Mount Hood is Oregon's highest peak at 11,239 feet, a dormant volcano that dominates the skyline east of Portland. Snow-capped for most of the year, the mountain is surrounded by the vast Mount Hood National Forest and is the state's most popular outdoor destination.
In winter, Timberline Lodge — a magnificent WPA-era stone and timber building that served as the exterior of the Overlook Hotel in The Shining — offers skiing nearly year-round on the Palmer Snowfield. Mount Hood Meadows and Ski Bowl provide additional terrain. In summer, the mountain draws hikers, climbers, and mountain bikers; the Timberline Trail circumnavigates the peak in about 40 miles and passes through wildflower meadows with views of glaciers and deep river canyons.
The small towns along the way — Government Camp, Welches, Rhododendron — cater to outdoor visitors with gear shops, brewpubs, and cabin rentals. Mount Hood is close enough to Portland (about 90 minutes by car) that many locals treat it as a weekend backyard, and visitors to the city should not miss the drive out.