Timberline Lodge

A beautiful place to just hang out by the massive stone fireplace with a hot buttered rum while you watch the snow fall on the peak of Mt. Hood.
Everything about Timberline is super kid-​friendly. The kids camp is a safe, fun experience for my three, ages 6, 8 and 10 to learn to snowboard. I drop them off in the morning and have til 3:00 to hit the slopes or curl up by the fire with a book. It’s the best way to recover from a bad cold.
They love the breakfast buffet in the Cascade dining room. So do I, hazelnut chocolate chip pancakes, yum! We come from Los Angeles once a year for a long weekend here. Good food, local wine and local craft beer. After a day of great snowboarding fun the kids love the pool. I love the hot tub and sauna. And the cheese fondue at the ram’s head bar with an oatmeal stout while the kids have the craziest hot chocolate whipped cream thing you’ve ever seen.
I love the chocolate cherry cake, the Oregon cheese, Willamette valley pinot noir, and the bread is so good. I’m in love with Timberline. The bacon wrapped pork chop at dinner in the Cascade dining room is ridiculously delicious. I don’t need to eat for a week after a weekend here. Kids’ dinners are very reasonable and include ice cream sundaes with a cherry on top.
The feather beds and down comforters are so cozy. We love to leave the blinds open so we can lie in bed and watch the snow fall on the pine trees. My kids and I really look forward to the trip to Timberline each year.

We had a wonderful stay at Timberline Lodge. Snow was fun for skiing. The room was quaint and comfortable. The hot tub assuaged my ski muscles. The dining experience was excellent. They have a great chef! We had a wonderful 2 days!

We have a family of 6 and it’s often hard to accommodate us all in one hotel room. At the Timberline Lodge we had a great day of skiing then went to our lodge room that had 8 bunk beds! The room was really clean (which is a big deal to me!) and the sheets were awesome, the pillows super comfy and the beautiful and warm wool blankets were the kicker. We loved having a sink in our room and didn’t mind the bathrooms in the hall — never had to wait to use one since there are so many. We loved that we got to park right up at the hotel — soooo convenient, and we didn’t have to move our care the whole weekend. Guests of the hotel don’t have to buy a parking pass which is nice though we didn’t find that out until we had already purchased one! We ate lunch and breakfast at the all-​you-​can-​eat restaurant and it was seriously delicious! Super fresh food, the best waffles we’ve ever had (and the best hot chocolate too). Really good food. It wasn’t cheap but was reasonable for really good food on top of a mountain. We also had delicious pizza and a great kale salad at the bar/​restaurant at the lodge and loved that too, in spite of the hour wait. They told us to expect it though so we enjoyed playing cards (which we brought) and drinks! The staff is all really nice and the mood is quite chill. The Jacuzzi is big and hot (expect to walk in the snow a few feet to get to it). They were slow to refresh the towels at the Jacuzzi but we just brought the ones from our room. Really a perfect family weekend. We would recommend it to all!!!

Another user already mentioned the Northwest Charm you feel at Timberline, which definitely rings true for me. It has a great history, having been built in the mid-30’s by Oregon artisans and labors as part of the federally subsidized WPA (Works Progress Administration) to get people back on their feet Depression-​era. The building was built in 15 months with locally sourced timber and materials, it’s just effin’ sweet and all the details are a work of art.
Now onto the lodging and food options. So my rating of this is not the same way I would rate a typical hotel on a business trip. These rooms are «cabin-​esque» and not for the high maintenance hotel guest, you know who you are… when you go to stay at Timberline, it’s to enjoy the snow, relax in the heated pool/​hot tub in the 27 degree snowfall, hangout in the lodge beside the fire… the list goes on. If you are looking to be pampered, head to the Pearl district. There is a 12″ TV, wood paneled walls, and not super quiet (but they provide ear plugs). The noise would be dependent on your proximity to the main lodge, restaurants, or ice machine. People hear are either wandering around in pajamas, snow clothes, or somewhere in the middle. But most importantly, is mostly trashy hipster free! For me, this is just the escape I need from Portland.
Food options are legit as well. If you are skiing/​boarding, the day-​lodge is a cafeteria style where you can grab whatever. Prices are very reasonable and quality is good. Inside the actual lodge there is a breakfast and lunch buffet, which is slightly spendier, but worthwhile. There is 3^rd floor restaurant which is open for lunch and dinner with views looking up the mountain on one side and down towards the lake on the other which is a step above the cafeteria — better food and more options. Desserts were sub-​par. Finally, their fanciest option is a nice sit down dinner. If I was reviewing a restaurant in the city at the same price point, I would say service is average and the food is a bit rich. That being said, both of our dinners were delicious, the bread was amazing/​fresh, and the wine options were plentiful (but I do wish they had more California & import options).
Take it for what it is, and in my opinion — the history, vibe, and alternative accommodations are just what I need to escape and are damn near perfect. Cheers!

