Stretching from the Oregon-Washington border on the Columbia River and extending south to snow-capped Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Hood National Forest has long been popular with Oregonians looking to get out in nature. The hiking opportunities are hard to beat, with miles of trails traversing over a million acres of wilderness, plus plenty of options for camping, rafting, horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing, and boating. Winters are equally magical, and popular activities include skiing, snowboarding, and even just relaxing by the fire at the historic Timberline Lodge in the Mount Hood town of Government Camp. 

• Best for whitewater rafters: Roaring River Campground is close to excellent rapids fed by the nearby Clackamas River.
• Best for hot springs fans: Bagby Campground gets you easy access to some of Oregon’s most popular hot springs.
• Best for peace-seeking campers: Meditation Point (Timothy Lake) Campground offers walk-in and boat-in tent sites at a lake.

1. Many campgrounds are available on a first-come, first-served (FCFS) basis and can fill up on weekends. If you need a weekend site, you’ll have better luck showing up on Friday evening than on Saturday morning.   
2. Plan ahead of time. Reservable campsites, cabins, and yurts open up six months in advance, at 7am Pacific daily, and can be reserved online.
3. Check with the US Forest Service for last-minute cancellations. 
4. Reservable sites sometimes open up at the last minute. Hipcamp campgrounds, RV parks, and lodges provide alternative camping options in the area.

Mt. Hood National Forest is at its most pleasant between the months of July and September, when temperatures tend to be warm and rainfall is limited. If you want good weather without the crowds, come after Labor Day, when Oregon kids are back in school. However, be aware that August and September are wildfire season, and if the risk is high, your campsite reservation may get canceled. May and June are also possibilities for visits, but you’re more likely to encounter rainfall and some parts of the forest may still be blanketed with snow.

• Always check for road closures before heading out. Snowfall, landslides, fires, and road construction can lead to area closures.
• Fire bans are common in this area, particularly in summer, and may extend to propane stoves and other cooking devices. Consider packing food that doesn’t require cooking.
• Be prepared to pack in what you pack out, and don’t forget garbage bags. While there are plenty of campgrounds with amenities such vault toilets, drinking water, and RV hookups in Mt. Hood National Forest, many others are primitive and lack facilities for waste disposal.
• Warm days don’t mean warm nights. Temperatures can drop drastically after dark, particularly in areas of higher elevation.
• Download offline maps before you leave. Cell service can be spotty in much of Mt. Hood National Forest.