Cloud Cap Saddle Campground — Hotel in Hood River

Have visited this area 2 times this summer: in July and then earlier last week (September). Great experiences both times ! Beautiful views all around and abundant wildflowers early and mid-summer.

The 9 mile long gravel road which snakes it's way to Cloud Cap and Tilly Jane is quite rough though. I saw many SUV's, Subaru's and trucks of various sorts making the trip. If you're willing to drive slowly and with great patience though, you can make it up in most any car ( I took 50 minutes in my Chevrolet Impala).

The campground at Cloud Cap Saddle is basic with heavy wood picnic tables, small cleared spaces for tents, a clean pit toilet and a working WATER faucet. There are only 3 or 4 campsites at Cloud Cap, while Tilly Jane has 8 to 10 easily. NO piped in water at Tilly Jane campground though, but the hiking trail between the two camps is only about 1/2 a mile.

Timberline Trail can be reached from both Cloud Cap and Tilly Jane camps, both trails being quite steep in the ascent.

However, $21 a night for camping ($8/night for an extra vehicle !) does seem quite a steep charge for such rustic facilities . If you park and hike in with your gear though there are several camp spots on the various trails up to the Timberline Trail. Don't forget a Northwest Forest pass or day use pass for your...

Beautiful campground, there is running water here, but I didnt see where at. There is a vaulted pit bathroom here. There is also the cloud cap in and snowshoe inn that have historical guided tours upon request. Cool buildings to check out from the outside. Big parking area in front of the snowshoe inn. I think it was 21/night to camp here with no day use after 2 or 3pm. You must have a northwest Forrest pass or pay to park here for day use. The road to cloud cap is also a little more rough, there is a small one laned section with cliff on one side and dangerous rock slide area on the other. The tilly jane camground road is much more nice and you can get to cloud cap from tilly...

Handful of sites right off the timberline. No views from any site but you can walk up to Cloud Cap or not too far either direction on the timberline for those. Speaking of Cloud Cap, be sure to make your way up there before leaving. Amazing piece of history saved right there. The only real downside imo is the pit toilet. It's actually super clean and smells ok (not like a pit toilet) on the inside, smells terrible outside. The wind blows all directions too so you're going to smell it, a lot. It's really the only reason it didn't get 5 stars. I love rural spots that make trail access better... But not at the expense of the pit...