MT HOOD FUN
Snowshoeing and
Cross-Country Skiing
up Lolo Pass
What's better winter fun than getting out in some new white snow? Whether you love to cross-country ski, want to try strapping on some snowshoes, or simply take the little ones out to toss snowballs around, The Villages of Mt. Hood are located near many perfect spots. You’ll be surrounded by the grand scenery of the snowy mountain landscape, breathing the purest, freshest air around. It’s a good time that’s good for you!
Lolo Pass Road and Old Maid Flats are easy and quick to reach. Call the Zigzag Ranger Station or check online for conditions. There are no fees charged in this vicinity during the winter, but that means there are no services provided either, so roads and parking lots will not be plowed, making for a less-crowded adventure in the snow.
Take Highway 26 up to the Zig Zag Inn. The turn for Lolo Pass Road is across from the Inn and the Ranger Station. Drive north 4 or 5 miles until you see the Forest Service sign marking the entrance to the Mt. Hood Forest, turn right, following signs to Ramona Falls and Road 1825. Park along the road, taking care to not block access by other vehicles. Continue up the road for about half a mile to a gated bridge. Start skiing or snowshoeing just inside the gate or continue up Last Chance Road. There are several out and back options up to 10-12 miles distance inside the gate.
The 1825 Road is the main route in a gentle area unusually flat for mountain terrain. This is a result of Mt. Hood’s last eruption, which happened before the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Debris from this eruption flowed down to settle at Old Maid Flats, resulting in a more open, level space and smaller trees, as older and bigger trees were knocked down. Sunshine can linger here longer, making for great late-afternoon skiing when other trails are dark under their heavier tree canopies.
Though there are intersections on the 1825 Road, they are dead ends. Spurs and loops from the road lead to a few campgrounds which closed for the winter as of October 15th. Again, no fees are charged and no services provided during this season, but you may use the campgrounds.
In warmer times of the year Ramona Falls is a popular destination off Road 1825. However, it is accessed by a seasonal bridge across the Sandy, which is removed each winter. As a result, the route is not marked on ski trail maps. It’s definitely an area for more experienced winter sports enthusiasts. Others will want to go just as far as the Ramona Falls Trailhead, Lost Creek 
Campground or out towards the Riley Horse Camp. All are reached by a very gentle uphill slope, which still makes for an invigorating ski trip back.
Younger children will have a good time at McNeil Campground, to the right of the gate at the Sandy. A couple of hours’ easy skiing or snowshoeing here, and they’ll be ready to mush back to the car.
All of the winter trails in The Villages are snow-level dependent. Always stop by or call the Mt. Hood Information Center for snow level updates and access to these prime locations in The Villages of Mt. Hood. Cell phones do not work in the Old Maid Flats area. Snowmobiles will often use Rd 18, Lolo Pass Rd, when there is enough snow. They cannot go beyond the gated road bridge on the 1825 Rd.
Mt Hood Information Center
24403 E Welches Road, #103
www.MtHood.info
888.622.4822
Special thanks to Mary Ellen Fitzgerald for the information and links in this story.
Mt Hood National Forest links:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mthood/ Main page
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mthood/recreation/winter/current-conditions.shtml for Snow Conditions at each of the Sno-parks
Two good sites to check for weather:
Natural Resource Conservation Service’s snow monitoring site. http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/maps/sitepages/22d03s.html
While not fully representative, the 7-day detailed report has the latest temperature and snow depth on the ground.
National Weather Service, Portland area:
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/
Click just west of Mt Hood on the map that comes up. Look at the elevation for the
forecast - remember Lolo Pass Road is at 2500'.
Road Conditions:
For winter driving information, mainly about traction devices and chains. A must-have when traveling in the Mt Hood area in winter months.
http://167.131.0.179/Pages/RCMap.asp?mainNav=RoadConditions&staticNav=ChainLaws
Ski Maps:
THE must-have map: Ski Tours of Mt Hood, published by Mark Wigg. Available at Mt Hood Information Center.
November/December 2007
Publisher Information
www.mthoodmagazine.com is published by:
Villages of Mt. Hood Tourism Marketing Alliance (501(c)6)
Serving the Villages of Alder Creek, Brightwood, Wemme, Welches, Zigzag and Rhododendron
Post Office Box 819 Welches, OR 97067
503.622.3017, fax 502.622.3163
TheVillages@MtHoodMagazine.com / www.MtHood.info
Our stories are written by Andrée Larson. Andrée grew up in the Portland/Vancouver area. She earned an MA in Art History at the University of Oregon, and writes about the history and culture of people and communities. She’s spent time in Europe and on the East Coast, and says the Pacific Northwest is hands down the best place to live. She currently lives in Tacoma with her husband, an artist..
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