Uncharted - Paradise Park
Uncharted is a challenge series from Territory Run Co for the Greater Portland area that aims to get you out exploring new areas with pre-planned routes. While each area we highlight may not be new to you, we hope it inspires you to explore some lesser known areas.
HOW IT WORKS
1. Complete one of the listed routes below.
2. Log your run here. Once reviewed, you will receive an email with a merit badge. If you complete between the dates of August 1st - August 31st, this badge of completion awards you $10 in store credit for any Territory products.
3. For each challenge we will also offer a grand prize package. To be entered to win, complete the route between above dates, log it here, and tag us in a photo from your run on instagram.
We will have Uncharted routes throughout the year and you will be able to collect merit badges from each.
You can join the Uncharted Strava Group here.
Paradise Park Background
Paradise Park, located in the scenic Mount Hood National Forest, is a breathtaking alpine destination renowned for its stunning vistas, vibrant wildflower meadows, and idyllic setting. Situated on the southwestern slopes of Mount Hood, this picturesque area is a truly special place. If you've spent many summers in Oregon, you've no doubt heard of it.
Its trails wind through diverse landscapes, from dense forests to open meadows, offering panoramic views of Mount Hood and the surrounding Cascade Range. During the summer months, the meadows burst into a kaleidoscope of colors with a variety of wildflowers, creating a tapestry of beauty abuzz with pollinators rushing from flower to flower.
For this month's Uncharted we are going to try something a little different- offering a "Standard Route" and an "Adventure Route". Our Standard Route is a beautiful and fulfilling day with relatively easy navigation. The Adventure Route, while a little shorter, features more route finding and elevation gain, but I can assure you it is more than worth it.
THE ROUTES
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12 Mile Standard Route GPX File
Starting from the iconic Timberline Lodge, we will be making our way up to the Timberline Trail. There are a myriad of ways to get up to the Timberline Trail and, truthfully, I've probably never taken the exact same way twice. For this route I have us starting up the gated service road at the Salmon River Overflow Parking, just to the East of the lodge. Very quickly you will intersect with the Timberline Trail and take a left.
We'll be on the Timberline Trail for awhile here, passing below ski lifts and dodging tourists hiking from the lodge. After passing Little Zigzag Canyon, the number of other trail users quickly declines. We are now making our way the the real Zigzag Canyon, but make sure to take in the beautiful views of the canyon below before your descent through the forest.
There will be an easy rock up across the Zigzag river at the bottom of the canyon and then we begin our climb up to the junction with Paradise Park Trail. As you begin to crest the climb out of the canyon there will be a trail to your right that continues up even higher. This is the beginning of the Paradise Park Loop and we will take this trail up and above tree line. Soon the forest gives way to meadows of beautiful wildflowers. Lupine, beargrass, paintbrush, pasqueflower and others are abundant here. As you meander through the fields, soon Mt Hood reveals itself right before you.
The trail begins to level out as we traverse the Paradise Park. Water is abundant with crystal clear streams running out of the mountain. It's beautiful surroundings makes this area an incredibly popular camping spot. We are going to continue on the trail and soon Split Rock, a giant split boulder, will become visible in the distance.
We're nearing the end of Paradise Park here. We will take the trail all the way back as it descends back down to the Timberline Trail, being sure to take a left here to return back the direction of the lodge. From here we will briefly enjoy a section of Timberline Trail we haven't yet seen today before returning to the same junction we began our loop with. Continue back to the lodge staying on the Timberline Trail.
10 Mile Adventure Route GPX File
Our Adventure Route starts the exact same as the Standard. Beginning from Timberline Lodge we will take the Timberline Trail all the way to the junction with Paradise Park, climb up into Paradise Park and then continue to Split Rock. Split Rock is significant for this route as it marks our path up and above Paradise Park. We are going to be climbing up to a massive rock formation called Mississippi Head- entering an otherworldly landscape.
As you climb up and out of Paradise Park, the vegetation slowly subsides until you are on nothing but rock, sand and snow. Continue picking your way through the faint path eventually coming to an overlook with a two-tiered waterfall coming straight from the glaciers above. You will see Mississippi head to your right. As you climb up to Mississippi head the route becomes more rugged. Choose the path of least resistance being careful of loose rock.
Once you get up and atop Mississippi Head, you will think you want to start traversing back to the lodge, but we still have more climbing to do. We need to runout Zigzag Canyon which you will see below. Keep climbing up rock bands and carefully crossing snowfields. Although mostly benign, there are small sections of snow that have open cracks forming- there are still technically glaciers in this area. They are easy to see and easy to avoid by staying on the rock bands, and crossing the snow in strategic places. Eventually we will be above Zigzag canyon and are rewarded with a gorgeous view below us.
From the top of Zigzag Canyon, it's pretty much all down hill. We are going to be traversing through snow fields towards the ski lifts ahead of us. Soon the lodge will come into view. Continue under the ski lifts, or if the lifts are running, climb up and behind the Palmer lift house to avoid the skiers. Once you've traversed to the east side of the lifts, it is a "choose-your-own adventure" back to the lodge- which will remain in view the whole time.
No adventure is complete without some celebratory food and drink. We've included a few of our favorite spots in the area to check out post-run.
| Ratskellar | Charlie's Mountain View | Koya Kitchen |