A handful of adorable, movable cabins, known as tiny houses, are located a short distance from the summit of Mount Hood. They may be the tiniest lodging options on Oregon’s greatest peak.
In order to introduce our daughter to the mountain through miniature glamping, my partner and I, together with our infant, spent two nights at the Mount Hood Tiny House Village this fall.
Far from the primitive cabins that Oregon campers might be accustomed to, the little building, which featured a kitchenette, comfortable mattresses, and an incredibly strong heating system, was where we were likely to spend the majority of our time during the dark and rainy season. Although this was by no means roughing it, there were nonetheless some difficulties on our trip.
The Mt. Hood Tiny House Village offers a number of tiny houses for rent, including Savannah.”The Oregonian” or Jamie Hale
In the Mt. Hood Tiny cottage Village, sprawled out inside a tiny cottage.”The Oregonian” or Jamie Hale
At Mount Hood Village Campground, a campfire flames in a fire ring.”The Oregonian” or Jamie Hale
TINY HOUSE VILLAGE
The Mount Hood Tiny House Village is situated inside the Mount Hood Village RV Resort, a private property situated in the unincorporated community of Mount Hood Village, one of the small villages that make up The Villages of Mount Hood, a group of villages situated just off the mountain’s slopes. It resembles the innermost portion of a Russian nesting doll.
The first five tiny homes, constructed by the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company of Colorado, were placed up there in 2016 and immediately filled up. Two more tiny homes eventually joined the group.
You might want to be fussy, but every tiny house is pretty much the same. They range in size from the 358-square-foot Ingrid, which beds five people, to the 175-square-foot Savannah, which sleeps three. (In actuality, the 332-square-foot Anderson can accommodate seven people, but one of them is on a pull-out couch.)
Based solely on appearances, we reserved a two-night stay in Savannah, a yellow-painted home with green curtains and adorable furnishings. We discovered a queen bed upstairs in a loft and a twin mattress nestled into a lower alcove. There was a small kitchen with a sink, a compact refrigerator, and an induction burner. There was a shower and a flush toilet in a small bathroom. Despite not being huge or much of a room, the main area was humorously referred to as the “great room.”
The quarters were definitely cramped. However, with a little wrangling, it was eventually feasible for our tiny family of comparatively small individuals, including one very small person.
For example, the alcove’s tiny bed soon became a storage space that also functioned as a temporary nursery and occasionally as a couch. A dining space was created in the great room by combining a single metal stool with a tiny, padded bench. The garments were hung from a rafter that ran the length of the tiny dwelling.
One big object on the floor, like the baby’s bouncy chair, or a single misplaced backpack became a significant hindrance, thus maintaining a clutter-free environment required ongoing care and attention.
Once we were settled in, we took out the cookware and fried delicata squash slices in olive oil with warming spices. We served them with pomegranate seeds, gooey burrata, and chopped pistachios. We made a roaring fire in the public fire ring outside as night fell and looked up at the stars and flickering flames. We returned inside, where the three of us spent the night, and were greeted by the scent of the bonfire.
With the exception of one 11-week-old baby, I would say that we all slept through the night, which is what we did for the most part. It felt risky but, once more, manageable to carry her up the narrow flight of stairs that acted as a ladder from the nursery to the lofted bed in the middle of the night. We were all snuggled in bed together in the morning when the daylight broke through the curtains.
On a clear autumn evening, the Mt. Hood Village Campground is illuminated by the stars.”The Oregonian” or Jamie Hale
On a gloomy autumn day, strolling through Mount Hood’s Wildwood Recreation Site.”The Oregonian” or Jamie Hale
Inside Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood on a snowy autumn day.”The Oregonian” or Jamie Hale
A DAY ON THE MOUNTAIN
Depending on the time of year, there are numerous ways to spend a day on Mount Hood. People swarm to the lakes and trails in the summer, while the ski regions and snow parks are packed in the winter. You have fewer options during the shoulder seasons, particularly on the dreary fall days.