Oh my goodness! If you forget your room number (our key number says 208, our actual room number is 8-​& not on the second floor) one is greeted by a rude, cold and condecending Unilocal (most seriously no pun intended) from desk help. Oh, I guess you’re so brilliant you’ve never forgotten anything? I presume that’s why you work the desk at a hotel. I will never stay at an establishment that hires such nasty people. Morning desk staff are fantastic. Just avoid interactions with nasty evening woman.

Pretty disappointed with the food in the bar. It used to be so good and has declined the last two years. The hot wings are gone, nachos aren’t nearly as good, grilled cheese and tomato soup is really bad now and used to be a favorite. I like the remodel, but Timberline needs to work on the quality of the food. We love this place and are bummed about the decline.

This by far had the best location. The mountain looks beautiful and the trails have the best views.
The inside of the Wy’East Lodge smells like a gym that’s never had any windows opened. I guess that’s what happens when hundreds of people hole up in there to drink beer after they sweat it out on the slopes.
The customer service was good. They were very thorough and friendly. The snowshoe rental guy was fairly new to the job but was cheerful and didn’t let himself get frustrated.
Snowshoe rentals are $ 20 for the day.
Worth it if you’re going for the first time or going to show someone what it’s about from out of town. If you go often, BUY the shoes and save your $.
Didn’t eat or drink here.
Didn’t snowboard or ski here.
Will update my review when I do so.

While driving to Sunriver Resort, our hosts decided to take us on a detour up to this historic Pacific Northwest lodge. The detour was merely meant for a much needed lunch stop and leg stretching but turned into an awesome tour.
As we approached the hotel from its huge parking lot, I started to get the feeling as if I had seen this place before… could it have been a case of déjà vu? Ah, then my host mimicked a line «Heere’s Johnny!» We immediately guessed that the exterior and surrounding mountainside (Mt. Hood) was featured in Stanley Kubrick’s «The Shining» as its fictional Overlook Hotel. Yikes! Thankfully, it was only a movie.
The actual HISTORY of this grand lodge resort is more impressive. It was built in within 2 years during the Great Depression as a project to test the workability of recreational facilities to be operated and controlled by the Federal Government. The structure was built entirely by hand from large timbers and local stone. There are many intricate carvings of Native American origin that adorn its interior. Since the location of this lodge is on the southern slope of Mount Hood, which has the longest ski season in the U.S., a ski area was created from the vision of President Theodore Roosevelt. Since the late 1930’s, the Timberline Lodge has opened its doors (monthly) to Winter sports enthusiasts.
When we walked in, we were awed by the grandeur of the great hall and its roaring fireplace. There were lots of guests sipping warm alcoholic beverages, I assume, while lounging on the comfy handmade wood furniture. We were told that even the rooms still have the original furniture and furnishings from the 1930’s. This place was surely built to last!
For our lunch, we ascended to the Ram’s Head Bar which was a unique circular balcony surrounding the huge stone fireplace. All of the food and beverage selections were sourced from Oregonian purveyors. Service was nicely paced, warm and friendly. We took a few moments to gaze uphill at the snow covered mountain slope to appreciate the grandeur of this hotel.
Perhaps on our next vacation, we might just book ourselves into a room here to soak in the history, rustic charm and friendliness of Oregon.
#499

It is my second time snowboarding here this year. Snow is good (snowstorm actually) but the lift line is soooooo long. Only 3 or 4 lifts open I think? Wish there will be more open next Saturday.

