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Timberline Lodge
Categories: Hotels & Travel Ski Resorts Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Active Life Ski Resorts, Hotels, Active Life [Edit]
27500 E Timberline RdGovernment Camp, OR 97028
(503) 231-5402
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 7:30 am - 11 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
64 reviews for Timberline Lodge
Review Highlights
"...bar inside serves some local Mount Hood brew that is damn..."
(in 4 reviews)
"The other snow riders are awesome too."
(in 22 reviews)
"This is the best place for beginners at mt."
(in 14 reviews)
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64 reviews in English
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Review from Robert H.
11/9/2011
Timberline Lodge is a peak Northwest American experience Summer and Winter.
In Summer, it's a start point for the around Mt Hood trail. There is much up and down through canyons, so a day hike doesn't get far. At some times, the wildflowers are spectacular.
In Winter, it's a great chill spot in front of the giant fireplaces. The moderate-higher priced food is nice too.
Staying in a room is one of the Northwest's most romantic experiences with a romantic partner. Did I say that's recommended?
Also strongly recommended for visiting relatives and parentals/ grandparentals/ great grandparentals. It was built by the USA during the last depression in the 1930's.
Anytime, be sure to see the making of Timberline Lodge video in an alcove on the main floor. It's only possible to appreciate the lodge with that story of before construction cranes, BCC! That alcove is also filled with fascinating vintage photos and clothing-downhill equipment used in the early days on Mt Hood. That would be before Gortex, not BC or AD - that's BG!
Recommended must visit for NW Oregon! -
Review from Eric B.
10/9/2011
Timberline Lodge is a mountain lodge (and National Historic Landmark) on the south side of Mount Hood. It was built in the late 1930s and sits at an elevation of 5960 feet within the Mount Hood National Forest. It's easily accessible through the Mount Hood Scenic Byway and was a fun place for my Son and I to wander around as part of our recent road trip. The Timberline Lodge also served as the exterior of the Overlook Hotel in The Shining.
The Lodge was constructed between 1936 and 1938 as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project during the Great Depression. Workers used large timbers and local stone, and placed intricately carved decorative elements throughout the building. President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the Lodge on September 28, 1937. The dedication ceremony was five months before the actual completion of the lodge interior and its opening to the public. It took extra expense and effort to make the lodge appear presentable for the dedication. Some things haven't changed politically have they?
I love rustic "National Park" Hotels, and when experiencing the Timberline Lodge, the one at Crater Lake and the Ahwahnee at Yosemite immediately come to mind. Here you also get a year-round Ski Resort on premises and a stunning and cozy common interior area (including 2nd Level Bar). The Room prices are also affordable enough for a special trip that I'm sure Gayle might enjoy. And what a wonderful place this would be to get snowed in! But since this is the Pacific Northwest, the opportunity to view Mt. Hood in all it's glory might be a little problematic. -
Review from Richard S.
New York, NY
9/29/2011 2 photos
Drove up to Timberline Lodge from Portland in a matter of minutes (it seemed like, because it's such a nice drive, and the world changes so quickly) and I was kind of shocked that I could park for free next to a cliff (use your parking brake!) and walk around the lodge and explore to my heart's content. There is no naked crazy woman with rotting flesh in Room 237, though, so I'll save you that dead end, if you're so inclined. In fact, only the exterior of TL was used in The Shining-- Kubrick probably never even got closer to this place than New York City. The interiors of The Shining were all sets built in a studio in England-- which in my opinion-- building sets like that-- is a lot more disturbing than typing a stack of pages saying nothing but "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."
You can hike right up a trail behind the lodge directly toward Mount Hood, as ill-equipped and foolhardy as you like. At some point there is a little sign where you are asked to fill out a wilderness permit, mainly so they have your name and address in case they need to identify the body. I guess people take off into the wilderness all the time, like I did, with a camera and no water, get lost and eventually perish. The peak of Mount Hood looks so close that you think you can reach out an touch it, or at least hike up there in an hour, but it's actually another mile straight up-- much bigger and farther away than it appears.
