Yellow Jacket Ski Trail

Yellow Jacket Ski Trail is a cross-country ski route in Oregon's Mt. Hood National Forest, within the Zigzag 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 372 feet and a high point of 4,754 feet. The route is rated hard, and the steepest stretch comes early, at about 0.17 miles in, with a grade of 13 percent. The trail starts at an elevation of about 4,747 feet and ends at a similar level, so it works as a short loop. The most comfortable months for a ski outing are July and August, when typical averages from the nearby Government Camp weather station run to highs around 70°F and only about four wet days a month. Winter is cold and wet, with January highs near 37°F and lows around 26°F. Alpine Campground sits about 0.7 miles away, and Timberline Lodge Ski Area is about 1.1 miles off. Still Creek campground is about 2.1 miles away, and the White River offers canoeing about 6.6 miles from the trail.