Tilly Jane

Getting There

From Hood River, Oregon, drive south on OR-35 and turn right onto Forest Road 3510 (Cooper Spur Road). Turn left onto Forest Road 3512 (Cloud Cap Road) and continue to the Tilly Jane Sno-Park (4,025 ft). In summer, continue on Cloud Cap Road to a T intersection, turn left, and continue to the Tilly Jane Trailhead (5,760 ft).

• From November 1 to April 30 an Oregon Sno-Park Permit is required to park at the Tilly Jane Sno-Park.
• When the access road is open and the Tilly Jane Campground, a Northwest Forest Pass is required.

Tilly Jane Sno-Park

There are many good backcountryu ski tour and snowshoe trip options form this Sno-Park, including the 2.7-mile and 9-mile trips to the Tilly Jane A-Frame and Tilly Jane Guard Station.

tilly Jane A-Frame

About the A-Frame

Located  at 5,700 ft on the northeast side of Mount Hood, the A-frame is surrounded by old growth trees and is roughly 1,000 feet below tree line. It was built in the late 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), is one of the oldest structures on Mount Hood, and is one of five structures in the Cloud Cap-Tilly Jane Historic District. It was used extensively by the American Legion in its early days and is now a popular cabin used by skiers and snowshoers in winter.

Access

In summer, access is via a short quarter mile walk through the Tilly Jane Campground. In the winter, access is via a 9-miles on gently sloping, unplowed road or the 2.7-mile Tilly Jane Ski Trail, both with 1,900 feet of elevation gain from the Tilly Jane Sno-Park. Lots of ski touring terrain is accessible right from the cabin door.

Amenities

• A 24x48-foot, two story structure with a sleeping loft that accommodate up to 20 people.
• Two picnic tables, benches, a few chairs and a wood stove for heating, boiling water, and melting snow.
• Firewood and splitting tools.
• A primitive outhouse with a pit toilet—bring your own toilet paper.
• Propane lanterns and replacement mantels—bring your own propane.

You need to bring your own sleeping bags and pads, warm clothing, headlamps, cooking pots, stove, fuel, etc., so plan your stay at the cabin as a winter backcountry camping trip and bring everything you need except a tent.

Reservations

For more information and to make a reservation, visit recreation.gov.

Tilly Jane Guard Station

About the Guard Station

Located near the Tilly Jane A-Frame at 5,700 ft, the Guard Station is one of the oldest structures on Mount Hood.  It is believed that the Tilly Jane Guard Station was built in 1934 for seasonal use in wildfire detection and for climbing access. The Columbia Gorge and Portland Chapters of the Oregon Nordic Club have taken over responsibility for the maintenance, upkeep and scheduling use of the Tilly Jane Guard Station and nearby A-Frame. 

Access

In summertime, the cabin can be reached via a very brief walk of ~50 yards from the Tilly Jane Campground parking lot. In wintertime, snowshoe or ski the 2.7-mile Tilly Jane Ski Trail or the 9-mile gently sloping access road. Both options have 1,900 feet of elevation gain from the Tilly Jane Sno-Park. Lots of ski touring terrain is accessible right from the cabin door.

AMENITIES

• Room for up to 8 people.
• A full kitchen with a stove and oven furnished with cooking pots and utensils.
• Propane lighting and a living room with seating, including a table and chairs, by a large fireplace.
• Heat is furnished by a wood-burning stove. Wood is provided in the attached wood room.
• The second story sleeping loft has pads for sleeping.
• In wintertime the snow is often deep enough that the cabin can only be accessed via a hatch on the second story.
• An on-site pit toilet is located within the wood room of the cabin.

Bring bedding, clothing, food, garbage bags, and toilet paper. Melt snow for water in winter or visit Tilly Jane Creek in summer—water must be purified. All food and garbage must be packed out. Be sure to follow procedures to clean and properly close down the cabin before departing.  

RESERVATIONS

For more information and to make a reservation, visit recreation.gov.

Information for Leaders

Scheduling

• This route allows multiple bookings. Please check scheduled trips listed below in the "Activities" tab to see if there is another group already booked on the same day. Leaders are expected to contact the leader(s) of existing trips to ensure there are no concerns or conflicts, according to The Mountaineers Outdoor Ethics Policy. Please review our Group Size & Multiple Bookings page for guidance.
• When using this as a base camp for day hiking, be sure to add activities for the planned hikes.

• Suitable Activities: Backcountry Skiing, Snowshoeing
• Seasons: Year-round
• Weather: View weather forecast
• View avalanche forecast.

• Land Manager: Mount Hood National Forest
  Cloud Cap-Tilly Jane Historic Area, Hood River Ranger District (MHNF)
• Parking Permit Required: see "Getting There" section (above)
• Recommended Party Size: 12
• Maximum Party Size: 12
• Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 12