Timberline Trail itinerary
Every published mile marker on the Timberline Trail route, in order, with the distance and elevation change between each one — and which permit each stretch needs. To watch dates and set alerts, go to the Timberline Trail permit page.
Which permit covers this route
The Timberline Trail. One reservation is a trailhead or zone plus an entry date; you roam after that, issued by walk-up.
The permit is issued for a named entry point. Timberline Lodge is the one on this list.
- Stops mapped
- 11
- Across the markers
- 35.0 mi
- Published route length
- 41.5 mi
How long it takes: 3-4 days. That is the figure the permit publishes — this page does not divide the route into days, because no source records which stop you sleep at.
The stops below are the route's published mile markers, in order, with the elevations recorded against each one.
Distance and elevation change on each leg are the difference between the two published figures either side of it, so the legs are arithmetic on the markers and nothing more.
The Timberline Trail route, stop by stop
Mile 0.0
5,942 ft
Timberline Lodge
Entry point — the permit is issued for this trailhead
Historic WPA-era lodge at 6,000 ft. Most popular starting point.
2.5 miles · 1,172 ft down to Zigzag Canyon
Mile 2.5
4,770 ft
Zigzag Canyon
Dramatic 800-foot descent and climb. First major drainage crossing.
2.5 miles to Paradise Park
Mile 5.0
Paradise Park
World-class wildflower meadows with views of Mount Hood and Mount Jefferson.
7.0 miles to Ramona Falls
Mile 12.0
3,442 ft
Ramona Falls
Stunning 120-foot waterfall cascading over columnar basalt.
2.0 miles · 79 ft down to Sandy River Crossing
Mile 14.0
3,363 ft
Sandy River Crossing
Major glacial river crossing. Best attempted before 10am.
2.0 miles · 769 ft up to Muddy Fork Crossing
Mile 16.0
4,132 ft
Muddy Fork Crossing
Challenging crossing with ropes sometimes installed.
4.0 miles · 1,974 ft up to McNeil Point
Mile 20.0
6,106 ft
McNeil Point
Optional 2-mile detour to stone shelter with panoramic views.
4.0 miles · 656 ft down to Elk Cove
Mile 24.0
5,450 ft
Elk Cove
Spectacular alpine meadow on the north flank. Popular camping area.
4.0 miles · 422 ft up to Cloud Cap
Mile 28.0
5,872 ft
Cloud Cap
Historic stone inn (1889). Oldest alpine structure in the Pacific Northwest.
1.0 mile to Eliot Glacier View
Mile 29.0
Eliot Glacier View
Close-up views of Mount Hood's largest glacier.
6.0 miles to Newton Creek Crossing
Mile 35.0
5,388 ft
Newton Creek Crossing
Final major river crossing before return to Lodge.
Getting a Timberline Trail for the dates you want
Planning the route is the easy half. Timberline Trail dates go fast, and the ones that come back are cancellations — they return to the booking system without warning and are gone again quickly. PermitSnag watches Timberline Trail around the clock and alerts you the moment a date opens.