10 Beautiful Mt Hood Birds to Watch For
Posted by Betsy LaBarge | Thursday, April 16, 2020

With multiple lakes, a national forest and birding trails, Mt Hood is a bird-lover’s paradise! The USDA Forest Service tracks a list of over 180 birds from 40 families that are known to make an appearance at Mt Hood. Some of these birds frequent the area, and others make surprise appearances while migrating. The Oregon Cascades Birding Trail is an excellent place to look for many of these magnificent birds, and the Mt Hood Loop section of this trail will take you along the Columbia River and the base of Mt Hood.

Another notable site to bird watch in Mt Hood, Oregon is at Bonney Butte HawkWatch. This is a bird study site in Mt Hood National Forest, only six miles from Government Camp. They offer an excellent hawk watching site and educational programs from late August through October each year. If you’re planning on stopping by the Bonney Butte HawkWatch, the best time to go is between September 7th and October 12th, during “bulk passage” (that’s when the most raptors are migrating through the area).

Whether you’re a birder trying to check some more birds off your list, or a novice who enjoys their beautiful songs, we hope you enjoy our 10 favorite Mt Hood birds to watch for.

10 Beautiful Mt Hood Birds to Watch For

#1 – Green-Winged Teal

This beautiful duck is the smallest of the North American dabbling ducks and the males sport a green eye patch. The Green-Winged Teal is very common in North America, and Oregon is home to them year-round. Green-Winged Teals love inland lakes and shallow streams, and begin nesting in late May and early July. Did you know that they enjoy searching for food on mud flats more than any other species of duck?

#2 – Bufflehead

The Bufflehead is so beautiful it surely must be Photoshopped, right? This small sea duck is one of America’s smallest ducks, along with the aforementioned Green-Winged Teal. The males sport a mesmerizing iridescent helmet, and they puff out the feathers on their head to look larger. If you’re a birder, you’ve likely heard of the Bufflehead before. Did you know that they are known as the “spirit duck”? The Bufflehead winters in Oregon and Timothy Lake in the Mt Hood National Forest is a great place to spot them.

#3 – Red Tailed Hawk

The Red Tailed Hawk is a bird of prey which is very common in North America. Did you know that they can acclimate to a great variety of habitats? They are found in places such as deserts, forests, urban areas and more. The Red Tailed Hawk will eat a variety of prey, like rodents, ground squirrels, and even lizards.

#4 – Green Heron

This small bird has a glossy greenish cap and back with a chesnut neck and underbelly. The Green Heron is interesting for its intense courtship displays which lead to seasonally monogamous relationships. They like to nest high up in trees in the forest laying two to six eggs a time. Did you know that baby Green Herons can start to fend for themselves at just 30-35 days old?

#5 – American Wigeon

The American Wigeon is another dabbling duck species on our list, and the male sports a beautiful green eye patch like the Green-Winged Teal. The American Wigeon breeds throughout Oregon, but likes to winter in the South. They are often referred to as “poachers” or “robbers” because they hang around with diver birds and grab pieces of food brought to the surface.

#6 – Barrow’s Goldeneye

This sea duck has a striking yellow / golden eye and is named after Sir John Barrow. The Barrow’s Goldeneye is a diving bird, eating insects, vegetation and crustaceans. The Barrow’s Goldeneye is a pretty quiet bird until breeding season when it squeaks and croaks in a low volume. Did you know that the female Barrow’s Goldeneyes return to the same breeding site each year?

#7 – Calliope Hummingbird

Did you know that the Calliope Hummingbird is the smallest bird that is native to the United States? This cutie likes to nest throughout Oregon and Washington and makes a long distance migration each year. Male Calliope Hummingbirds have fantastic wine-red streaks on their neck area, which is referred to as a gorget. You’ll notice greenish highlights on both the males and females. Males can flap their wings up to 95 flaps per second when they’re courting a female!

