About the Area
Mt. Hood National Forest encompasses about 1.1 million acres in Oregon's northern Cascades Range. Mt. Hood is iconic and close to Hood River, The Dalles, and the Portland metro. Including environments such as rainforests, grasslands, wet meadows, oak savanna, alpine lakes and forests, and mountain glaciers- and ranging from 800 ft. to 11,239 ft. elevation- Mt. Hood National Forest is a diverse place!
Links to some of our neighbors and partners:
- Recreation.gov - Reserve your campsite or group picnic site at Recreation.gov
- TripCheck (Oregon Department of Transportation) - TripCheck provides live road conditions throughout Oregon.
- Oregon State Parks
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife - ODFW protects Oregon's fish and wildlife and their habitats, providing resources for fishing, hunting, and more.
- Oregon Department of Forestry - ODF protects & manages state forests to enhance environmental, economic, and community sustainability. It also protects state-owned and some private lands during wildfires.
- Bureau of Land Management OR & WA
- Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
- Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
Mt. Hood Facts
How do I plan for my trip to the Forest?
- National forests are amazing, but also full of potential hazards. Do a little planning before you head out! Check out our Staying Safe page with all sorts of tips and resources for helping make sure you have a fun and successful time on the Forest.
What recreation sites require a Recreation Pass? What kind of pass do I need and where can I get it?
- Find out about NW Forest Pass, interagency passes, and Sno-Park Passes here.
- DYK? Over 85% of the funds earned from pass sales stay locally to help maintain and repair toilets, parking areas, trash service, picnic tables, and other recreation site features.
Where can I hike and where can I camp?
- Mt. Hood National Forest has about 1,000 miles of trails and 80 campgrounds. Most campgrounds are by advance reservation through Recreation.gov. Find your place on the Forest here.
- Camping outside of campgrounds (dispersed camping) is allowed in most, but not all of the Forest. Camping in one place is restricted to 14 days & 28 days per year total across the Forest. Dispersed campers must follow Leave No Trace principles and pack out everything you brought in with you. Learn more here.
Are there trails for mountain biking, horseback riding or ATVs/OHVs?
- Yes, each trail has designated user groups that are identified online and at the trailhead. Off highway vehicles (OHV) trail systems information is here. OHVs that are not street legal are prohibited on Forest roads.
- Bicycles are not allowed in wilderness. Electric bicycles are only allowed on motorized trails.
Do I need a Sno-Park permit?
- You must have a valid Sno-Park permit displayed in the windshield of your vehicle if you park in a designated Sno-Parks between November 1 and April 30. Each of these areas are posted with signs identifying them as a Winter Recreation Area. Find more information and purchase a Sno-Park permit online through the OR Dept. of Transportation. Passes are also sold by several local vendors, but are not available for purchase at Sno-Parks, so plan ahead. Sno-Park fees are used for plowing Sno-Park areas and maintaining access.
Can I bring my pet with me?
- Yes, but all dogs must be within sight of the owner and in complete voice control. Developed areas may require leashes. Every year dogs run off unexpectedly from their owner and are sadly permanently lost in the Forest. Avoid the heartache and keep your dog on a leash at all times.
- Cross-country skiers are encouraged to leave their dogs at home. Dogs punch holes in the set tracks with their paws, making the tracks difficult and dangerous to follow.
Can I hunt on the Forest?
- Yes. Most of the Forest is open to hunting & fishing, following Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife regulations, licenses, and seasons.
- Shooting is prohibited within 150 yards of developed recreation areas, buildings, or occupied area; across roads & bodies of water; and in any place where a person or property is exposed to injury as a result.
- Learn more about safe hunting and target shooting here.
How did Mt. Hood get its name?
- On October 29, 1792, Lt. William Broughton, under the command of George Vancouver, identified and named the peak after Lord Samuel Hood, a respected admiral of the British Royal Navy.
- The region around Mt. Hood has been home for many people since time immemorial. People had different names for the mountain, depending on when they lived, where they lived, and what tribes or groups they belonged to.
How tall is Mt. Hood?
- According to the U.S. Geological Survey, Mt. Hood is 3,426 meters (11,239 feet) tall.
Is Mt. Hood a volcano? Is it dormant?
- Like many mountains in the Cascades, Mt. Hood is an active volcano and last erupted in the 1800s. Learn more about how Mt. Hood's is constantly monitored by geologists from the Cascades Volcano Observatory.
When did Mt. Hood become a national forest?
- Even before the Forest Service was established in 1905, President Cleveland created the Cascade Range Forest Reserve in 1893. This action set aside around 5 million acres for public use, including Mt. Hood. In 1908 this area was divided into several national forests, creating the Oregon National Forest. In 1924, Oregon National Forest was renamed again to Mt. Hood National Forest.
How big is Mt. Hood National Forest?
- Mt. Hood National Forest is about 1.1 million acres. About 30% of it is federal wilderness. The Forest watersheds provide drinking and/or irrigation water to about 1/3 of Oregonians.
Where are your offices and when are you open?
I have a question- can I email you?
- You bet! Here's our Contact Us form.