Winter driving to Mt. Hood with chains in the trunk is not the ordeal people imagine, but it does punish the unprepared. Highway 26 climbs from about 1,300 feet at Welches to 4,000 feet at Government Camp in roughly 15 miles. Rain at the bottom is snow at the top more often than not. Here's how we do it every winter without drama.
Know the ODOT sign system
Oregon uses posted chain conditions, and they're enforced. You'll see electronic signs near Sandy and again at Rhododendron. The levels:
- Carry chains or traction tires. You need them in the vehicle. Not on, just present.
- Chains required, traction tires allowed. Chains on, unless you're driving a 4WD/AWD with traction tires (studded or mountain-snowflake rated) and still carrying chains.
- Chains required on all vehicles. Rare, but it happens. AWD doesn't exempt you.
Fines start north of $150 if you're stopped without them, and more importantly, a rental sedan on all-seasons will not make the grade above Rhododendron when it's dumping.
Check TripCheck, then check it again
ODOT's TripCheck site has live cameras at Government Camp, Timberline Road, and the Highway 35 junction. Look before you leave Portland, then again at the Sandy Fred Meyer. If the Government Camp camera shows plowed pavement and the sign says "carry," you're fine. If it shows white and the sign says "required," plan to stop at a chain-up area.
Also check the Mt. Hood Meadows and Timberline snow reports the night before. They tell you what fell overnight, which tells you what the plows are fighting in the morning.
Timing is most of the game
Saturday morning between 7 and 10 on a powder day is the worst traffic of the year on 26. Everyone from Portland leaves at once. Our rule: be through Sandy by 6:30am or wait until after 11. Sunday afternoon between 2 and 5 is the same problem in reverse.
Friday nights are underrated. Roads are quiet, plows have been working, and you wake up already on the mountain. This is the main reason people stay in Mt. Hood Village rather than day-tripping. Wildwood Basecamp sits in Welches at about 1,300 feet, which usually means you're parking in rain or light snow, not digging out a driveway. Timberline is 30 minutes up the hill.
Where to actually put chains on
Do not stop in the travel lane. Chain-up areas are marked with blue signs; the main ones are just east of Rhododendron and again below Government Camp. Pull fully off, put on your hazards, and work on the uphill side of the car if you can.
Practice once in your driveway before the trip. Seriously. Doing it for the first time in the dark at 28°F with slush going down your sleeve is how people quit skiing. Cable chains are easier than link chains and fine for most passenger cars. Get the size that matches your tire, not "close enough."
Keep in the car
- Chains that fit, plus gloves you don't care about and a headlamp
- A small tarp or foam pad to kneel on
- Ice scraper and a folding shovel
- Blanket, water, snacks. Closures on 26 can hold you for an hour or more.
- A full tank. Gas in Welches and Government Camp exists but it's not cheap, and idling in a closure burns more than you think.
Parking at the resorts
Timberline's lot fills by 9 on weekends and the road up from Government Camp is the steepest, snowiest section of the whole drive. Skibowl and Meadows both have shuttle options. If you're staying in the Village, the Mt. Hood Express bus runs from Welches to Government Camp and Timberline for a couple of dollars, and it's a legitimately good move on a powder Saturday.
Non-skiers: Trillium Lake's road is gated in winter and becomes a snowshoe loop. You'll need a Sno-Park permit, sold at the Welches Thriftway and gas stations, to park at any of the plowed trailhead lots.
After the drive
The reward for doing this right is a hot tub on 1.6 wooded acres with snow on the trees. We put together a list of dog-friendly cabins with hot tubs if you're comparing, and the full rundown of winter things to do is on our Mt. Hood page. Booking direct also means a real person to text if the driveway needs attention before you arrive.
Winter on Hood isn't hard. It just rewards leaving early, carrying chains, and having somewhere warm to land at the bottom of the hill.