#8 – Greater Yellowleg

This strange looking bird looks like it belongs on a beach rather than a forest! The Greater Yellowleg migrates throughout the United States and enjoys foraging in shallow water. You can spot them by their long thin legs and long black beak which has a slight upward curve at the end. Yellowlegs are sometimes referred to as “tattlers”, because they would make a lot of noise when bird hunters were out looking for shorebirds.

#9 – Hooded Merganser

The Hooded Merganser is a small diving duck with a lot of style. While the male and female Hooded Mergansers have different color coats during breeding season, they can both raise and lower their crests (that’s the funny looking hat this one is wearing in the picture). When it’s not breeding season, the male looks very similar to the female Hooded Merganser with a greyish-brown body.

#10 – Wild Turkey

Have you ever seen a Wild Turkey? These proud birds are pretty prevalent in Oregon. A male adult tukey can weight up to 24 pounds! You’d think such a large bird couldn’t take flight, but Wild Turkeys can actually fly close to the ground for up to a quarter mile.

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Mt Hood Wildflowers
Posted by Betsy LaBarge | Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Each year from snowmelt to fall, Mt Hood blooms with a great variety of colorful wildflowers. Spectators visit the Villages of Mt Hood to hike and bike trails that are lined with blossoms of all kinds. Trillium Lake Loop Trail and Summit Meadow, at higher elevations like the Timberline Trail, and Elk Meadows are all great places to take in the sights. While there are too many types of wildflowers in the area to identify in just one blog post, here are eight of our favorites!

8 of our Favorite Mt Hood Wildflowers

#1 – Lupine

Mt Hood is absolutely one of the best places to see Lupine, with large patches covering the ground in many places. Lupine is one of those must-stop-and-photograph wildflowers that can transform whole hillsides into lovely hues of purple/blue. Lupine typically flowers from late May to early August.

#2 – Monkey Flower

Monkeyflower in a whimsical plant, with bright yellow blooms popping up from lush dark greenery. This tubular wildflower has small orange specks in the inside and elk and deer have been known to snack on it. Monkeyflower blooms from June through August.

#3 – Penstemon

Creeping Penstemon is part of a huge genus of flowering plants that can grow in a variety of conditions. You’ve likely seen some sort of penstemon alongside a roadway, on a mountain or elsewhere. Creeping Penstemon can grow to cover several feet in a carpet-like manner. These beauties range in color from lavender to pink and bloom from early to mid-summer.

#4 – Columbines

Columbines are an absolutely stunning flower with a very delicate composition. This flower’s name actually means “dove-like” in Latin, with many saying that they dance on the wind. Columbines can come in many different colors, most notably blue/white or red/yellow. Columbines typically bloom from June through August.

#5 – Spreading Phlox

Spreading Phlox is a fragrant, small flower that attracts butterflies and moths. This wildflower grows in a matt/carpet like way, sprouting up from curious and sandy slopes. It’s always magnificent to see a wildflower grow in unusual circumstances. Spreading Phlox typically blooms from late May to mid-June.

#6 – Yarrow

Yarrow is both a beautiful and useful wildflower. Yarrow grows between 10 and 40 inches tall, and small white flowers with light yellow centers sprout up amongst fern-like green foliage. This wildflower has a long history of medicinal use and is still used by outdoor enthusiasts today. Yarrow typically blooms from May through Septemeber.

#7 – Pussy-paws

Cistanthe umbellata is actually referred to as the Mount Hood pussy-paws, so you can imagine they are pretty popular around here! This small perennial herb blooms in round puffs at the end of a stem – giving them their “paw-like” appearance. You will often see them laying on the ground, growing from a small patch of greenery among rocky/sandy soil starting in May and all the way through August.

#8 – Huckleberry Blossoms

Okay, you caught us! This is the huckleberry plant (you know, the kind you can eat), but the flowers that come before the berries are beautiful. Huckleberries are very dense throughout Mt Hood, so you’re sure to come across some Huckleberry Blossoms in early August just a few weeks before the berries are ready to pick.