It's a little hard to get the feeling of seclusion with thousands of snowboarders all around, but just a few miles up the trail you can be pretty much alone-- AND walk in snow, in the middle of summer! The lodge itself has a lot of history you can read about while visiting, probably buy a coffee table book or something. More thrilling though is an outdoor pool-- which I imagine must be heated. I would like to stay here in the winter sometime, maybe get up really early in the morning and walk around, pretend I'm the caretaker, snowed in, all alone.Listed in: Portland TRIP
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Review from Erica M.
Sandy, OR
2/7/2012
Wedding event lady Chandra was rude and cleanly not a people person, I could not stand her (and no one else could in my family either). She ran the wedding stuff like it was the army. I was so dissatisfied with her rudeness we decided to get married at our own house. On the plus side I love Timberline aside from Chandra (although drinks are expensive-but your paying for the view anyways). My fiancee and I had our first date at the Ram's Head so it will always have a special place in my heart. It's a shame that we could not stand Chandra (there is some other lady that can assist you-we felt it would be too uncomfortable to switch so I would start with the other lady).
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Review from TJ E.
Portland, OR
1/31/2012
I went up on a Monday to enjoy 7" of fresh powder. I haven't been here in 5 years and like the new entry way. I was able to drop my board off for a hot wax, get my lift ticket and change into my riding clothes pretty easily. I appreciated the complimentary board check. However, I was very disappointed and puzzled about why the Magic Mile, one of the uppermost lifts wasn't opened, especially since it was calm and the sun appeared by mid-morning. I got some easy turns in taking multiple laps on a weekday and found lots of freshies and long groomers, but kept longing for drier snow or steeper terrain. Most of the tree riding was too flat to be enjoyable on a board.
I enjoyed my meal at the Black Iron Grill and my post ride hot chocolate at the Ram's Head Bar with an awesome view of Mt. Jefferson and the Three Sisters. It was like being on top of the world looking southwards, and feeling very small seeing the peak of Mt. Hood looking northwards. -
Review from Monique N.
Portland, OR
I absolutely love coming out here!! you guys have to visit the lounge on the 3rd floor and order the hot chocolate with Rum (if you drink) it is simply amazing.. especially when your coming off the life or finish playing in the snow..
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Review from Tonia S.
San Diego, CA
12/18/2011
We went in December. didn't stay at the hotel, but went to the lodge to take pictures. It was absolutely stunning with views worthy of paintings. The food in the lounge is delicious! Drinks were so good. We wanted to stay and linger for hours. Fabulous place to visit and a must see if you go to ski bowl or are close by.
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Review from Kuei-yin L.
Beaverton, OR
1/18/2012
Happen time: 01/15/2012 19:45PM
I come from Taiwan and I recently went to timberline ski area located on Mount Hood. It was a bad trip. I stored my belongings in a locker that they have there so my belonging would not be taken. When we were leaving, I went to my locker that I had paid seven dollars for to notice that my belongings were stolen. I quickly went to the closest worker and told them the situation hoping to get some help with getting my belongings back but the attitude they gave me was unbelievable. They simply told me, "That's never happened before." They did not aid us in helping find my stuff back so we called the local cops in the area to get some help from then. The answer from the police was that they were busy. I had my passport, money, ID, cell phones and a ton of important belongings I stored in the locker but they were stolen. The worker's and police did nothing to help me get my stuff back so therefore I cannot go back to Taiwan. The attitude they gave me was unacceptable. They even told us to hurry up and turn in a report because they were closing. They gave us no sympathy and showed no effort in trying to get my belongings back. What I think of timberline lodge? I am never going back. The attitude they give you is unacceptable. They do not care about you only about getting off work.
I'm sad.I don't believe this is Timberline how they handle the customer. -
Review from Brad C.
8/29/2011
The word that kept coming to mind at Timberline Lodge was massive.
Everything from the front door to the primary support structure and walls was oversized and hand done. We spent the afternoon in the main lodge area admiring the intricate wood carvings and northwest WPA paintings adorning the walls.
This was the first time I had been to Timberline Lodge during the summer and it has a much more introverted appearance without all of the snow hugging the massive frame.
The whole lodge itself seems to revolve around the towering stone hearth that rises through the middle of the structure and ties the whole space together. The entries and exits all have their own unique relationship to the surrounding landscape that make the vistas unique.
In any other setting I would say this is type of building is way overdone but standing in the shadow of Mt. Hood and overlooking the other mountains and forests it seems more than appropriate. -
Review from John H.