Iconic Timberline. A must ski anytime we are near Mount Hood. I have so many Timberline tales. Like when my son got stuck in 6′ powder when he was learning how to snow board. It took him a while to get going again. That day we thought we were the only ones on the mountain, The fast changing weather patterns will change things up a bit. Extraordinary mountainman experience! We also love the little wood carved animals on the hotel banisters.

This place is special. Timberline Lodge gets a lot of day trippers, but to really experience it, I recommend spending the night. The rooms are clean, cozy and comfortable, with a rustic yet updated charm throughout. With the Pacific Crest Trail so close, there are hikers and day trippers everywhere but there are several restaurants, public restrooms, and numerous sitting areas for people and their gear to hang out and relax. Later in the evening when the day trippers were gone, the lodge had a peaceful serenity to it.
They have a little movie theater and popcorn can be purchased at the front desk. There is a museum, but there are interesting museum pieces all over the place. It’s little hard finding your way around, but there’s staff everywhere and they always were happy to help with navigation. The food in the restaurants is excellent. Surprisingly, we had the best New England clam chowder, despite not having an ocean in sight! Lots of fresh ingredients and healthy options. The buffet breakfast is not to be missed! So many things to choose from, both hot and cold, and the staff was always friendly and helpful.
The views from the lodge are spectacular. Mt Jefferson to the south is stunning and you can see the top of Mt Hood from the windows.
Timberline Lodge is a National Historic Landmark and it’s a treasure!

Timberline Lodge is a place with a high quantity of Pacific Northwestern charm. It is located on Mount Hood in Government Camp, accessible by both cars and buses alike. Right next to it is the amazing Wy’East Day Lodge. Even though only a few buildings are a part of the Timberline Lodge complex, they will surely entertain visitors for hours upon hours.
My trip to the lodge and surrounding area took place on New Year’s Day. It was very snowy, yet it was very pleasant to go onto the bus through all the cute little communities. Getting to the top was where the magic really started. There was a little bit of geographic information on the place. The Wy’East Day Lodge, adjacent to Timberline Lodge, was crowded like a New York City subway stop despite being in suburban Oregon. There is a lovely gift shop, vending machines and dining options, though watch your budget, because prices really shoot up here. This place just had an incredible view and I loved seeing some skiing. I even played in the snow with a relative. Black Iron Grill is probably your best dinning option, though it ain’t that good.
Timberline Lodge is as wondrous as the Disneyland Hotel. The steps up led me to a beautiful lobby which has a museum that covers the history of this location. Charming halls and stairways beautify the lodge. Be sure to bring a camera and take plenty of pictures. Two beautiful dogs are in the lobby. There was just so much art and so much fun.
Please enjoy the magic of the Timberline Lodge at some point in your life.

Why did we come here? We had to check out where the shinning was filmed. There is some good photo ops of Mt. Hood and you can walk around the lodge. They have a little museum sharing the history of the lodge. It was really hard to figure out where to go to get around. I didn’t think signs were clearly labeled and in looking at food menus at the lodge everything looked overpriced. We didn’t stay long because unless you’re skiing, there really isn’t anything to do. I guess there are a few small hikes in the area but my hubby and I were only passing through. Prob wouldn’t come back here again but cool to see once. Also, parking can be a bit crazy. And watch for deer as you go up and down the mountain.

Stayed here for 4 nights in the summer in the chalet room with our kids, and it was perfect! We did not find the beds «lumpy» (as other reviewers had mentioned). We found the whole thing pretty spacious and comfortable. We hiked pretty much every day on the Pacific Crest Trail, which was indescribably beautiful. The views of Mt. Jefferson, the peaceful nature, the amiable other hikers on the trail… these are memories I’ll take with me forever. We did not get a chance to dine in the Cascade dining hall, but we did go downstairs into the Blue Ox Bar, where we were served delicious handmade pizza by a guy who literally flings the dough in the air and sprinkles cheese while dancing to The Police. We were also in the pool and hot tub every day. The whole trip was worth every penny. If you go and do not ski, be sure to take the lift up to hike back down the mountain!

