OUTDOOR RECREATION
Picnicking ...Mt. Hood Style
When staying on Mt. Hood, you will soon discover that picnicking on the mountain is a timeless pleasure. Ask your hosts about a good picnic spot, and don't be surprised to find them enthusiastically sharing a variety of options. In fact, you will soon be planning to come to the mountain again and again for lingering picnics that include memorable scenic views, streamsides, woodlands, quiet forested ridges, or flower-carpeted meadows. Picnics can be elaborate, complete with tablecloths, wine and cheese - or they can be completely spontaneous with an impromptu meal picked up along the way. There are more than 20 village restaurants and grocery stores make it easy to pick up snacks, beverages and extra supplies.
Bald Mountain
Lunch with a glacier on the side
In the summer, Bald Mountain is a great place to view wildflowers and the many fascinating features of Mt. Hood, including the Sandy Glacier. There are several places to pause along the trail and if it's late August you can likely enjoy handfuls of huckleberries plucked from trailside bushes.
Top Spur Trail immediately heads upward, and you will gain 250 feet (from 3,950 feet to 4,200 feet) in its half-mile length. While the incline isn't excessive, it can seem steeper than it actually is because the climb starts right at the beginning.
Within two miles you will emerge from the forested trail onto the side of Bald Mountain. The slope falls away steeply down to the Muddy Fork of the Sandy River in the deep valley below. Mt. Hood rises majestically to your left for a dramatic picnicking view.
DIRECTIONS TO BALD MOUNTAIN from Top Spur Trail #785
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From the stoplight at Hwy 26 and Welches Road , go one mile east.
- Turn Left onto Lolo Pass Road (across Hwy 26 from Zigzag Inn).
- Travel close to 4 miles to its intersection with Road #1825 and turn right.
- Approximately .6 mile later, the road forks, stay left onto Road #1828.
- Stay on #1828 for about 6.5 miles, then turn right at its intersection with Road #1828118.
- Take Road #1828118 for almost 1.5 miles to a well-marked trailhead for Top Spur Trail.
- After a short .5 mile hike Top Spur Trail intersects with Pacific Crest Trail (#2000) which you will be on for about 200 yards.
- You'll come to an intersection of trails. Take Timberline Trail (#600).
- Follow Timberline Trail about 2 miles to the scenic views.
Parking
The USDA Forest Service asks that you park "head in" at the trailhead. A Northwest Forest Pass is required.
Wildwood Recreation Area
A sporting option for families and groups
This woodland acreage is picnic-perfect for those who prefer to drive up to a picnic spot. There are paved pathways to secluded picnic tables all along the Salmon River and many picnic areas are surrounded by old vine maples with lichen and hanging moss.
Larger groups may reserve a picnic shelter with an electric stove, sink with running water, fireplace and picnic tables. These kitchen amenities allow for more elaborate menus to be prepared on-site.
Nearby pathways are ideal for bicycling. There is a large meadow area that includes baseball diamond, horseshoe pits and a basketball court.
After picnicking, explore Wildwood's boardwalk that extends over the wetlands. The Cascade Stream Watch trail brings you to a special underwater streambed viewing chamber.
PARKING, FEES AND ACCESS:
The Wildwood Recreation Area is a BLM day-use-only area. The picnic sites, boardwalk and Cascade Stream Watch areas are all handicap accessible. $3 per car entrance fee. Wildwood Recreation Area closes at dusk. To Reserve a camping area or picnic shelter, visit http://www.reserveusa.com
The vintage-style poster illustrating this article celebrates picnicking on Mt. Hood. It is available for purchase on line at http://www.mthood.info/sales/ or by calling Mt. Hood Information Center, 1-888-622-4822.