Timberline Lodge & Ski Area

Declared a National Historic Landmark in 1977, Timberline Lodge is one of Oregon’s most popular tourist attractions, drawing nearly two million visitors every year. Timberline Lodge operates under a special use permit issued by the Mt. Hood National Forest. Considered an architectural wonder, its still being used for its original intent: a magnificent ski lodge and mountain retreat for all to enjoy. Self-guided tours are available through the winter.

Open all 12 months of the year with 4,540 vertical feet and 1,672 acres of skiable terrain in winter. 

Timberline lodging options include varied room sizes and prices at the main lodge, and group accommodations at Silcox Hut, which sits above the main lodge at 7,000 feet.

The Forest Service provides interpretive tours at the lodge from Memorial Day through Labor Day! Learn more about our interpretive programs here. 

General Information

Learn more about accessibility at Timberline Lodge: www.timberlinelodge.com/accessibility

From Portland, OR
Take I-84 E to Exit 16, Wood Village
Turn onto NE 242nd Dr. to US-26 E in Gresham
Follow 242nd to Burnside (3.5 mi.)
Turn left on Burnside/US-26 E. 
Follow US-26 E to the Timberline Road turn-off (about 40 mi.)
Turn left on the the Timberline access road; follow the road to Timberline (6 mi.)

From Hood River, OR
Take OR-35 South then US-26 (toward Portland). Then turn right on Timberline Highway.

PUBLIC TRANSIT

• Timberline Resort Shuttle
  The Timberline Resort Shuttle operates from December 9 - April 2, with service between Summit Pass in Government Camp and Timberline's Wy'East Day Lodge. Riding the shuttle is free for Timberline and Fusion season pass holders and Timberline online lift ticket holders.
• Mt. Hood Express
  The Mt. Hood Express transit is a public bus service administered by Clackamas County and serves the communities along Highway 26, running from the city of Sandy east to Government Camp and Timberline.
   

History

 Timberline Lodge was opened on February 4, 1938 following a construction which boasted a great deal of public attention and excitement. When the project was announced publically in 1935, bonds were sold by the three sponsors of the project which were the State of Oregon, Mount Hood Recreation Association of Portland, and the Regional office of the Forest Service.

After raising $10,000 for building materials, the project was sponsored by the Works Progress Administration for an expected cost of $275, 513. Crews of 150 men were interchanged every two weeks, and craftsmen and artists were commissioned to work on the Lodge, resulting in 760,000 person hours estimated worth of work.

This project greatly helped the local economy by employing men who were unable to find work elsewhere due to the Great Depression.  Marjory Hoffman Smith was hired as the interior decorator and she required that everything be made by hand and fall into the three main themes of Indian, wildlife, and pioneer. Throughout the Lodge, these themes were expressed in many different ways and each guest room was decorated so that no two were the same.

On September 28, 1937 President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the Lodge. The Lodge was closed due to World War II in 1942, and finally reopened in 1945 as well as being able to draw its first profits in 1947. In 1955, the Lodge was closed due to mismanagement and an inability to be run properly. RLK & Co. picked up management of the Lodge leading to a renewed management strategy.

In 1975 the Friends of Timberline formed with a mission to restore Timberline Lodge to its original splendor. In 1978 Timberline Lodge became Oregon’s tenth National Landmark formally acknowledging by its importance to the history of Oregon and the United States as whole.

Parking information is found on Timberline Lodge's website: www.timberlinelodge.com/getting-here