Timberline To Rhododendron

Government Camp, OR, US

Route Overview

15 mi.

236 ft.

Some trails have historical significance, and others are fun to ride — but combine the two, and you have something truly special. The Timberline to Town Trail not only highlights some critical moments in Oregon’s history, but it’s also a blast, starting at treeline on the state’s most iconic mountain and descending 4,400 feet through an increasingly lush landscape.

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Route Details

**Editor’s note:** Snow frequently sticks around into the summer on high-elevation trails, and riding around snow can cause damage such as compaction and erosion. Please review this example route conditions flier from July 2017 about respectful riding from the USFS Mt. Hood district. If you’d like to be involved with maintaining this trail, visit the [Northwest Trail Alliance](http://nw-trail.org/get-involved/trail-teams/).

# Route Details 
This route can be shuttled using inexpensive public transportation in the form of the Mt. Hood Express, which comes equipped with a bike trailer. Parking is available at the shuttle pick-up zone in Rhododendron, located across the street from Mt. HoodFoods (a great place to grab some last-minute supplies). The Mt. Hood Express runs regularly seven days a week. Find the Express Route eastbound schedule at <http://www.mthoodexpress.com/schedule-map>.

After a 35-minute shuttle ride, you’ll disembark at @poi[Timberline Lodge](4570707). Built in the 1930s by the Works Progress Administration, Timberline Lodge is a national historic building that shows off massive hand-hewn timbers and hand-forged fasteners in a muscular display of the era's architecture. Before you jump on the trail, it’s worth it to spend a half-hour wandering through the lodge and admiring its six massive fireplaces while you sip on a coffee drink from the cafe. Conversely, you can consider staying the night at Timberline Lodge, with its restaurant and soaking pool overlooking the mountain, so you can start your day fresh.

Once your curiosity has been satisfied, head west from the lodge toward the bottom of the Magic Mile chairlift, where the @point[Timberline to Town Trail](d,175.47) kicks off. A rolling start quickly gives way to a flowing descent that goes on for many miles, twisting and turning through the trees at a moderate grade. You’ll encounter several intersections about 6 miles in, so we recommend downloading the route to your navigation device for quick reference. If you're feeling like taking your vacation to the limit then hop off the trail and into Government Camp for a quick bite and drink at Mt. Hood Brewing.

On the trail, you'll brush up against Glacier View Road and flow into @point[Pioneer Bridle Trail #795](d,11093.02), stepping even farther back into the state’s history. When the early Oregon pioneers arrived from the east on their way to the Willamette Valley, they faced their most difficult challenge: the Cascade Mountains.  They could risk the expensive and dangerous journey of floating their possessions down the untamed Columbia River, or they could take a steep toll route over the southern flanks of Mt. Hood. The trail you are now riding is part of the historic route for the latter option. You can imagine the difficulty these travelers faced when, exhausted after months on the Oregon 
Trail, they were forced to gamble on the final push, sometimes having to winch their wagons down slopes that were too steep for their oxen.

Fortunately, your modern mountain bike is a much better option for plying the route. The trail starts out smooth, but gets more difficult as you descend. Loamy single-track turns into loose, rocky segments that turn back into fast trail with plenty of optional airtime along the way. Just when you think you can’t hold onto your bars any longer, the trail levels out and takes you across Highway 26. @slice[A mixture of fun, fast single- and double-track return you to Rhododendron.](d,17521.88,24615.22)

# Riding Season 
The route is open from late spring through fall, but specific dates vary significantly depending on snowpack from the previous winter. Please wait until melt-out to ride higher elevation trails. If you visit early or late in the season, you can take the Mt. Hood Express to the village of Government Camp and ride the Pioneer Bridle Trail section back to Rhododendron.

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Timberline To Rhododendron

Route Overview

Route Details

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