly urge you to
check our Oregon's Winter Tire Laws link for detailed information from
the Oregon Department of Transportation. Our Road Report delivers an
up-to-date realtime photo of current road conditions at Government Camp.
What is a snow park permit?
Snow park permits are parking permits for State-maintained parking
areas in recreational areas. The funds raised by these sales supplement
the snow removal budgets for these areas. All Timberline parking is
maintained by the State, and therefore requires Sno-Park permits. They
are available for 1 day-$4, 3 days-$8, and for a full season it's $16.
If you are a house guest at Timberline, we will provide your permit
free of charge.
Is there bus service to the ski area?
Yes. During the winter season there is bus service to and from the ski area Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
GENERAL QUESTIONS
As a non-skier/snowboarder, what else is there to do at Timberline?
Thousands of people visit Timberline each year who do not ski or
snowboard. There are hiking trails, snowshoeing trips, lodge tours, and
places to read, write or eat. Many enjoy the hours spent exploring the
Lodge and the surrounding areas.
Is there really a dog named "BRUNO"?
Yes. The lodge has had a St Bernard as a symbol of mountain adventure since the beginning of our operation.
Can you, or have you ever, been stranded at the Lodge in a snow storm?
There is only one time in RLK's 44 year history, that people were
stranded at the Lodge. The story of it is in the book, Timberline Love
Story.
Is Mt Hood an active volcano?
Yes. Like most of the peaks in the Cascade Range, Mt Hood is considered
dormant. Although there are occasional slight tremors, and even steam
vents, there have been no eruptions for many, many years.
Can I bring my pet to Timberline?
You may bring your pet to the parking lot, but if you are visiting any
of the buildings, you will need to find appropriate care, as we do not
allow pets inside the facilities. Please keep in mind that Clackamas
County leash laws are still in effect.
How do you ski year 'round?
On Palmer Snowfield. Palmer is located at the 8,500 foot level on Mt
Hood. It is a permanent snowfield that allows us to operate 12 months
of the year, although we do close for 2 weeks in September for routine
maintenance of the Magic Mile and Palmer Express high speed quad
chairlifts which access Palmer Snowfield. Due to varying conditions,
skiing is sometimes limited to intermediate and above skill levels, so
be sure to call our Snow Phone for updated weather reports.
LODGE AND HOTEL QUESTIONS
Which numbers do I call for room reservations, and general information?
For reservations, please call: In Portland 503-231-5400
Outside Portland 1-800-547-1406
For recorded general information and weather conditions, please call:
In Portland 503-222-2211
Outside of Portland 1-877-754-6734
For other questions, call 503-622-7979
What are the restaurant hours?
The Cascade Dining Room is generally open for breakfast, lunch, &
dinner, but hours vary seasonally. Please call the Cascade Dining Room
directly, at 503-622-0700.
In the Cascade Dining Room and The Rams Head Bar, what are the contraptions in the big windows?
They are braces for high winds which help prevent breakage.
What does your logo represent?
The Snowgoose symbol is the weathervane on top of Timberline. When the
lodge was being built, decorator Margery Hoffman Smith was looking for
ideas to use, when one of the WPA worker's daughters was on site
reading her "Campfire Book". Out of that book, dating as far back as
1927, she extracted the April Moon Sign from the Calendar of Moons. It
is also similar in motif to American Sioux, Hopi, Egyptian, and
Peruvian symbols for the moon.
Ten years before our 50th anniversary, designer Corrina Campbell
streamlined "The Goose", and used it in the Griffin/Munro - Timberline
Lodge Book, published in 1977. Its graphic appeal was soon transferred
in 1980 to the Friends of Timberline stationary, and we have made it
our 'signature' ever since.
What are the symbols carved into the fireplace?
Upon the building of the lodge, the symbols were sandblasted on the
rock of the fireplace. Warm Springs Native American Friends, interpret
the symbols as:
-The symbol on the East side of the fireplace, closest to Mt Hood, is
called the "Working Hands" symbol, or "Red Hands, White Hands Shaking",
as in the treaty of 1855. Through the eye of the beholder, it may
resemble the cogs of a wheel, or the sign of four directions; north,
south, east & west.
-The second symbol, the image of the flying bird, represents "The
Return of the Hummingbird; The Return of Spirit", with the Three
Sisters mountains, or Cascade Range underneath.
