Why Live in Mount Hood
Mount Hood, located about 10 miles from the base of the mountain, is a community known for its outdoor recreational activities and scenic landscapes. Anchored by a town hall and a U.S. Forest Service ranger station, the area features approximately 14,500 acres of pear, apple, and cherry orchards. Popular for mountain biking and hiking in the summer, trails like the Oak Ridge Trailhead offer views of farmland and wildflowers. In the winter, skiing and snowboarding are major attractions, with the mountain less than 20 minutes away. Toll Bridge Park, with its forested trails and camping sites along the East Fork Hood River, is a notable spot for outdoor activities.
Homes in Mount Hood range from farmhouses and manufactured homes with fruit or nut trees to new traditional homes with Craftsman influences, often featuring boat or RV parking. The community is part of the Hood River Fruit Loop, a route featuring fruit stands, orchards, wineries, and lavender fields. Local highlights include Draper Girls Country Farm and Grateful Vineyard, where visitors can pick fruit, meet farm animals, and enjoy local wine and cider.
Children in Mount Hood attend highly rated schools, starting at Parkdale Elementary School and continuing to Hood River Valley High School, which offers college credit courses in partnership with Columbia Gorge Community College. The main thoroughfare, Oregon Route 35, connects the community to nearby towns, and the Columbia Area Transit system provides a winter route to Mount Hood Meadows Ski Resort. The area also faces potential risks from wildfires and decreased air quality due to its forested surroundings.
