Hiking | Lookout Mountain Loop

View from the drive.

The trail. Looks more like a ski slope but yep I hiked up that... in tennis shoes.

View from the summit.

View from dinner.

After a little hiking hiatus I'm back at it and it feels so good! This weekend took me up the Mount Hood area which I had yet to explore. If you are a regular hiker that finds yourself on the same trail again and again, I would highly encourage you to venture out. No matter where you live there's probably new terrain to cover and when you do you will see your home in a brand new light.

The hike is the Lookout Mountain Loop. It's about 2.5 miles and is considered easy. In all honestly, I would not recommend this hike this early in the year, and am planning to visit again in the summer. Especially after reading that wildflower grow thick along the trail in July and August. My own hiking experience was slightly different from this summery paradise as the trail, along with the dirt road up to the trail head, were entirely covered in snow. If you plan on visiting take a map or GPS because I found roads after the highway to be poorly marked, and reception limited (yes, I got lost). In addition, if you are visiting before June take a four wheel drive car just to be safe (yes, I almost got stuck). Needless to say it was a day full of unexpected adventures.

Despite all of these challenges the view from the summit was worth it. From the top you can see every major mountain in the area from Mount Rainier in Washington to the Three Sisters. Not to mention Mount Hood, which is of course prominent and absolutely breathtaking. The one bonus of attempting this hike in the snow was that the top was devoid other visitors, a sharp contrast to every hike I've taken in the Gorge. Nothing compares to being out in nature and being able to experience silence and stillness completely. To me there is nothing so refreshing or soul cleansing.

I hope that posts like this inspire you to find a hike in your area you find just as beautiful and surreal as I found this one. Or at the very least, to immerse yourself in nature for a day.