Hi there. I'll be staying in downtown Portland for a few days in July and I really want to spend a day hiking at Mount Hood but I'd really prefer not to bother with a rental car while I'm in town.

Does anyone know what, if any, options I might have getting from downtown to Mt. Hood? Bus? Train?

Thanks in advance!

Michael

Never heard of these folks, but Timberline Lodge's website links to them as a shuttle service:

http://www.seatosummit.net/

There's no train option. Greyhound also doesn't seem to be an option. I'd call the front desk of your hotel and ask if they know of any better options.

Though you are opposed to renting a car, you could pick one up in downtown Portland in the morning and drive up to Mt. Hood - it's about an hour's drive each way and a very easy drive (and you'd have the chance to detour over to the spectacular Columbia River Gorge nearby). If you get back to town too late the downtown office might be closed and at worst you could drop the car at the PDX airport and take the MAX train back into downtown Portland.

Check the Travel Portland website. I am guessing that unless the shuttle goes to and from Timberline you will have a difficult time getting to a good hiking trail. Most (if not all) of the trail heads would not be served by a shuttle. Your only option would be hiking from Timberline Lodge.

We have had a very cool, wet spring and I am guessing there will be lots of snow in the high country late into July. Timberline is at, well, timberline - so snow will linger up there longer.

You could take MAX to PDX, rent a car for the day, and return at PDX, take MAX back downtown - I would do this if I were you. You could then also visit the Gorge and Hood River and make a nice day long loop trip.

Right, and if you rent a car, there may be no need to take the MAX out to the airport in the morning to rent the car; it may be the same price or even cheaper to pick it up downtown a few blocks from your hotel instead even if you have to drop it at the airport and take MAX back downtown late in the day. There's often no drop fee for dropping a car in Portland at the airport even if you picked it up downtown or vice versa. Just check prices.

Good points Andrew. If you time it right for your flight home, you could drop off the car on your way out of town (assume you are you flying?). Navigating from the airport to the Gorge is easy - Airport Way/I-205 south/I-84 east, but not hard from downtown either. Airport will have more car selection too. Have a nice trip.

These are all great suggestions. Thanks so much! I had been considering a Zip car for the day but I don't think it's really worth it once you get down with their membership fees and what-not. Cheaper just to rent a car for the day.

Thanks again.

Michael