Good prices for season passes if you buy early. Close to home and I think it has good terrain for snowboarders. I have tried medows before and always had to take my snowboard off and walk because of all the flat spots. Since Timberline opened Jeff flood, there is so much more runs that my legs get tired after a few runs.
Its cool and all that the hotel is a part of history, but the walls are paper thin. Unless you have earplugs, heavy sleeper, or there is nobody else staying on your floor then I would stay somewhere else.
The restaurant always has something good on the menu and always changing. Friendly staff and good atmosphere. -
Review from Patti F.
3/30/2011
I didn't ski Timberline, I didn't stay at Timberline, so I just drank at Timberline.
The views = breathtaking, provided it's not snowing. Best views are from the top floor, and that's good because THAT is where the bar is ;-)
Not a huge beer selection, wine - um, no, but they make a lot of mixers, especially hot ones loaded with whip cream (if that's your thing). Me, I always do beer, and there's usually a local microbrew out there that's yummy. Seating is limited when the lifts close, and I imagine it's a zoo at lunch. My advice: for the drink/snack types out there, make this a late-afternoon Sunday trip (7 p.m. ish is good)
This is a beautiful lodge, woodwork is gorgeous. -
Review from Mike K.
1/10/2011
I'm rating Timberline solely as a ski area...I use the bar and the restaurant so rarely that I don't feel I should rate them. Timberline is my favorite ski area (and I've been to about a dozen in my life).
What makes it so great? Is it the terrain? No. The weather? Hardly. The long season? Well, that doesn't hurt, but I'm pretty much a Dec-Apr snowboarder. So what is it?
It's the people. The lifties are great; they're good people and into their job. The other snow riders are awesome too. They always have a kind word or helpful hint. To sum it all up in a phrase, cool people ride Timberline.Listed in: Parks
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Review from Jason G.
8/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Okay lodge and hiked up a mile.
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Review from Rebecca W.
Portland, OR
Updated - 12/20/2010 1 Check-in Here
I would like to update my review to 10 stars. The new chef at Timberline is outstanding. Our brunch yesterday was Michelin star-worthy, and yet cost about what the worst nachos I've ever bought cost at Mt. Hood Meadows.
With the new lower lift accessing Still Creek, it's possible to make fresh tracks all weekend. With the fusion pass we can shred the gnarl on the backside of Ski Bowl when conditions permit, while lines are a hundred deep at Meadows.
Also, there's been many renovation/rehabilitations recently. Thanks in part to $timulu$.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/16/2009
I love Timberline Lodge. When I came here as a Hobbit-reading lass (ages ago) I knew I had found the… Read more »
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Review from Faye m.
1/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is the first ski lodge we went to during our Christmas vacation, and I think everyone enjoyed themselves here!
My brother, his son, little cousin, and myself had a 2 hour private snowboarding lesson with Daniel Towne. We would have done a group lesson, but both my nephew & cousin are too young (under 10) to take any kind of lesson, unless it's private. But they did have a good time - Daniel was so patient with all of us: we had never snowboarded before, so he had to start with the very basics - attaching the board to our shoes, standing up, etc. We loved it so much that we are now planning another snowboarding trip very soon!!
The other family members cruised up at the lodge and found stuff to do/see while our lesson was going on.
A definite "return visit" was agreed upon by all!! -
Review from Madeline G.
Long Beach, CA
8/23/2011
This place was awesome. We only stopped by for twenty minutes...but what I saw was a gorgeous piece of history. I loved reading up on the brochures from this historical monument. The best part was being able to play in the snow in July. This would be a very romantic place to stay in and my friend said the hotel rooms are amazing. The fireplaces in the winter would be the best. Everyone should stop by Timberline and check it out. It is truly breathtaking.
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Review from Kimmy C.
10/8/2010
This is the place where my boyfriend took me =) The best thing about this ski lodge was that it felt like a huge home. There were so many fireplaces. It was really cute and close to the ski resort. Some of these rooms have fireplaces in them. We weren't able to get one of those rooms because they were all booked.
We decided to go shoe shoeing instead of snowboarding. They pointed us to the trail and we couldn't figure out where to go and got lost on the slopes and the skiers and boarders probably thought we were crazy.
I would recommend this place as the perfect family vacation away in the winter.Listed in: Portland's deliciousness
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Review from Tanna E.
