Road Trip:  Mount Hood Oregon

Mount Hood Drive

Come take a road trip with me to scenic Mount Hood and Trillium Lake in Oregon.  From winding rivers to evergreen forests and from orchards to Trillium Lake to an 11,239-foot mountain peak, the natural features of this scenic route around Mt. Hood guarantee an unforgettable drive.  

Several years ago I was on a business trip to Portland, Oregon.   My husband was with me as I added vacation time after business to explore a little of Oregon.

Heading up to the Mount Hood scenic drive, this became a life changing trip for me.     As you drive, Mount Hood can be seen from miles and miles away.   

Mount Hood Facts  

• Mount Hood has six ski areas. 
• Year round skiing is available here and many Olympian skiers practice here in the summer.  
• It is the second most climbed mountain in the world.
• There are 11 active glaciers on this dormant volcano. 
• It is Oregon’s highest summit at 11,240 feet.
• While a dormant volcano, it is not dead.  Mount Hood still vents sulfurous steam near the summit.

What the facts don’t tell you is how majestic it is as it looms over the area.  It can be seen from almost anywhere.   

To the top of the mountain

The top of Mount Hood provides stunning views of the Columbia River Gorge.   It’s obviously colder at the top so be prepared with a jacket even in the summer.  

Trillium Lake

Many have heard of Mount Hood in Oregon.  Have you ever heard of Trillium Lake?   I hadn’t.  We came across a road called Trillium Lake Road and figured, why not take it?   Little did I know this adventure would be the start of my longing for mountains and undisturbed nature.   

We came to Trillium Lake and saw the most beautiful sight – Mount Hood in all its glory reflected in the lake.   On a clear day with calm winds, Mt. Hood reflects a mirror image in Trillium Lake. In the spring, namesake trilliums and other wildflowers bloom along the easy two mile trail that circles the lake.  A forest of Douglas fir covers much of the lower elevations. 

Making my dreams come true

While admiring the view we came across an older couple from Minnesota.  They had a book called Reader’s Digest Most Scenic Drives in America.  Their goal is to go to every drive in the book.   They go somewhere every fall when vacation spots are less congested.   Their enthusiasm was contagious.   It is hard to describe in words the views and feelings I had that day — that’s why I take pictures.   I hope they fulfilled their goal.   I wish I could tell them how much of an impact they had on me and the start of my photography career.  

From this point on my husband and I travel as often as we can. Pretty much always to nature inspired scenic places.  We have found traveling in September is ideal.  Places are less crowded and the weather is still nice.  

We had a perfectly clear day the first day there.  We liked the view so much we went back a second day and even though it was a cloudy day, the view was still beautiful.   

 Debbi Marquette Photography is located in Upstate New York at the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains.  Debbi is a travel, landscape and bald eagle photographer specializing in artistic, authentic, and memorable landscape and wildlife photography.   She travels frequently, lives near the mountains and constantly has a camera in her hand to capture photographs so others can see the beauty of our world.

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