Snowshoeing next to the Salmon River in an old-growth rainforest.
Backpacking in the winter is quite different from ‘regular’ backpacking. There’s a lot of extra gear needed to dig a base for a tent and stay warm overnight while camping on top of snow. While this was my fourth time backpacking in the winter, it was also my last.
I took two friends on their first winter backpacking trip at the White River SnoPark at Mount Hood. We spent one night and snowshoed up Boy Scout Ridge for great views.
To ring in the New Year, we headed to Bennett Pass for a snowshoe hike with views. Just across from the parking lot was Mount Hood with blue skies! A heavy layer of fog covered the surrounding lowlands, including the Hood River Valley.
A bluebird day on Mount Hood: snowshoe from Timberline Lodge to Silcox Hut and higher… towards the top of the Palmer Lift
This is an easy snowshoe hike near Mount Hood. The trail is along a road that is closed in the winter, with the lake and Mount Hood in view about half-way around.
Christmas Eve snowshoe to Lower and Upper Twin Lakes from the Frog Lake SnoPark near Mount Hood: 5.6 miles roundtrip with 875 feet elevation gain.
Crater Lake averages 44 feet of snow each year, and is a great winter snow backpacking location since it’s the only time camping on the rim is allowed.
Snowshoe hike to Tamanawas Falls through the prettiest winter forest of them all. This is an extremely popular location in the winter so go early!
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