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7 New Mt Hood Vacation Rentals for 2020
Posted by Mt Hood Vacation Rentals

Staying in a cabin or lodge at Mt Hood in Oregon is the best way to experience your vacation while creating life-long memories. Whether you are spending some alone time with your sweetheart in a romantic retreat, taking your family on an adventure-filled vacation or gathering with a large group of friends and family, we have something that will be just right for you. We’re pleased to showcase seven of our newest Mt Hood, Oregon cabin rentals in 2020.

6 Amazing New Cabin Rentals at Mt Hood Oregon at a Glance

1. Thistle Dew
2. Leilani Cottage
3. River Breeze Chalet
4. Holzhutte
5. Huckleberry Mountain Lodge
6. Lazy Bear Lodge

6 Amazing New Cabin Rentals at Mt Hood Oregon Details

#1 – Thistle Dew

• Bedrooms: 1
• Sleeps: 3
• Featured Amenities: Riverfront, Woodstove, Private Hot Tub, Romantic Retreat

Thistle Dew, a completely renovated historic cabin along the Salmon River in Welches has been the center of Mt Hood memories for more than a century. One of the original Welches family summer camping cabins, you can enjoy a vacation in the same cabin that has been creating memories since 1908. Sit back on the deck and watch the river flow by or soak in the private outdoor hot tub.

#2 – Leilani Cottage

• Bedrooms: 1
• Sleeps: 4
• Featured Amenities: Riverfront, Private Hot Tub, Dog-Friendly, Romantic Retreat

Leilani Cottage is a brand new custom built riverfront cabin crafted by 3rd generation family members to continue the memories made here for decades. You will create life-long memories, too, whether relaxing by the river or in the hot tub or reclining in the great room with a good book and a glass of wine.

#3 – River Breeze Chalet

• Bedrooms: 2
• Sleeps: 4
• Featured Amenities: Riverfront, Private Hot Tub, Dog Friendly, Woodstove, Family Cabin

Relax and unwind at the secluded River Breeze Chalet while being serenaded by the nearby Sandy River. Your dogs are welcome to join you here and they will love taking walks on the mile and a half gated, dead-end road. The kids will have lots of fun exploring the forest tree fort in the backyard.

#4 – Holzhutte

• Bedrooms: 4
• Sleeps: 10
• Featured Amenities: Government Camp, Private Cedar Hot Tub, Fireplace, Friends and Family Gathering Lodge

Holzhutte, a mid-century modern cedar chalet on the Blossom Trail near the Glade Trail in Government Camp is a European chalet-style lodge that was hand-built entirely from local cedar carried to the site by sled. During the winter months, you are close to snow-fun activites and during the summer, you will have easy access to hiking, mountain biking and paddling on the lakes.

#5 – Huckleberry Mountain Lodge

• Bedrooms: 6
• Sleeps: 14
• Featured Amenities: Secluded, Fireplace, Private Outdoor Hot Tub, Dog Friendly, Friends and Family Gathering Lodge

Huckleberry Mountain Lodge is a magnificent custom-built lodge surrounded by the Mt Hood National Forest in Welches. Gather in the vaulted great room with the double-sided floor-to-ceiling wood-burning fireplace and amazing views. Venture out for a hike or bike ride, however, you just might want to make the lodge your relaxation destination.

#6 – Lazy Bear Lodge

• Bedrooms: 6
• Sleeps: 18
• Featured Amenities: Golf Course Frontage, 3 Fireplaces, Private Hot Tub, Friends and Family Gathering Lodge

Lazy Bear Lodge is a comfortable custom-built lodge with relaxed mountain décor along the golf course in the Mt Hood Village of Welches. There is plenty of room for everyone with the vaulted great room, the loft TV room and the downstairs game room. Whether you are visiting for a family get-together or a business trip at the Resort, you are sure to enjoy this spacious lodge.

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Our six new Mt Hood vacation rentals are close to hiking, biking, skiing, golfing and paddling with comfortable spaces to relax, unwind and cook dinner at the end of the day. Browse our selection of Mt Hood vacation rentals to reserve the perfect cabin, cottage or lodge for your retreat. Want to know more? Our Vacation Planners are available to assist you.

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