Portland, OR
10/27/2010 7 Check-ins Here
I ski here in the winter and sometimes stay the night. They have a nice big heated pool and hot tub. They have shuffle board in the game/movie room.
The food is excellent, the lodge is cozy, and the skiing is great!
If the Ram's Head bar was open more I would go everytime! I wonder if they even open it??
I like the bar on the 3rd floor too, it's beautiful. The dining area on the 2nd floor has pretty good food!
Christmas day is a good day to come up too! I could go on and on... -
Review from Brendan W.
Seattle, WA
7/30/2011
Timberline is an amazing experience, a chance to walk into a piece of living history. It's a pricey walk, but worth it for the occasional splurge. The hotel is well known for the amazing architecture and interior finishes, so this review focuses on the overall experience as a guest. I'm not a skier, so this review is just about the overnight stay.
Would-be guests should pack some knowledge of the hotel, its history, and its location. This is an old hotel that has been preserved very much as it was built. The rooms have never been kept as much original as possible, and never "upgraded." Critically, this means there is essentially no soundproofing, so you an easily hear other guests talking in conversational tones in adjacent rooms. This is fine if you are prepared for it, and if your neighbors are respectful. The last time I stayed at the lodge, unfortunately, one rude guest actually moved the four-foot tall sign indicating "quiet hours" were in force, and then encouraged his toddler to run screaming down the hall. During quiet hours.
Certainly one highlight of a stay includes dinner in the Cascade Dining room. Pricey? Definitely. But for the big bucks you get sophisticated meal with straightforward service. I had a very perfectly cooked Tri Tip steak, with just the right amount of hunky taste left from the smoking process. It certainly rivaled most steakhouses for the quality of the meat, and the presentation surpassed what you'd get in a fancy big-city restaurant. This is a real accomplishment for a dining room in a fairly remote lodge.
Another great point is the large, deep pool. Most hotels these days have postage stamp of shallow pond, shoved off to a corner. The Timberline pool is 10 and-a-half feet deep, and is well situated on the west side of the building, where it gets great sun for most of the day. We swam on a warm summer day, and it was a delight to swim and enjoy the amazing Timberline views.
The relatively small size of the lodge and its remote location means that the restaurants and bars do not have huge menus. I chuckled at the hubris of the complaint about the lack of burgers and fries. This is an expensive lodge with a limited menu. They don't do burgers and fries. If you want to order custom meals that are not on the menu, your expectations will be better met at a large hotel in a major city. Such requests are pretty difficult to meet in an old-school resort tucked on the side of a snowbound mountain.
In short, if you like good food, are a fan of Arts and Crafts design, and are excited about staying overnight in one of the finest living museums of that period, start putting away some money for an unforgettable night at Timberline. If you don't want to deal with the hassles of museum life, your money is better spent at a more modern resort. -
Review from Mel B.
2/14/2010
Redrum! Redrum!
I couldn't get that damn word out of my mind as we walked up to the famous Timberline Lodge. It's majestic, natural beauty came second fiddle to the images of Shelly Duval running through the trees in the middle of the night being chased by Jack Nicholson. Damn you Stephen King!
While we weren't overnight guests at the lodge, and can't comment on the rooms and other hotel amenities, the lobby and restaurant were enough to entertain for an afternoon.
We had a small lunch at the bar/restaurant on the top floor. The food was good, not great. Our server was friendly, but was spread a bit thin as we had to ask for water refills both times. The prices were reasonable and we left pretty satisfied. The view is fantastic!
The hotel layout was a bit interesting. A bit maze like which made it a tad bit creepy. Beautiful nonetheless, with lots of local art on the walls.
Lift tickets were only $60 for the whole day and the lifts are literally steps away from the hotel entrance.Listed in: Keep Portland Weird
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Review from Barbara D.
Chicago, IL
12/23/2008 10 photos
After a 6 hour drive from Portland (which should have been a one hour drive) due to a snow blizzard, chain malfunctions, bad directions, you name it, we arrived here right in time for the ski lifts to close. GREAT!
Well, we decided to spend the night at the lodge. What other choice did we have?
This is where the Shining was filmed afterall and somehow the majestic, old beauty of this building covered in snow was too good to pass up.
Plus, we got a sweet deal of $225 for a night and free lift tickets for 2 the next day.