-The third symbol on the fireplace, on the Main Lobby Level, resembles
a mans body with a birds head, holding a vertical staff. This symbol is
"Medicine Man with Pipe and Thunderbird".
Was the movie "The Shining" filmed at Timberline Lodge?
Yes, part of it was. The front of Timberline Lodge was used for the
"second unit" shots (outside shots). The snowcat shots were filmed on
West Leg Road leading to Timberline Lodge. All other outside shots were
filmed at a studio in England, including the maze . The inside
inspirations came from the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, CO. During a
stay at the Stanley Hotel, The Shining's author, Stephen King came with
the film idea. He presented the idea to director Stanley Kubrick. When
asked about properties that could be used for the movie Kubrick
answered, "Take me to this place." Kubrick was holding the famous Ray
Atkeson photograph taken of Timberline lodge in moonlight.
Is this the original color of the Lodge?
The original stain for the lodge is the current gray, which was reapplied on our 50th anniversary celebration, in 1987.
MOUNTAIN QUESTIONS
When do you open for full season operation?
We are typically in full operation by Thanksgiving on both the upper and lower mountain.
How tall is Mt. Hood?
Mt Hood, the tallest mountain in the state of Oregon, stands at 11,235 feet above sea level.
What is the elevation of Timberline?
The lodge is at 6,000 feet, Silcox Hut at 7,000.
What are the lines on Palmer?
Those are the ski lanes; the first big area is the public lane and the
smaller ones are for training camps. It is very similar to how lanes
are divided in a swimming pool.
Can you ski from Timberline to Government Camp?
The trails from Timberline to Government Camp are designated as "Out of
Bounds". Any "Out of Bounds" trail is not maintained or patrolled, and
therefore would be considered high risk.
Do you rent clothing, gloves, or goggles?
No. You must have your own clothing when you arrive. Items you have
forgotten or need to replace, such as goggles, gloves and clothing
however, can be purchased at the Wy'East Store located in the Day Lodge.
THE PACIFIC CREST TRAIL
Zigzagging its way from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and
Washington the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) boasts the greatest elevation
changes of any of America's National Scenic Trails, allowing it to pass
through six out of seven of North America's ecozones including high and
low desert, old-growth forest and artic-alpine country. Indeed, the PCT
is a trail of diversity and extremes. From scorching desert valleys in
Southern California to rain forests in the Pacific Northwest, the PCT
offers hikers and equestrians a unique, varied experience.
...and the PCT just happens to come right through our backyard.
Trail Hiker Box Services
Want to send yourself a package during your journey? We're happy to help. Please read all of the following directions...
Packages and letters can be sent to:
Timberline Ski Area
Wy'East Gift Shop
Timberline Lodge, OR 97028
Please label your packages with a complete return address, your name,
“PCT HKER” and the general dates to expect you. We accept packages for
thru-hikers from April 15th to October 15th for $3.00/box. All letters
are free, and both can only be picked up in the Wy'East Gift Shop at
Timberline Lodge, which is located in the Day Lodge. The store hours
vary, but should be close to the following:
9am - 5pm Sun-Sat from April 15th - June 15th
7am - 7pm Sun-Sat from June 15th - September 15th
9am - 5pm from September 15th - October 15th
Please pick up your box personally. In the past, hikers have
miscommunicated about who would pick up the groups' boxes, and we like
to avoid confusion as much as possible.
We have a “Give a hiker/ Take a hiker” box for those items you may
decide you don't need or for those hikers that didn't send themselves
enough and need your ramen noodles :).
Finally, we can only return unused packages to hikers who mail them US
Postal Service. At the end of the season, we will assume that USPS
senders want their boxes and letters back, and will “Return to sender”
the boxes and letters that have complete return addresses. We are able
to return these packages “Return to Sender” without a fee. For all
other methods and any box without a complete return address, including
FedEx and UPS, we require that you call us with a credit card number so
we can charge you the amount for your return, which depends on box size
and weight. All packages unable to be returned by October 15th will be
destroyed unless we have been contacted by the sender.
Other Services
The only laundry services and grocery store nearby is three miles down
the Alpine Trail in Government Camp. Timberline Lodge offers laundry
only to hotel guests, and reservations are very strongly recommended,
as summer is our busiest season. We do carry a few snack items in the
gift shop, and Timberline has several lunch and dinner venues if you
want some variety -- see the dining pages on this site for more information. There is a camp ground about 2 miles down Timberline Road from from the Day Lodge.
