Yellowjacket Loop

Length: 2.9 miles

Elevation Gain: 550 feet.

The Yellowjacket Loop is a beautiful tromp through the snow-covered mountainside on the flanks of Mt Hood. The trail originated from the Snow Bunny Sno Park, which is primarily known as a sledding destination. Thus, you are much more likely to find solitude along this trail than many other, more popular routes on Hood. This also may mean that you get to break trail if it has snowed recently, so girdle your loins for a workout!

The trail leaves just out behind the first sledding hill, behind the little maintenance building. Head up an old road bed past a second sledding hill to you right and quickly reach a junction with the White-A-Way trail reading to the left. You can go either way you wish, but we went left so you’re going to have to deal with that.

The White-A-Way trail follows and old road through towering, snow-covered timber and it slowly bends to the north and climbing a couple hundred feet above Highway 26. It’s a slow but steady climb as you push up 300 feet above the sno park. Just short of a mile into the loop, watch for a sign directing you to the Yellowjacket trail to your right. The trail kind of v’s behind you and is easy to miss. If you reach another junction in a 1/10 of mile or so with a sign pointing you to Timberline Road, you missed it.

The Yellowjack trail is a more traditional snowshoe trail, winding through the trees and traveling up and down small hills. There area has a few short but steep up and downs, that make for some fun snow running if you’re up for it. You pretty much stay in thick trees for the majority of the trail, limiting any views. You will reach the highpoint of the trail about ½ a mile from the junction, and in another third of a mile of ups and downs, you will reach the junction with the Snowbunny trail. Make a right and follow this old road downhill back towards the sno park. >

If you have some extra energy, about a quarter mile after heading down the Snowbunny trail, there will be another junction that heads to the left and will take to you a nice viewpoint in ¾ of a mile. If you’re good with the trip, or it’s dumping snow and you can’t see the mountain anyway, continue right and keep heading down the Snowbunny trail and you will find yourself back at the Sno-Park in a leisurely, downhill mile.

Directions

The Yellowjack Loop can be found at the Snowbunny Sno Park, which is located along Highway 26 on Mt Hood, 1.7 miles east of Government Camp or ¾ of a mile west of the Highway 35 junction, right across the road from the Trillium Sno Park

Things to Know

Passes: An Oregon Sno-Park permit is required November 1 through April 30.

Dogs: Allowed and must be on leash or under voice command at all times.

Usage: Light.

Open Season: As long as there's snow. Most years will have suitable snow depth from December into April.