This lodge has so much to offer. There are little nooks and crannies with tons of old pictures, original old artifacts, a room with a ping pong table & shuffle board, movie theatre, three restaurants, fireplaces where we sat and played board games that the front desk provided, a bar that made outstanding hot chocolate + your choice of liquor. We ended up watching the Shining on the big screen (just ask them to play it for you) and sharing a pitcher of beer before we went to sleep in the cozy, wooden room.
Also, I would not recommend this:
We ran out into the hot tub in the middle of the snow storm and then were too chicken to get back out into the freezing cold, all while the ice crystals are slapping us in the face. If you're gonna do it, wrap a towel around your head so you don't form icycles on your hair. Painfully bad idea to go out there half naked in the blizzard. What were we thinking?
I do have to comment that this place is a bit spooky. Really, I don't believe in ghosts or the afterlife, but man, you can really hear each distinct footstep and floor board crackling above you, see shadows as people walk by and hear voices down the hall. All of this, of course, is actual workers or other guests in different areas of the lodge but since the place has such a weird maze-like design, by the time you get to where you think they are, there is no one there anymore. It creeped me out. Oh and the fire alarm kept going off, a good 3 or 4 times, in the middle of the night.
I recommend staying here at least once, I do not think you can get the same experience from just visiting in between hitting the slopes.
But, I think it's wonderful how they treat the skiers that are not staying here like one of their guests.
A major plus is that you walk out the front door, put your skies on and down the mountain you go. The lifts literally drop you back off next to the lodge's front door. And you can access green runs to black diamonds from here.
Oh, and they were nice enough to dig our car (and everyone's) out of the pile of snow that covered it overnight so we could leave the next day. I was starting to get worried that we would get stranded there because of the non-stop heavy snow fall. And they also did a good job clearing off the road down the mountain so we could get home. Timberline has the longest ski season in the US, I could see why.
*see picsListed in: PORTLAND
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Review from mel r.
Emeryville, CA
4/9/2008
Even though, mileage wise, it's not too far from downtown Portland, the trek takes awhile, as you've got to pass through towns and slow ass drivers. However, once you get to that Timberline turnoff, you start getting the shakes-SO CLOSE!!!
Cool thing about this place is that the runs start by the lodge. You pay for your ticket, walk out, strap up and go.
The runs are long and not too crazy; some of the blue runs are more like greens and the greens, you'll need a push because they're s-l-o-w. I have yet to be here when Miracle Mile is open, but it looks to be one great all blue open run that probably gets loaded with powder. For the truly adventurous, you can pay extra to have a snow cat take you to the nose bleed section of the mountain -
Review from Ajia T.
Portland, OR
11/11/2008
Just to get it out of the way, I'll admit that I've loved the movie, "The Shining," since I was about 8 years old. Jack made me laugh every time, as did those rascal twins that kept popping out in the hallway. Combine that love affair with my obsession with mountains and it's no wonder I'm a sucker for Timberline. I'm ashamed to admit that I haven't skied since I was a kid, so no report for the slopes in this review. Still, it's a hella impressive site for out-of-town visitors, despite the dependable cloud cover that obscures our beloved local peak.
The view of the valleys below is pretty sweet, though, and if it's clear to the south, you can usually see the Three Sisters. Inside, I always dig on the massive fireplace and cushy seating, as well as the hot cocoa, good grub, and brews at the Ram's Head. Try the huckleberry BBQ pulled pork sandwich, if they have it. The twisting halls of historic memorabilia are interesting to trek through, learning about antiquated ski gear and Native American calendars.
I'm pretty sure the best part of going to Timberline is visiting Bruno, the Saint Bernard, in the Gift/Gear Shop. The latest living version of this lodge legend is only 18-months old and probably weighs at least 100 lbs already. He's completely irresistible and is sure to give you a sloppy wet one if you pet him nicely. -
Review from Tiffany S.
Seattle, WA
8/30/2009
I am not kidding when I tell you that the historic timeline in the display case on the main floor reads 1980: Exterior of the film "The Shinning."
The SHINNING!
I could NOT believe it. I didn't want to be the 550th person that day to walk up like a big jerk and say "Excuse me, but the possibly most pertinent reason so many people have heard of this place is spelled WRONG on your timeline, and it would take like two seconds to fix but you apparently haven't bothered to in who knows how many years."
