Oregon · Cross-country skiing · Near Mount Hood Villages

Vista Ridge Trail

0.4 mi
round trip
338 ft
climb
4,377 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Vista Ridge Trail open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 6 alerts for Mt. Hood National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Mt. Hood National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Vista Ridge Trail is a short, out-and-back 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 rated hard. It covers about 0.7 miles, with a total elevation gain of 338 feet from a low point of 4,231 feet to a high of 4,377 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.23 miles, with a 14% grade. 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 20 or more days. Top Shelf, a cross-country ski area, sits just 0.1 mile away, and the Meadows Creek Trail junction is about 0.3 mile off. For an overnight stay, Badger Lake and Bonney Meadows campgrounds are both within about 4 miles.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Dispersed Camping near Jean Lake (Mt. Hood National Forest)

    Campground

    Campground · 2.3 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Vertical

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 3 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Mount Hood Villages
  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Vista Ridge Trail

    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.

    1. Jan

      37° / 26°

      20 wet

    2. Feb

      38° / 26°

      17 wet

    3. Mar

      41° / 28°

      20 wet

    4. Apr

      45° / 31°

      18 wet

    5. May

      54° / 36°

      15 wet

    6. Jun

      59° / 41°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      69° / 48°

      4 wet

    8. Aug

      70° / 48°

      4 wet

    9. Sep

      64° / 45°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      53° / 37°

      13 wet

    11. Nov

      42° / 30°

      18 wet

    12. Dec

      35° / 26°

      21 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Government Camp, OR, 6.1 mi away at 3,980 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors