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View Full Version : ot: Lodging in/around Mt. Hood National Forest?


raygunner
01-26-2015, 03:23 PM
Since everyone here is extremely great with help & recommendations I wanted to see if anyone has any good recs for lodging in/around Mt. Hood National Forest?

In mid-May the plan is a weekend jaunt in Portland but then we wanted to hit the road & see some nature.

Mt. Hood National Forest totally fits the bill but I'm just unsure about where to stay. I don't think we'll be doing camping but a simple cabin or yurt would be sweet.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!!

Steve in SLO
01-26-2015, 05:48 PM
If you want to pull out all the stops, stay at the Timberline Lodge. One of the grand lodges in the western US.
http://www.timberlinelodge.com

matsfro
01-26-2015, 07:03 PM
Government Camp is down the hill from timberline lodge and very affordable. I believe there's a bus that takes you up to the lodge where you should definitely eat breakfast. The PCT runs along the back side of the lodge and within 5 miles you're into the good stuff.

Be ready for weather. It'll probably still be snowing up there in May.

krhea
01-26-2015, 07:13 PM
Ray, I have this cabin just outside Welches, OR and about 1 mile from the Mt Hood National Forest. If interested LMK with direct message or email me: rhea dot kevin at gmail dot com. It's great to ride from, hike from, relax etc. 50-60minutes from Portland and about 5 miles down the mountain from Government Camp.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7518/15828842136_6260c04afa_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/q7JXij)DSCF9383 (https://flic.kr/p/q7JXij) by KRhea FrzFrmFoto (https://www.flickr.com/people/87340476@N07/), on Flickr

matsfro
01-26-2015, 07:15 PM
^thats awesome! I would stay there.

Ken Robb
01-26-2015, 07:53 PM
WOW- What a hide-away in the woods! How often do you get to use it?

Dead Man
01-26-2015, 08:39 PM
Timberline Lodge is usually booked solid through spring season by the beginning of the year... if you wanted to go that route, I'd call now (and not expect much). May is peak season up there, afterall. It's a super cool place, but the food is notoriously terrible- I've had more than a few meals there, usually out of desperation (what choice do you have at 10 at night on a mountain?), and they've all been wilted/rubbery/flavorless/luke warm microwave TV dinner quality. So bring food or make alternate plans. But the place is otherwise rad.

As noted, there are plenty of cool places to stay in Government Camp, but same story- that time of year, everything is booked up pretty quick. Make reservations now!

Dead Man
01-26-2015, 08:40 PM
Ray, I have this cabin just outside Welches, OR and about 1 mile from the Mt Hood National Forest. If interested LMK with direct message or email me: rhea dot kevin at gmail dot com. It's great to ride from, hike from, relax etc. 50-60minutes from Portland and about 5 miles down the mountain from Government Camp.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7518/15828842136_6260c04afa_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/q7JXij)DSCF9383 (https://flic.kr/p/q7JXij) by KRhea FrzFrmFoto (https://www.flickr.com/people/87340476@N07/), on Flickr

Dude... let's be friends

raygunner
01-26-2015, 08:51 PM
So beautiful! I might just have to send you a PM.

Timberline Lodge appeared to be out of my range but I also believe it was booked up.

Anyone have experience with Lost Lake Resort?

http://lostlakeresort.org/

krhea
01-26-2015, 09:45 PM
WOW- What a hide-away in the woods! How often do you get to use it?

Not enough Ken, that's for sure but when we're there it's pretty amazing. The back deck is built over a tumbling stream that makes it the absolute best napping location ever!

Lost Lake is a gem...however, it's known around the world and can be hard to get reserves. That area of the forest is really special and the obligatory Mt Hood view never gets old.

Ken Robb
01-26-2015, 10:17 PM
We have rented a neat house on the north shore of Lake Tahoe from a couple who make pretty good $$ when they aren't using it themselves but they get skiers AND summer visitors.

Vientomas
01-26-2015, 10:54 PM
Never stayed there, but Cooper Spur is not far from Lost Lake. http://www.cooperspur.com/lodges.htm

There are probably a few bed and breakfast places in the area.

The town of Hood River is not far either. Plenty of lodging there.

Matt-H
01-26-2015, 11:07 PM
So beautiful! I might just have to send you a PM.

Timberline Lodge appeared to be out of my range but I also believe it was booked up.

Anyone have experience with Lost Lake Resort?

http://lostlakeresort.org/

Camped there years ago on a memorable trip with my wife. Obviously no comment on the Lodge (not even sure it was there in its current iteration), but it was really beautiful. And, Hood River is close by for a visit.

gasman
01-26-2015, 11:13 PM
Timberline Lodge is usually booked solid through spring season by the beginning of the year... if you wanted to go that route, I'd call now (and not expect much). May is peak season up there, afterall. It's a super cool place, but the food is notoriously terrible- I've had more than a few meals there, usually out of desperation (what choice do you have at 10 at night on a mountain?), and they've all been wilted/rubbery/flavorless/luke warm microwave TV dinner quality. So bring food or make alternate plans. But the place is otherwise rad.

As noted, there are plenty of cool places to stay in Government Camp, but same story- that time of year, everything is booked up pretty quick. Make reservations now!
The Lodge is expensive and usually booked up, it's also noisy from the old steam heating system, especially in the winter.
I've found the food at the restaurant to be excellent though also high priced. The bar food and cafeteria in the day lodge is pretty average.Do at least go up to the origanal lodge and check it out. An old WPA project that went up in under two years. Amazing artisans. There are a number of old black and white photos on the walls. My father-in-law took a few of them. Go to the bar upstairs, get a drink and take in the view of the mountain. It's spectacular.

bking
01-26-2015, 11:16 PM
4 or 5 decades ago my grandparents had a cabin like that, sun room on the back was just above Zig Zag creek as i recall. I'd love to find it somehow, just to see it.

bismo37
01-27-2015, 01:05 AM
Dude... let's be friends

Ditto.

heeyyyy buddddyyy....

(do you happen to rent this beauty out? Makes a nice start for hitting Lolo Pass. :) )

krhea
01-27-2015, 11:34 AM
Ditto.

heeyyyy buddddyyy....

(do you happen to rent this beauty out? Makes a nice start for hitting Lolo Pass. :) )

We use it as a Lolo starting point many times throughout the summer. It's a great ride from the cabin up Lolo and over to Lost Lake. Another fun ride from the cabin is up 26 to Still Creek Rd to Kinzel Lake Rd down to the lake and back up and out. It's a gravel ride with a chunk of climbing.

Yes, we rent cabin year round however, our occupancy rate is really high so you need to contact well in advance.

raygunner
01-27-2015, 02:17 PM
PM sent on cabin! :rolleyes:

SlowWheels
01-27-2015, 03:17 PM
I have this cabin just outside Welches, OR and about 1 mile from the Mt Hood National Forest.


That is one amazingly gorgeous cabin!

wpod
01-27-2015, 03:53 PM
May is an awesome time to visit. +1 on Cooper Spur- really nice location and nice folks.

Several other b & b's in Parkdale/Mt Hood area. Great local craft beer, cider not to mention our local fruit loop.

Gov't Camp is always nice as well...