(Not to mention it's disrespectful to Stanley Kubrick, his fine film, AND Stephen King all in one shot!)
So I didn't do that, but we did take a picture and sent it to all our friends who would have been equally mortified.
But this was all after one of the best burgers I've ever had in my life so what did I really have to complain about? Chris partook of the $15 buffet (a HUGE bargain), and he enjoyed it immensely. The local focus that week was the Oregon potato farmer - no, we couldn't have hit hazelnuts or marionberries - potato! I was not interested in desserts derived from the potato so I went with the burger instead (which was served with fries which, ironically, were not part of the potato-focused buffet. Hunh.).
So fun to see folks all suited up for a ski or snowboard run in August. We'd go back, any time of year, in a heartbeat.
Once they fix that timeline, of course. -
Review from Evan R.
Portland, OR
3/23/2010 1 Check-in Here
Timberline is a great place to visit, ski and have a good time. The hotel is historic and has about the same ammenities as Yellowstone Lodge or Crater Lake. Think rustic cabin. After all this is a ski lodge too. That is not to say that the lodge is not beautiful, it certainly is. The rooms are a little on the small side but still fun. If you are lucky enough to get a fireplace room, you have some of the best in the house. Bathrooms are minimal but hey you are right on the mountain steps away from great skiing, so its all good.
The Rams Head bar is great, and so is the bar in the day lodge. Skip the food in the day lodge grill and either eat in the bar or in the old lodge. Dinner in the main dining room is fantastic, more than likely the best food to be had on the mountain. And a wine list that is as deep as Hood is tall. The main dining room also has a killer deal on breakfast, way better than the day lodge. Adults are $13 and kids are 8 or something close to that. Huge buffet breakfast with fresh OJ included.
The pool and the hot tub are worth the stay alone and the sauna is hidden below but worth a stop after a long day skiing. Just becareful running from the Hot tub to the pool or anywhere around there, it can be icy!
Only complaint would be the breakfast server we had for our table was clueless, took her 3 requests before she remembered my tea and our mimosas. -
Review from Justin C.
2/27/2009
What a great place. Warm, cozy, and nicely decorated, the Timberline Lodge makes you feel at home. Service is friendly and casual, and the surroundings are arguably some of the most stunningly majestic in the Pacific Northwest.
Absolutely beautiful views. -
Review from Krista T.
New York, NY
7/25/2007
Sllllow and low. that is the tempo.
man, these kids really had no where to be. nothing to do. no hurry. i'm busy people! pick up the pace! the kids that worked there were crackin me up cause i working on location up there (with a photo crew from LA) and we were busy. and not real patient. so it was hilarious that they were just kinda chillin. they were very nice though, so it was all good.
ever stayed in silcox hut? been to timberline a million times and never been in there. its very cool. its up above the lodge and it sleeps about 20 (25?) in this bunk room that walled with huge rocks. very rustic. upstairs has a huge dining room with bar and a cozy fireplace. i have no idea how to rent it since we booked for it a shoot, but if you wanna have a party on the mountain...i suggest the hut.Listed in: Places where I've made a…
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Review from Nisha D.
San Francisco, CA
9/23/2008
I just went about two weeks ago, so it was definite off season and the only week of the entire year that the ski lift was closed. Even so, it's not hard to imagine how wonderful the lodge must look covered in snow. The beautiful WPA building has a lot of history behind it and I would recommend taking the tour if you get a chance. (If you don't, remember that all the furniture is original)!
We had lunch in the main dining area, and it was absolutely wonderful. I got the fritters (only veggie option) and was totally taken aback by how good it was. Better be for the price I was paying. Service was quick and personal, but it was also off-season; don't take my word for it when you go during the ski season. -
Review from LeSLiE W.
Portland, OR
8/29/2007 3 photos
Stop 1 on our trip to Portland was up Mt. Hood to the Timberline Lodge. A friend had mentioned that the Hood to Coast run was on so we were somewhat prepared for the massive amounts of runners and ridiculously decorated minivans in the huge parking lot below the ski lodge.
We wandered through the lodge (which was sparse and somewhat gross in typical ski lodge fashion) and took a short hike up the "hill" to get a closer look at the summer (rock) skiers. It was great to get out in real fresh air and the view from "the hill" was lovely. We didn't even mind the auditory stylings of Justin Timberlake wafting up to us from the parking lot. (Well... OK... we kinda did.)
