The wild north side of the Timberline Trail crosses the Sandy and Eliot Glaciers' outwash fans and traverses remote terrain rarely visited compared to the popular south side of the mountain.
From Timberline Lodge, head west and north past Zigzag Canyon and the Sandy River crossing — the crux of the Timberline Trail in high water — through pristine forest and across the dramatic moraine fields below the Eliot Glacier. The section ends at Cloud Cap, the historic 1889 chalet on Hood's northeast shoulder.
Timberline Lodge is on the south side of Mount Hood via US-26 and OR-173. Cloud Cap is accessed via Cooper Spur Road from Hood River. Car shuttle or return trip required.