How difficult is Mt. Hood Scenic Byway?

Mt. Hood Scenic Byway is rated easy. The route runs 105 miles.

When is the best time to visit Mt. Hood Scenic Byway?

The best months are Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.

Guides/Overland routes/Oregon

Overland route105 midifficulty: easy

Mt. Hood Scenic Byway

RegionOregonAgencyU.S. Forest Service, Oregon Department of TransportationLast verified—

Photo by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0

Trail vitals6 facts

Length

105mi

Technical difficulty

Easy

Direction

Loop

Vehicle

Standard passenger vehicle. Two-lane state highway throughout.

Best months

Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Cell coverage

Reliable in Hood River, Government Camp, and Sandy; intermittent on the higher segments between Hood River and Government Camp.

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The Mt. Hood Scenic Byway is a 105-mile route around the south and east flanks of Mount Hood, designated a National Scenic Byway in 2002. The route runs US 26 from Sandy through Government Camp and over the 4,157-foot Wapinitia summit, then turns north on Oregon 35 through the Hood River Valley orchards back to the Columbia River at Hood River.

The full byway is paved two-lane state highway. Mt. Hood National Forest manages the upper-elevation segments and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area covers the northern terminus around Hood River. Most drivers run it as a long day from Portland; the Forest Service publishes an accessible-adventures video covering day-use sites and campgrounds along the route.

Hazards

Read before you go

Winter driving conditions. Chains and traction tires are routinely required between Sandy and Hood River November through April. Check tripcheck.com.
Holiday weekend traffic. US 26 between Portland and Government Camp backs up on winter weekends with ski traffic and on summer weekends with day-trippers.
Wildlife. Deer and elk are common at dawn and dusk on the OR 35 segment through the Hood River Valley.
High-altitude weather. Wapinitia Pass and Bennett Pass sit above 4,000 feet and can hold snow into late spring.
Cell service gaps. Service drops between Government Camp and Hood River on the OR 35 side.

Location

105 mi · Overland route

Approx. location 45.374, -121.696

Trail facts

4 fields

Agency	U.S. Forest Service, Oregon Department of Transportation
Nearest town	Hood River, Oregon
Website	www.fs.usda.gov/r06/columbiarivergorge/recreation/mt-hood-scenic-byway
Approx. location	45.374, -121.696

Getting there

Directions

From Portland (counterclockwise). Take US 26 east from Gresham through Sandy, Welches, and Government Camp to the OR 35 junction east of the mountain. Turn north on OR 35 to Hood River. Return via I-84 west.

From Hood River (clockwise). Take OR 35 south from I-84 exit 64 through the Hood River Valley to the US 26 junction. Turn west on US 26 through Government Camp and back to Portland.

Photos

2 photos

Photos · 2

Field notes

Getting Oriented

The byway forms a U around Mount Hood, roughly 65 miles east of Portland. The southern leg, US 26, climbs from Sandy through Zigzag and Rhododendron to Government Camp at 4,000 feet, crests Wapinitia Pass, and drops into the high desert near Bennett Pass. From the US 26 / OR 35 junction the byway turns north on OR 35, descends past Hood River Meadows ski area, and follows the East Fork Hood River through the orchard country to Hood River on the Columbia.

Mt. Hood National Forest manages the upper portions through the Zigzag, Hood River, and Barlow ranger districts. The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area covers the Hood River end.

Trail Overview

A 105-mile paved byway. Surface is two-lane state highway end to end. Wapinitia Pass on US 26 sits at 4,157 feet; Bennett Pass on OR 35 sits at 4,647 feet. ODOT plows both year-round, but winter chains are routine and tire-traction restrictions are common from November through April.

The section through Government Camp is the only stretch where winter weather closes the byway with any frequency, and even then it usually reopens within a few hours.

Points of Interest

Timberline Lodge. Six-mile paved spur from Government Camp climbs to the lodge at 6,000 feet on Mount Hood's south face. Built by the WPA in 1937 and a National Historic Landmark.
Government Camp. Year-round mountain town at 4,000 feet with Mt. Hood Cultural Center & Museum and the Mt. Hood Skibowl ski area.
Trillium Lake. Forest Service reservoir off US 26 with the postcard reflection view of Mount Hood. Day-use parking and a 32-site campground.
Mount Hood Meadows. Major south-side ski area off OR 35.
Hood River Valley. Orchard country between Mount Hood Meadows and the Columbia, with the Hood River Fruit Loop drive linking pear and apple farms.
Hood River. Columbia River windsurfing town on the byway's north end. Restaurants, breweries, and the Mount Hood Railroad excursion train.

Where to Camp

Mt. Hood National Forest operates more than two dozen developed campgrounds along the byway and its side roads, including Trillium Lake, Lost Lake, Still Creek, Hoodview, and Robinhood. Reserve through Recreation.gov in summer. Dispersed camping is allowed on Forest Service land off most spur roads.

Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip

The byway is open year-round, but winter requires chains or traction tires above Government Camp on most days.
Check tripcheck.com before driving in winter; Mount Hood weather can close US 26 with no warning.
The Timberline Lodge spur road climbs to 6,000 feet and adds about 12 miles round-trip. Worth the side trip even if the lodge is closed.
Weekday driving avoids the Portland weekend ski-area traffic that backs up US 26 between Sandy and Government Camp from December through April.

Frequently asked

Common questions

How difficult is Mt. Hood Scenic Byway?: Mt. Hood Scenic Byway is rated easy. The route runs 105 miles.
What kind of vehicle do you need for Mt. Hood Scenic Byway?: Standard passenger vehicle. Two-lane state highway throughout.
When is the best time to visit Mt. Hood Scenic Byway?: The best months are Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.
Is there cell service at Mt. Hood Scenic Byway?: Reliable in Hood River, Government Camp, and Sandy; intermittent on the higher segments between Hood River and Government Camp.