So after tooling around the hill for a bit we ended up in the Lodge for what was to the first of many beers to come over the course of the weekend. The interior decor around the giant rock fire place was very rustic and cool and I loved the huge wood beams and planked floor.
The bar menu was a little light but the menu for the main dining room was extensive and sounded wonderful. But alas, we had to move on.
Cool place, though.Listed in: Portland, Baby!
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Review from Zakk D.
San Jose, CA
8/9/2008 1 photo
I have no idea why this is "located" over by the Borders Bookstore in downtown Portland, but I just you just have to roll with it.
After 800+ inches last year, I'm sitting in my motel room after spending all day snowboarding...on August freaking ninth.
Yes, the runs aren't perfect, their black diamonds are more like a wide and easy blue, but its the middle of August and I'm cruising down a mountain. I don't care what it is, where it is, or how easy it is. I'll cruise all day listening to the snow under my board and the wind howl in my helmet.
Great place to visit to get away from the California sunshine and continue the Endless Winter.Listed in: Shred the GNAR!!
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Review from Will L.
10/3/2008
My dad decided to learn how to ski. He's approaching 70, and is helping redefine to me what it means to 'get old.' Even with gray hair and a lifetime twice as long as my own, he's still out enjoying himself. Pretty inspiring, especially when I wake up and my back is stiff and I'm walking around bent over like an old man.
I drove down south to Mt. Hood to meet him and his crew at the Timberline Lodge. In July. The Lodge is built up at the end of the road, as close to the top of Mt. Hood as any roads go. Thanks to the height of the mountain, there is still skiing through the summer, though it can be slushy and limited.
There is a lower lodge that is a bit more modern to relieve the crowds on the original lodge. I wandered up through this, thankful for a warm path to follow. Stupidly I forgot my windbreaker jacket and gloves. Sometimes my brain amazes me.
I finally got up to the main lodge, which is a beautiful old building. Made of stone and wood by the WPA in the late 30s/early 40s, the Timberline Lodge is a piece of American history. There is a film inside that details the construction of the lodge, and it is pretty phenomenal. The main tower is several stories high.
I met my dad and his crew in the bar/restaurant area. We ordered food and beer, and visited. He unfortunately had twisted his knee while skiing, at the bottom of a hill, after a really successful day. Turns out the techs had tightened up his bindings too much for his level and age. Whoops! They gave him a pretty substantial gift certificate to come back for it, though.
Anyway, a pretty cool, historic place to stay and get some skiing in. -
Review from Joel B.
San Jose, CA
3/12/2008
AWESOME! There's a huge mountain ski resort smack in the middle of downtown Portland! If only I could locate it. Seriously, I'm downtown all the time and I can never find that 11,249 foot mountain anywhere near 538 Madison Street. It must be subterranean...
Anyway, needless to say the real Timberline isn't located downtown, it's actually around an hour and a half away, but it's pretty sweet because it stays open very late into the year and has some really good pass deals. Lots of different terrain and they opened a huge new area this year. I will be exploring it plenty in the coming months because I just bought a spring pass. Yeeeeah! -
Review from Josh W.
3/4/2010 1 photo
T-line has some AWESOME riding at the top of Mt. Hood. My wife and I have been avid fans of Meadows for a long time. One day up, we about had a RAZ buss slide out and hit us. Not to mention the long lines on the way there of backed up cars.
So to shorten the drive a few minutes, we decided to hit T-line one day. This place has TONS of riding for every skill level. Last time we went, it was the first run of the season and our boards were due for a wax. We dropped them off for $10 each and went to eat lunch. Came back 30 min later and they were ready to go, as were we. The boards rode swiftly after that, and we had a blast!!
At the top of stormin' Norman if you take a right and go about 200 yards, there's a natural halfpipe off the beaten path. IT IS SO MUCH FUN. I've never road that horizontally before haha. When we want a really long ride, we can go to the top of Norman, and ride it all the way to the bottom of the Jeff Flood Express. All the main runs have high speed chairs, which is nice. Lots of jumps and parks as well. Give it a run you'll love it!!! -
Review from Chris E.
