Dispersed Camping near Jean Lake (Mt. Hood National Forest)
Campground
Campground · 2.3 mi from the trail
Oregon · Cross-country skiing · Near Mount Hood Villages
Top Shelf
- 0.7 mi
- round trip
- 313 ft
- climb
- 4,312 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Sep
- best months
Is Top Shelf open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 6 alerts for Mt. Hood National Forest.
Hazard tree felling at Zigzag Ranger Station
Agency alert covering Mt. Hood National Forest · USFS · Mt. Hood National Forest
Tamanawas Falls Trail closed due to instability hazards
Agency alert covering Mt. Hood National Forest · USFS · Mt. Hood National Forest
Current fire closures on Mt. Hood National Forest
Agency alert covering Hood River Ranger District · USFS · Hood River Ranger District
Eagle Creek Fire Area Closures
Agency alert covering Mt. Hood National Forest · Order 06-22-01-26-04 · USFS · Mt. Hood National Forest
FR 4613 road damage- use caution
Agency alert covering Mt. Hood National Forest · USFS · Mt. Hood National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Mt. Hood National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Top Shelf is a short, loop-shaped cross-country ski route in the Hood River Ranger District of Mt. Hood National Forest, in Oregon. The loop is about 0.7 miles long, rising from a low point of 4,241 feet to a high of 4,312 feet, with the steepest stretch around the 0.53-mile mark at about 7 percent grade. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is rated hard. Winter is the natural season for this ski loop. Typical averages from the nearby Government Camp weather station show January highs around 37°F with lows near 26°F, while July and August run warmer at about 69 to 70°F with only four wet days a month. The Vista Ridge Trail lies about 0.1 mile away, and the Meadows Creek Trail junction is about 0.2 mile off. For camping, Badger Lake is about 3 miles away and Bonney Meadows about 3.8 miles.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after Vertical
Restaurant
On your way back · 3 miIf it rains
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors
More in Mount Hood VillagesBest time to go · Jun–Sep
Best time to visit Top Shelf
Best months: June–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
37° / 26°
20 wet
Feb
38° / 26°
17 wet
Mar
41° / 28°
20 wet
Apr
45° / 31°
18 wet
May
54° / 36°
15 wet
Jun
59° / 41°
10 wet
Jul
69° / 48°
4 wet
Aug
70° / 48°
4 wet
Sep
64° / 45°
8 wet
Oct
53° / 37°
13 wet
Nov
42° / 30°
18 wet
Dec
35° / 26°
21 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Government Camp, OR, 6.2 mi away at 3,980 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive
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Teacup Tie Nordic
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0.06-mile trail in Badger Butte, Oregon, managed by the Forest Service.
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Vista Ridge Trail
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0.37-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 23 ft of elevation gain.
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Meadow Trail
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Meadow Trail is a 0.11-mile out-and-back route in Oregon with 68 feet of elevation gain.
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Hemlock Trail
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0.72-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 50 ft of elevation gain.
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Teacup Nordic
~1 min drive
1.39-mile trail in Badger Butte, Oregon with 208 ft elevation gain
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Hood River Road
Next door
0.70-mile out-and-back ski route on Hood River Road in Oregon with 63 ft of elevation gain.
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Vista Ridge Trail
Next door
0.31-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 60 ft of elevation gain.
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Gray Jay Trail
Next door
Gray Jay Trail is a short out-and-back route in Oregon with 106 feet of elevation gain.
SKI
Meadows Creek Nordic
~2 min drive
2.08-mile trail at Badger Butte with 442 ft elevation gain
SKI
Revenge Trail
Next door
0.28-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 132 ft of elevation gain.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
