Mount Hood has it all – waterfalls, meadows, lakes, & mountain top views. Any trail you take will be breathtaking. However, when searching for “the” trail – the trail that will lead to the most breathtaking views of the mountain – look no further than Mcneil Point.
Trail Description
Mcneil Point is a 10 mile out and back trail in Mount Hood National Forest with about 2,800 feet of elevation gain. This hike is dog friendly, but bring lots of water as natural water sources along the way are scarce. The trail begins at Top Spur Trailhead, specifically Top Spur Trail #785. To assist with finding not only the trailhead but also the route while hiking, I use AllTrails.
Mcneil Point AllTrails Link
The road to get to the trailhead can be navigated by most vehicles, although like many forest roads there are potholes and narrow turns along the way. At the trailhead, parking is limited to about 12-15 cars.
What to Expect
The hike begins gradually, only gaining a couple hundred feet of elevation during the first few miles. During the fall, you will witness the leaves surrounding the trail changing colors during this initial ascent.
There are many outstanding views of Mount Hood along the route and each view is unique. The first view comes about a mile in, so even if you do not want to hike the full 10-mile trail, you could complete only a section of this trail and still see picturesque mountain views.
About 3 and a half miles in, you will come to the loop section of the hike. I recommend performing the loop counterclockwise. This way, you will go up the very steep section instead of down. We did this loop clockwise and let me tell you, it was not fun to scramble down rocks on tired legs! If you want to avoid the steep section altogether, you can actually approach the loop clockwise and turn around at camp – a stone house built at the base of the mountain – and come back the way you came.
The loop itself is about 3 miles long and it is worth seeing if you can hike the full 10 miles! This section is where you gain the majority of your elevation but because of that, the loop not only offers unmatched views of Mount Hood but also views of some other mountains in the Cascade Range.
After the loop, whether you decide to perform the entire thing or a section of it, you will head back the way you came. What I love about an out and back trail is the light is different from when you started. We started early morning so the sun was still behind the mountain but when we finished the sun was high in the sky illuminating the mountain in a way we had not seen yet.
Post-Hike Fuel
If you are like us, a post-hike beer and meal are a must. Drinks and food after a hike just taste better! Our recommendation for a place to recover after your adventure is Koya Kitchen.
They have a food truck outside where you order your food. Then you can venture inside to find a bar and shop with various trinkets, apparel, etc. We ordered the rotating curry, potstickers, and the yakisoba with a few beers. They have mostly outdoor seating in the sun but also cute ramadas and huts with various options like benches, hammocks, and pillows if you want to take a rest after eating your weight in delicious ramen!
We hope you can use this guide and get out and explore the great outdoors. Check out our hiking page here if you have not already for more epic adventures.
Drop a comment below and let us know which hike we should blog about next!