Portland, OR
5/16/2011
OK, the lodge and the snow is amazing and beautiful, but we were completely unimpressed with the service in the lodge bar area. The Servers couldn't have cared less about our business, the menu was unimpressive and expensive. We left without ordering. And the other, more casual skiiers bar was closed, which made no sense on an extremely busy Sunday afternoon. We left saying that we probably wouldn't return for anything more than skiing.
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Review from Gusty S.
San Francisco, CA
11/29/2007
Hooray for Timberline being open so I could get some of that "gotta snowboard now! now! now!" feeling out of my system.
I used to snowboard here a lot when I was local, and I remember it being icy, but not too steep and good for a fun day almost year round. I went in the very early season, so conditions were as expected. I had fun until my MP3 player died, then I went home.
The Columbia River Gorge is windy, you kids should put on a jacket. -
Review from nam h.
Portland, OR
3/23/2007
Timberline is a must visit anytime of the year.
This is the best place for beginners at mt.Hood. The runs are always groomed perfectly, the instructors are great and they rent better equipment than at meadows. It's also less crowded so you'll have more time riding down the mountain.
The parks are also lots of fun. Tons of kickers and rails. -
Review from Greg W.
Portland, OR
3/19/2009
The Timberline ski area is one of only a few ski resorts in North America that has terrain above the treeline.
Because of this, the views are incredible during the nice bluebird days, but the experience can also be adversely affected by high winds during stormy days.
The grooming here is excellent, the lifts are usually opened quickly after a storm and the resort in general is well run.
Timberline is unique in that it is open longer than most resorts in North America. The Palmer snowfield is still going in July. Because of this, the US snowboard team trains here in the summer.
The public can also ride here in the summer, but they are typically relegated to a 25 yard wide strip on the snowfield.
The major drawback to this resort is that there is almost no advanced level terrain. An accomplished rider will have fun for a few hours, than quickly realize that they are bored. Conversely, this is a great place for beginners and families with young kids.
If you are staying in Government Camp, there is a track that you can ride all the way back to town on.
If you are going to visit here in the winter, pay attention to road conditions as the road up to the lodge is long, steep and slick. Bring chains if you don't have four wheel drive.
I would only recommend this as a destination resort if you are also planning to stay at the historic Timberline Lodge. -
Review from Yan M.
San Francisco, CA
8/13/2007
This is a beautiful lodge and it is a National Historic Landmark. The park ranger at Vista Point recommended us to go visit this lodge, because it was built during the Depression by several artists who are very proud of their work. We agree. The lodge itself must be packed with skiers and vacationers in the winter time but as for the summer time, there were many people just lounging around, dining and admiring Mt Rainer in a distance from terrace of this lodge. It was a very homely feel and definitely great for chilling out with a hot cocoa. There were snow at Mt Hood and snowboarders going down the slopes, interesting since this is again, summer time!
The ski lifts were running which takes people up for a ride to one of the highest points of Mt Hood during the summer time. -
Review from Will M.
Los Angeles, CA
4/28/2008 1 photo
I was glad to able to snowboard in late April up here in the Portland area, usually the snow in California (Tahoe or Mammoth) is gone by April and most resorts close down. For me the best part of this ski resort was the lack of people! It was MUCH less crowded than in California. The runs were also wide by California standards. This resort isn't that large (only about 1600 acres) but what it lacks in size it makes up with sheer vertical drop! The top part of the lifts were closed but even so the drop was over 2500 feet (I hear in winter the drop is over 3500 feet). Maybe it was a fluke, but this mountain has won me over on my first visit, and I may have to consider adding this resort to the ones I visit during winter.
Stats: 1650 acres, 41 trails, 10 ski liftsListed in: SNOW!!!
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Review from Catie L.
Columbus, OH
12/28/2008 3 photos
Beautiful rustic lodge. Big fireplaces, nice dinning and food. plenty of trails and views of the mountain. This place is very clean, nice facilities. A little pricey for the place, but it is the times. When there the 2nd week in December there was no snow, just a little up on the top of Mt. Hood. When I go back in January I hope to see snow.
The service was good and people were friendly. The bar tender makes a good strong Irish coffee it had me buzzing with one, and the 2nd just mellowed me out. If you go you have to try the white chili it is an adventure for the palate. YUM. So go if you have a chance and enjoy yourself.
