The buried forest from the viewpoint (bobcat)

View from west of the White River on the Timberline Trail (Jerry Adams)

• Hikes containing this destination:
  • Buried Forest Overlook Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)
  • Mount Hood Meadows via White River Canyon Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)
  • Timberline Trail around Mount Hood Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)
  • Boy Scout Ridge Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)
  • White River Loop Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)
  • Boy Scout Ridge Snowshoe Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)

• Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
• Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
• Latitude, Longitude: 45.33107, -121.70330
• Elevation: 5800 feet

Description

As you go east from Timberline Lodge on the Timberline Trail, you start getting great views into the White River Canyon, the largest around Mount Hood. You also get great views south down the Cascades, with closer views to Trillium Lake and the forested Salmon River drainage.

The most remarkable feature here, though, is the buried forest. You can look down and see the exposed remains of mountain hemlocks buried under debris flows from Mt. Hood’s Old Maid eruptive period about 250 years ago. There’s a waterfall down in the canyon as well.

The Timberline Trail goes down a ridge with few trees but lots of wild flowers.

In the summer, this area can be very hot, and there aren't any streams so bring some drinking water with you.

This would be a good destination if you wanted to do a short walk from Timberline Lodge. You can go about 1/2 mile before you start losing significant elevation.

More Links

• White River Buried Forest (WyEast Blog)
• “Prehistoric Buried Forests of Mt. Hood” (Oregon Geology)

Page Contributors

• RetiredJerry (creator)
• bobcat