Free, guided tours in and around Timberline Lodge by the U.S. Forest Service
have been a popular attraction over the past few winters. But Neal Fair,
Interpretive and Conservation Education Programs Coordinator for the USFS,
thinks the guided snowshoeing tour around the lodge that was added for this
winter might be the most popular already.

“It’s an awesome trail because it’s snowcat maintained,” Fair said. “It’s a
really rugged but really beautiful environment.”

The trail begins at Timberline Lodge (except when conditions require leaving
from the Salmon River auxiliary parking lot), climbs to approximately 6,500
feet in elevation and then loops back down to the lodge.

It is approximately one-mile in length and takes up to an hour to complete,
while a USFS ranger offers insight into the region’s plans, animals, geology
and more.

“It’s pretty much a crash course of the natural sciences with one of the most
beautiful outdoor classrooms you could imagine,” Fair said.

The free, guided snowshoe tours take place at noon every Friday at Timberline
Lodge, meeting first at the Wy’east Day Lodge. Depending on snow
conditions, the tour may be a hike rather than on snowshoe.

For more information, call 503-622-2033 or email fnfair@fs.fed.us.

More free tours at Timberline Lodge
(programs run thru March)
-- Full moon snowshoe programs will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 15,
Thursday, Feb. 14, and Sunday, March 16. For start times and location, call
503-622-2033 or email fnfair@fs.fed.us
-- Tours of Timberline Lodge will take place at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.
every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Meet at the USFS desk inside the lodge.
-- Ski tours of the Timberline Ski Area will take place at noon every Saturday.
The tours are for intermediate or better skiers and snowboarders and last for
approximately one hour. Lift tickets are required, meet at the Wy’east Day
Lodge.
-- Snowshoe tours of Government Camp via the Crosstown Trail will take
place at 10 a.m. every Saturday. Meet at the Mt. Hood Cultural Center and
Museum, 88900 Government Camp Loop in Government Camp.
-- Ski tours of the Mt. Hood SkiBowl ski area will take place at noon every
Sunday. The tours are for intermediate or better skiers and snowboarders and
last for approximately one hour. Lift tickets are required, meet at the Outback
Lodge at SkiBowl West.
-- Snowshoe tours of Trillium Lake will take place at noon every Sunday. Meet
at the Trillium Lake trailhead (Snowpark passes are required to park at
trailhead).