The lower level walks in the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness, where the ridges and riverbank routes provide an escape into the ethereal, moss-covered woodlands that may be a balm on a dismal, rainy day, would have piqued my interest more on a different trip. However, a different strategy was required while traveling with a newborn who at the time had a love/hate connection with baby carriers and whose cold weather outfit was still being worked out.
We turned into the Wildwood Recreation Site, a 550-acre recreation area with a modest network of paved, accessible trails along the Salmon River, just down the road from the tiny house community. The paths were helpfully being swept of leaves as we walked, and our stroller moved smoothly along them (my great adversary, the leaf blower, was now a friend).
While the paved portion of Wildwood provided access to plenty of natural beauty, as well as woodland picnic sites and the much-liked underwater observation chamber, the trails continued into the wilderness.
As we continued up the mountain toward Timberline Lodge, the rain turned to snow. A few of inches had collected by the time we got there. Timberline is one of Oregon’s top winter sport destinations because its ski area is high enough to have skiable terrain for a large portion of the year. However, our family swiftly entered as we are more of a lodge family, enjoying hot beverages by the fireplace.
Timberline is a decent enough day lodge. The lobby sections are hexagonal and centered around a large multi-faced fireplace, providing plenty of room to stretch out. Despite its small size, the lower lobby is advantageously situated next to the front desk, the facilities, and a small museum area. The Cascade Dining Room and Ram’s Head Bar are located in the main foyer, which boasts lofty ceilings and large windows.
After grabbing a lunch and some mochas from the bar upstairs, we went to the main lobby and found a couch by the fire. We sipped our hot beverages while watching the snow fall outside. We were disappointed to learn that the lodge’s heated pool and hot tub were reserved for overnight visitors.
We prepared to go as the long night was rapidly approaching. On a fall day at the mountain, there’s just so much you can do.
A snowy autumn day at Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood, sitting by the fireside.”The Oregonian” or Jamie Hale
Chicali Cantina, a Mexican eatery in Welches on Mount Hood, serves guacamole.”The Oregonian” or Jamie Hale
HOOD FOOD
On Mount Hood, it’s usually not difficult to find a decent restaurant to dine. Finding a location in the off-season in the middle of the week? That is a bit more difficult.
Our long list of dining options was hilariously cut short as we drove down U.S. 26 in search for a bite to eat.Skyway Bar & Grill, a cozy spot with a fireplace, good drinks and excellent barbecue, was closed for the day. Ditto forNaan N Curry, a well-reviewed Indian restaurant with a colorful interior.Koya Kitchen, a Japanese spot known for its funky decor, had shut down its inside seating for renovations that day.
A fourth restaurant, well-known on the mountain, had declined to be featured in The Oregonian, so we decided to steer clear.
In the end, we wound up atChicali Cantina, a strip mall Mexican joint in Welches that was, perhaps unsurprisingly given all the closed restaurants, absolutely packed. The service was great, the vibe was fun and the basic Tex-Mex menu was just fine. Our baby watched with big eyes as we downed bowls of bean dip and guacamole.
The next morning, on our way out of town, we sought out a good stop for breakfast. After a quick search revealed that nearbyMt. Hood Baking Companywas closed for the day ( come ON we said), we gave up and decided to find something reliable.
Just off the mountain in Sandy, we stopped in atAntFarm Cafe, a breakfast and lunch spot run by a youth services nonprofit by the same name. AntFarm has long been one of my go-to stops on the way to or from Mount Hood, with good coffee, a full food menu and friendly servers.
As we filled up on biscuits and eggs, the rain fell steadily outside. The baby began to fuss, so I took her on a tour of the cafe, showing her all the plants and the pictures on the walls. I thought about the whole big world and this one little trip the biggest trip of her life, so far and about how much more she had to see and do and learn.
It was then I realized that if we find ourselves staying in a Mount Hood tiny house again, it will definitely be a little more cramped.
–Jamie Hale co-hosts the Peak Northwest podcast and writes about travel and the outdoors. You may contact him at [email protected], 503-294-4077, or HaleJamesB.
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