The lodge has not lost its charm after all these years. Last time I was here was 1988 or 1989 and it has not changed much. This time we were here just to walk through and not stay the night. The views are spectacular from every angle. The interior of the lodge is very cozy and inviting. The staff is friendly. This is a must-​do (as is Mt Hood) if you visit Portland. The drive is not bad, maybe 1.5 hours depending on traffic. Free parking is a plus.

Stopped at the bar for a drink and appetizer. Amazing view, friendly waitress. The fondue was to die for!

This is a review for the lodge, not the skiing accommodations. We recently went up here for the afternoon to get some food and relax, I wanted to check it out prior to an anniversary trip. Their website says there are gluten free options at all of their restaurants. The dining room was closed so we had the two casual options available. The grill told us that everything was cross contaminated so to go to the Market Café.
At the Market Café the extremely rude waitress (who ignored us for 15 minutes) rolled her eyes when I asked for the gluten free options, went in back, marched back and said «you can have a salad without dressing.»
Ugh. So I wasn’t able to eat. For four hours until the shuttle back to our car came. Seriously, Timberline Lodge, DON’T ADVERTISE GLUTEN FREE OPTIONS WHEN YOU HAVE NONE. Some of us legit have a dietary issue and need to eat food. Our allergies don’t magically go away when it turns out you can’t accommodate them. I cancelled our reservations, clearly.
TLDR; If you are gluten free (esp. Celiac) avoid this lodge like the plague. Bring food if you’re planning a trip, there is no guarantee you will be able to eat anything here.

I found this place so interesting and beautiful. Not like a Ritz Carlton, or the W. But, more like a 40’s, 50’s high end place. I could just picture all the famous People that stayed here. Skiing, and living it up in the lovely Oregon winters.
This place was made by hand. During the Depression. It was built to last. It has a lot of wonderful and positive energy flowing through it.
At the very top of Mount Hood it is. Magnificent, and yet Humble.
President Roosevelt had it set up to be built by the locals in Portland and the surrounding area, to give them work. They were hard hit by the Depression so this is what the Government put together for the people of OR. The idea of a Lodge simple, yet grand. The ladies made by hand all the curtains and the bedding, as well as the rugs. Black smiths, and Iron workers, electricians and carpenters. They all pulled together to make this Grand and Glorious Lodge. Just that alone makes me so happy.

I’ve never actually stayed at the Timberline Lodge but I have visited there several times over the years and dined there. The drive up to Timberline is gorgeous, especially if you take the more scenic route around the mountain rather than the direct route from Portland (though that road has some nice views, too, I just prefer the longer way around).
They have a few different lounges to grab a drink and also the Cascade Dining Room (see my separate review) if you’d like to enjoy a top-​notch gourmet meal.
The staff has always been friendly and helpful and you can’t beat the view of Mount Hood from Timberline! Oh, and you probably already know this but this is the lodge used for the exterior shots for the fictional «Overlook Hotel» in the movie The Shining. But they don’t have an actual huge hedge maze like in the movie — and no frozen Jack Nicholson, either. ;-)

Wow! This place is absolutely stunning. You really get that mountain lodge feeling when you’re up here. My in-​laws got married and had their ceremony and reception here in 2005 so they brought us back to show us their special place – and it really was so special. Timberline Lodge is located on Mt. Hood and you get the MOST INCREDIBLE VIEWS of the surrounding area. When we came, everything was so white and covered in snow. I felt like I was in a GIANT SNOW GLOBE!
The lodge itself is beautifully constructed. Everything is made from timber wood from the ground up. The wood is beautiful and strong, and the structure is sound. The lodge is 3 stories of perfectly crafted timber with a large fireplace at the center that runs through the three different floors. The fireplace is large and is the main focal point. It’s a 360 fireplace so you can sit at ANY angle and still feel the warmth radiating from it. They lay out lounge chairs and sofas around the fireplace so you can sit back, enjoy the views, and warm up. The place is so inviting and feels like a living room. I didn’t get to spend the night here, but I will definitely be back soon!

Holy delicious buffet!!! I had hesitations at first as I’m not a fan of most buffets. But this place is off the chain! Gourmet, delicious, yummy foods. I will definitely come back again here!