McNeil Point Trail #600M

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

McNeil Point Trail is a 1.5 mile trail off of Timberline Trail #600 leading to the historic McNeil Shelter and climbing up into alpine meadows on the high north flanks of Mt. Hood. It provides outstanding views of half the Mt. Hood Wilderness as well as Mt. Adams, Mt. St. Helens, and Mt. Rainier, all in Washington. The shelter is at the large switchback, and the trail above climbs up to the Glisan Glacier.

Most of this trail is above timberline except for patches of silver and subalpine fir and mountain hemlock. The rest of the area is a variety of subalpine and alpine grass and plants. Wildflowers are prolific in late July and August and include paintbrush, lupine, penstemon, bear grass, western pasque flower, monkey flower, avalanche lilies, bistort, stonecrop, mountain heather, pinedrops, subalpine daisy, and many more. When visiting the Timberline Trail and the side trails that get you to subalpine and alpine environments, bring or download a Cascade flower guidebook. There is also often wildlife sightings of chipmunks, marmot, deer, and a variety of birds. You'll see signs of the wildfires including Dollar Lake Fire that burned parts of this area on your run.