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Established Camping

Tilly Jane Guard Station

Tilly Jane Guard Station is located in the Mt. Hood National Forest near Parkdale, Oregon. The area features forested terrain with trails leading to scenic views of Mt. Hood. Temperatures range from lows in the 30s Fahrenheit in winter to highs in the 70s during summer, making it suitable for various outdoor activities. Nearby attractions include the Timberline Lodge and the Mt. Hood Meadows ski area, offering additional recreational opportunities for campers.

Description

National Forest

Mt. Hood National Forest

Overview

Tilly Jane Guard Station is an ideal getaway for individuals and families who enjoy the great outdoors in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. It is one of the oldest structures on Mt. Hood and provides shelter for warmth and an escape from the elements while participating in a variety of activities, specifically winter-related recreation. During the winter months it serves as a winter retreat for visitors hardy enough to access the cabin from the Tilly Jane Sno-Park. The Guard Station can usually only be accessed by skis or snowshoes, as the Cloud Cap road is closed from late October until early July.Guests can access the cabin following a 9-mile, gently sloping road, or via the historic Tilly Jane Ski Trail, which is roughly 2.7 miles with an elevation gain of 1,900 feet. Skis with skins or snowshoes are highly recommended and travelers should be prepared for extreme weather conditions. The TJ Ski Trail is poorly marked due to the 2008 Gnarl Ridge Fire so be on notice. Guests should be experienced in backcountry travel and survival skills. Guests must also bring several of their own amenities.

Recreation

Visitors to the Guard Station enjoy a variety of recreational activities, including hiking, snowshoeing and backcountry skiing, which can be done most of the year due to high levels of snowfall in the area. Many trails exist in the area, prompting exploration. Most trails are not marked so visitors should be familiar with the area. Above the tree line, visitors can catch a glimpse of Mt. Adams, St Helens, Mt. Rainier and the Hood River Valley flanked by the dry high desert of eastern Oregon.

Natural Features

The Guard Station is located high on the northeast side of Mt. Hood at an elevation of 5,700 feet. It was built in 1934 and initially received seasonal use for back country access and fire protection. The cabin is one of five structures in the area built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps and is part of the Cloud Cap/Tilly Jane Historic District. The facility is operated and maintained by the volunteer organization, Oregon Nordic Club, under a permit from the U.S. Forest Service.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (877) 444-6777.

Charges & Cancellations

Standard Rec.gov change/cancellation policies apply. Cancellations with less than 14 days notice will pay a $10 service fee AND forfeit the first night's reservation fee and $6 booking fee.

Fee Info

Reservation Fee: $6.00 (non-refundable) Recreation Fee: $200.00 per night, two night minimum/maximum required

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Location

Tilly Jane Guard Station is located in Oregon

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Hood River, OR: South on Hwy 35 for 23 miles, well past the Hood River Ranger Station. Look for the Cooper Spur Inn sign and turn right off Hwy 35 onto Cooper Spur Rd. (Just north of/before Olallie trailhead). Drive Cooper Spur Rd. for 2.4 miles to Cooper Spur Inn. Turn left onto the Cloud Cap/Tilly Jane Road #3512. The trailhead is Tilly Jane Sno-park, just past the intersection with Cooper Spur ski area, with parking on the right and the trailhead in the woods on the left side of the road. This is the trailhead used for winter travel (usually between October-June). Cloud Cap/Tilly Jane Road #3512 is gated/locked and not plowed in winter. The second option is to follow the Cloud Cap Road (FS Road 3512). This is the 9 mile gently sloping road.The safest way to ski down is the Cloud Cap Road (FS Road 3512). This can be a long (9 mile), extremely difficult slog if there is soft snow. The Old Wagon Road shortens this distance by about 4 to 5 miles, but involves steep slopes in the upper section of the road. The shortest route and probably the safest in poor snow conditions is to ski or walk down the Tilly Jane Ski Trail, a distance of 2.7 miles.

Address

C/O HOOD RIVER RANGER STATION 6780 HWY 35
Parkdale, OR 97041

Coordinates

45.3988889 N
121.6480556 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Hike-In
    Backcountry sites.

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Site Types

  • Cabins

Features

For Campers

  • Reservable
  • Fires

Reviews

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2 Reviews

Reviewed Apr. 29, 2019

Basecamp for Cooper Spur Hike

We used Tilly Jane as our base for hiking Cooper Spur (trail 600A to 600B) and it worked perfectly! The road getting here is not so great (you're driving up a mountain) but passable if you go slow. It's quite far up the mountain, so make sure you have everything you need. There isn't anything fancy about the campground, but it makes an adequate base for an early morning start.

Tilly Jane is also not far off the Timberline trail loop around the mountain, and the majority of people visiting the camping area were day hikers. The weather was very hot in the day, but got quite chilly at night.

In addition to the campground, the Tilly Jane A Frame is available as a rental- it was having some work done to it in August 18, so should be in good shape for the summer 19 and beyond camping seasons. There is also a small amphitheater in the campground.

Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Tilly Jane Guard Station by Stephanie Z., April 29, 2019
  • Review photo of Tilly Jane Guard Station by Stephanie Z., April 29, 2019
  • Review photo of Tilly Jane Guard Station by Stephanie Z., April 29, 2019
  • (11) View All
Reviewed Aug. 23, 2016

Great views, bad road

The area around Tilly Jane is quite beautiful and different from a lot of the nearby forests. The drive up goes through an old burnt out forest, where you can see plants and trees coming back as well as dead trees that are still standing. It's an almost surreal landscape, and has great views of Hood, and great views to the north. The campground is small and the spots are not particularly secluded. We found a spot but saw several people look around for a while before giving up and going to Cloud Cap Saddle (which has the same issues). Get there early and you can find better spots, but don't expect much if you show up in the mid afternoon. There is wonderful hiking in the area, so the parking lots fill up with hikers during the day but it clears out quickly as it gets late.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Are fires allowed at Tilly Jane Guard Station?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Tilly Jane Guard Station, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Tilly Jane Guard Station?

    Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Tilly Jane Guard Station. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Tilly Jane Guard Station, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Tilly Jane Guard Station?

    There are 20 campsites at Tilly Jane Guard Station and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts