12-mile loop from Timberline Lodge through Mount Hood's famous wildflower meadows.
“Nearly 3,000 feet up a forested ridge to an alpine meadow the Forest Service calls one of the best wildflower displays on Mount Hood.”
Plan your Mt. Hood Wilderness trip here, then get your permit from the agency.
Walk-up permit
How to get Paradise Park
Paradise Park is issued by the agency rather than through a booking calendar. Their page has the current process and any dates.
Official permit pagePlanning another trip? See the permits we alert on.
Paradise Park permit season
- Season
- May 1 (Recreation Pass requirement begins) to October 31
- route distance, out and back
- 13.7mi
Paradise Park elevation profile
Forest Road 2639-021 trailhead to Viewpoint, one wayForest Road 2639-021 trailhead
The start of Trail #778. A valid Recreation Pass is required from May 1 to October 31, and the Forest Service lists no water here.
- Mile
- 0
- Elevation
- 2,800 ft
Paradise Park landmarks
How to get a Paradise Park permit
No reservation. You get the permit when you arrive.
Arrive in person
Fill in the permit and pay
No permit fee. A valid Recreation Pass is required at the Paradise Park Trailhead from May 1 to October 31 See the fees below.
Head out
Mt. Hood trailheads and fees
- Paradise Park Trailhead (Forest Road 2639-021)
2,800 ft
Mt. Hood trailhead in full
Primary2,800 ft elevation
Paradise Park Trailhead (Forest Road 2639-021)The start of Paradise Park Trail #778, at 2,800 feet.
- No water
Parking
A valid Recreation Pass is required from May 1 to October 31.
Getting there
From Sandy: follow US-26 east 22 miles and turn left (north) at Kiwanis Camp Road / Forest Road 2639, about 0.6 mile east of milepost 48. Travel 1.2 miles to Forest Road 2639-021, turn left and park near the end of the road.
Nearest services
Sandy or Zigzag, Oregon.
As of September 2026, Paradise Park in Mt. Hood Wilderness, Oregon requires a permit issued via walk-up. Paradise Park is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. The permit season for Paradise Park runs May 1 (Recreation Pass requirement begins) through October 31. The Paradise Park route covers 13.7 miles, rated strenuous.
- Type
- Overnight
- Location
- Mount Hood Wilderness, Oregon Cascades, OR
How this permit is issued
Get this permit in person at the trailhead or ranger station, or by phone.
Official permit page →Step 1: Check the agency page for the process
This permit is not sold online. Confirm where and when it is issued (and any fee) at U.S. Forest Service before your trip.
Step 2: Arrive early
Walk-up permits are issued first-come, first-served. Where the agency sets a daily quota, popular trailheads can run out on weekends and holidays.
Step 3: Have backup plans
Popular trailheads fill fast. Know alternate routes or dates.
Paradise Park pro tips
- There is no water at the trailhead: the Forest Service lists it as unavailable. Carry everything
- The Forest Service publishes this trail segment by segment; the sum is about 6.35 miles to the Paradise Park Loop Trail junction and 6.85 to the viewpoint at 6,240 feet
- A valid Recreation Pass is required at the trailhead May 1 to October 31
- The posted trailhead has moved before. The last condition note put it in the field across from the Paradise Park Christian Camp cabin. Check current conditions before you drive
- Part of the trail was rebuilt in 1999 with gentler switchbacks, so it climbs steadily rather than brutally
More on Paradise Park: Live availability activityParadise Park Loop permit itineraryDo I need a Paradise Park Loop permit?
How much a Paradise Park permit costs
Paradise Park permit fee: No permit fee. A valid Recreation Pass is required at the Paradise Park Trailhead from May 1 to October 31.
The Paradise Park hike
- Distance
- 13.7 miles
- Route Type
- Out & Back
- Duration
- 1-2 days
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
- Elevation Range
- 2,800 - 6,240 ft
Nearly 3,000 feet up a forested ridge to an alpine meadow the Forest Service calls one of the best wildflower displays on Mount Hood.
About this permit
Paradise Park is an alpine meadow on the southwest flank of Mount Hood, reached by Paradise Park Trail #778 from Forest Road 2639-021. Mt. Hood National Forest describes it as climbing a forested ridge above the north side of the Zigzag River and eventually accessing the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail and Paradise Park itself, with outstanding views of the mountain and meadows known for outstanding wildflowers.
The trail begins at 2,800 feet and ends at Paradise Park Loop Trail #757 at 5,760 feet, with the trail continuing a further half mile through alpine meadows to a viewpoint at 6,240 feet. Summing the Forest Service's own segment distances gives about 6.35 miles to the #757 junction and 6.85 to the viewpoint.
The Forest Service lists one requirement on this trail's page: a valid Recreation Pass at the Paradise Park Trailhead from May 1 to October 31, plus wilderness restrictions. It also lists water availability at the trailhead as No. Free self-issued wilderness permits are the norm in this wilderness. The Forest Service states on its Ramona Falls page that they are required from May 15 to October 15 where provided at a portal, so fill one out if there is a box on your way in.
The route
Mt. Hood National Forest maps Trail #778 segment by segment. It begins at Forest Road 2639-021 at 2,800 feet and climbs gradually before starting up several switchbacks to a flat point after 1.7 miles. It continues northwest 0.7 mile to a ridgeline, then follows that ridgeline and climbs 3.25 miles to the junction with Zigzag Mountain Trail #775, with nice views of the Zigzag Canyon along the way.
Continue straight on #778 and after 0.2 mile you reach the junction with the Pacific Crest Trail #2000. From there it is another 0.5 mile through meadows and more open forest to Paradise Park Loop Trail #757, at 5,760 feet, the old end of the trail. It carries on a further 0.5 mile through alpine meadows to a spectacular viewpoint at 6,240 feet.
Add those segments up and it is about 6.35 miles to the #757 junction and 6.85 to the viewpoint. Part of the trail was reconstructed in 1999, turning the steeper sections into more gradual switchbacks, and the Forest Service notes that while it follows a ridgeline it is not an exposed ridge that would be precarious for stock.
Why it matters
Paradise Park is where the Pacific Crest Trail crosses the southwest flank of Mount Hood, and the Forest Service description of Trail #778 is unusually specific about the reward: an outstanding view of Mount Hood while passing through meadows known for outstanding wildflowers.
The feeling
A long forested ridge with the Zigzag Canyon opening up below you, then the trees thin and the meadows start and the mountain fills the sky.
Paradise Park hike highlights
- About 6.35 miles and roughly 2,960 feet of climbing to reach the Paradise Park Loop Trail junction
- A ridgeline that the Forest Service specifically says is not precariously exposed, including for stock
- Meadows the Forest Service calls known for outstanding wildflowers
- No water at the trailhead
- A Recreation Pass requirement from May 1 to October 31
How hard the Paradise Park hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required4/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills1/5
- Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential2/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity2/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route2/5
Best for: Strong day hikers and backpackers who want the meadows without the full Timberline Trail commitment.
Recommended experience: Comfort with a sustained 3,000-foot climb.
Not recommended for: Anyone expecting water on the way up. There is none at the trailhead and the Forest Service says so.
When to hike Paradise Park
Best time to visit
The Recreation Pass window of May 1 to October 31 brackets the practical season. Wildflowers in the meadows are the reason most people come, and they follow snowmelt: high summer rather than early summer in a heavy year. Late September gives you the clearest views of the mountain and the emptiest trail.
- Peak
- Mid-July through August
- Shoulder
- Late June and September
Spring
The Recreation Pass requirement starts May 1, but the upper meadows are still under snow.
Crowd level · low
- Advantage: Quiet
- Advantage: Water running in the drainages
- Challenge: Snow up high
- Challenge: Meadows not out yet
- Challenge: Trail conditions unknown past the wilderness boundary
Summer
The wildflower season, once the meadows melt out.
Crowd level · high
- Advantage: The meadows at their best
- Advantage: Long days
- Advantage: Full PCT connection
- Challenge: Hot on the lower forested ridge
- Challenge: No water at the trailhead
- Challenge: Afternoon storms
Fall
Clear, cool and quiet through the end of the Recreation Pass window on October 31.
Crowd level · moderate
- Advantage: Best mountain views
- Advantage: Cool climbing
- Advantage: Fewest people
- Challenge: Meadows past their peak
- Challenge: Short days
- Challenge: Early snow
Winter
No pass requirement after October 31 and full winter conditions on the upper trail.
Crowd level · low
- Advantage: Solitude
- Challenge: Snow
- Challenge: Road access
- Challenge: Avalanche terrain higher up
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
63°
43°
Wed
61°
51°
Thu
61°
46°
Fri
68°
43°
Sat
68°
41°
Sun
71°
41°
Mon
76°
45°
Paradise Park photography guide
Golden Hour
Evening light on Mount Hood from the meadows, which face the right way for it.
Best Light
Late September mornings, when the air clears and the mountain reads sharp.
Beat the Crowds
The 3,000-foot climb does most of the filtering. Weekdays and late September do the rest.
Classic Shots
- Mount Hood over the Paradise Park meadows
- Zigzag Canyon from the ridgeline climb
- Wildflowers in the foreground with the mountain behind
- The PCT junction sign, which is where a lot of thru-hiker photographs get taken
Paradise Park rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- All your water. The Forest Service lists water availability at this trailhead as No
- Layers for a 3,400-foot elevation change
- Sun protection for the open meadow sections up high
Recommended gear
- Trekking poles for a long descent
- A stove rather than a fire; wilderness restrictions apply
- Traction early in the season, when the upper meadows hold snow
Rules & regulations
- 01A valid Recreation Pass is required at the Paradise Park Trailhead from May 1 to October 31
- 02Wilderness restrictions apply in the Mount Hood Wilderness
- 03Mt. Hood National Forest states that free, self-issued wilderness permits are required from May 15 to October 15 when provided at a portal. Fill one out if there is a box at your trailhead
Hazards & considerations
- A sustained climb with no water source at the trailhead
- Snow lingering in the upper meadows well into the summer
- Afternoon weather on an exposed alpine bench with no shelter
- Trail conditions past the wilderness boundary; the Forest Service's most recent posted condition note flagged that the trail was cleared of logs only as far as the wilderness boundary and may be impassible beyond
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Paradise Park.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Paradise Park · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
Some links may be affiliate links. Purchases support PermitSnag at no extra cost to you.
Paradise Park FAQ
Do I need a permit to hike to Paradise Park on Mount Hood?
Mt. Hood National Forest lists one requirement on the Paradise Park Trail #778 page: a valid Recreation Pass at the Paradise Park Trailhead from May 1 to October 31, plus wilderness restrictions. The forest also states, on its Ramona Falls page, that free self-issued wilderness permits are required in the Mount Hood Wilderness from May 15 to October 15 where provided at a portal, so fill one out if there is a box at the trailhead.
How long is the hike to Paradise Park on Trail #778?
The Forest Service publishes it in segments: 1.7 miles to a flat point, 0.7 mile to the ridgeline, 3.25 miles along the ridgeline to the Zigzag Mountain Trail #775 junction, 0.2 mile to the PCT #2000 junction, then 0.5 mile to Paradise Park Loop Trail #757. That totals about 6.35 miles one way, with a further 0.5 mile to a viewpoint at 6,240 feet.
How much elevation gain is the Paradise Park trail?
The trail begins at Forest Road 2639-021 at 2,800 feet and ends at Paradise Park Loop Trail #757 at 5,760 feet, so about 2,960 feet of gain. Continuing to the viewpoint at 6,240 feet makes it roughly 3,440 feet.
Is there water at the Paradise Park trailhead?
No. Mt. Hood National Forest lists water availability at this trailhead as No. Carry everything you need for a sustained climb.
Paradise Park trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
Sign in to report trail conditions.
Questions
No questions yet
Be the first to ask about Paradise Park.
Trip Reports
Write ReportAlternatives to a Paradise Park permit
- Easier AlternativePermit required
Ramona Falls
A 7-mile loop with 1,000 feet of gain to a waterfall on columnar basalt, on the same forest.
Tradeoffs
A third of the climbing, but an unbridged glacial river crossing that the Forest Service says will never be bridged.
- Similar ExperienceNo permit needed
McNeil Point Shelter
A short hike off the Timberline Trail to the stone shelter, with views over the Bull Run watershed.
Tradeoffs
Higher and later to melt out, often through June, with a different aspect on the mountain.
- Similar ExperienceNo permit needed
Timberline Trail #600
The full circumnavigation of Mount Hood, which passes through Paradise Park.
Tradeoffs
A multi-day commitment with several glacial river crossings rather than a long day.
Where to stay near Paradise Park
- Pattee Canyon Picnic AreaLolo National Forest
- West Fork Butte LookoutLolo National Forest
- Larry Creek Group CampBitterroot National Forest
- All Oregon campgrounds
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