Owly Way

Owly Way is a cross-country ski route in Oregon's Mt. Hood National Forest, within the Hood River Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is a short out-and-back of about 1.5 miles, with a total climb of about 200 feet from the start at roughly 4,050 feet to a high point of about 4,075 feet. The route is rated moderate, and the steepest stretch comes early, around 0.2 miles in, with a grade of about 6 percent. The climb is gentle overall, and the trail returns to nearly the same elevation it starts at. Summer is the most comfortable time to ski here. Typical averages from the nearby Government Camp weather station show July and August highs around 70°F with only about four wet days a month, while winter months bring highs in the mid-30s and rain on most days. Raven's Run, a cross-country ski route, lies just 0.1 mile away, and Elkhorn Trail is about 0.4 mile off. For an overnight stay, Badger Lake campground is about 2.2 miles away, and paddlers can reach the White River, about 5.1 miles away.