The only town within a five-mile radius of Mt. Hood, Government Camp is most definitely what you would call the quintessential mountain town. When it comes to this region, as you may have guessed, it is all about the skiing. With the Mountain Hood Skibowl and highly regarded Timberline Lodge right in their backyard, Government Camp is incredibly busy come ski season. The town itself is actually quite small, boasting a population of less than 200. It’s the tourist action that keeps this region thriving. In the summer months, they also offer a host of hiking opportunities—not to mention, given its quaint alpine feel, it really is just a pleasant little town to spend some time in and explore.
Government Camp is the launching point for a Mount Hood vacation. This is the best place to stay for one of Oregon's most iconic places to visit.
For a very small town, they offer a surprising number of options when it comes to lodging and eating out. With ten restaurants and currently nine places to stay, Government Camp is the warm and welcoming heart of Mt. Hood.
Mount Hood is Oregon's most popular destination for skiing. The region has five ski areas, including Skibowl, Cooper Spur, Timberline, Summit, and the most popular, Meadows.
Mount Hood is underrated for the amount of summer activity that it offers. For one, Timberline is one of the few resorts in the country that offers skiing in the summer. Hiking, climbing, biking, and camping are also quite popular.
Winter is a very busy season for snow sports, including skiing at Mount Hood.
Early spring is a good time to visit if you catch the end of ski season. Otherwise, it can be too warm for skiing and too cool for summer mountain activities.
Summer is a wonderful season. It is dry and warm, but certainly not hot. The highs barely touch 70 degrees during the warmest months.
Early fall can be a good time to visit to see the changing of the colors. By October, the temps start dropping drastically and it gets much wetter.