The Camp Free book by Don Reichert is a great resource for camping in the Mount Hood National Forest. You can also find a ton of suggestions by Google searching "dispersed camping in Oregon." My thoughts on camping are the following: I do not want to pay someone else money to sleep on the ground in the wilderness, I do not want to use the pit toilets, if I need to shower I will do it in the damn river and I do not want to be on top of other people. For these reasons, I usually search out free sites by rivers and lakes. Now, there are some benefits to camping at campgrounds and I have found a few that are actually pretty great, but usually I want free or a hotel.
My most favorite-est site on Mt Hood is right off of Lolo's Pass and I have lovingly named it, "The Grotto."
My most favorite-est site on Mt Hood is right off of Lolo's Pass and I have lovingly named it, "The Grotto."
Feast your eyes fool! I can't even believe it exists in real life. A moss covered ground surrounded by blooming Rhododendrons and trees dripping with lichen. The view from the site is of majestic Mt. Hood and the river below. At sunset the mountain turns pink. You can hear water splashing against rocks from your tent. The site is large enough that big groups of us are able to be accommodated with space to spare...but make no mistake, this is MY spot...the homies would never try to set up camp in The Grotto.
If you continue down Lolo's Pass (which is a gravel road so don't chance it if your car is busted) you will reach Lost Lake. Now, here's the crazy thing about this gorgeous area...the lake is only a lake sometimes. As in, sometimes there is a lake, and sometimes it disappears. I'm not kidding. It's magic. Or maybe its just that it drains sometimes down a lava tube and becomes a wildflower field, but hey, I think that's kinda magical.
Lost Lake Resort rents kayaks, canoes, SUPs, etc. Mrs. Bugglesworth and I got a kayak for $13/hr which is a fairly reasonable rate. The lake has campsites, rustic cabins, and a huge store. There are nightly activities and lectures for the campers which set it apart from other campgrounds on Mt Hood. The checkpoint charges $8/car for day use of the area which was well worth it. Parking was not a problem earlier in the day, but things got a bit congested beginning about 11 which seems to be the pattern on the mountain. I didn't stay the night so I can't report on the price of camping and cabins...but hey, that's why I have provided a link for you to do your own research dummy.
A great hike on Mt Hood located close to both Lost Lake and the dispersed camping on Lolo's Pass is Ramona Falls...but we'll save that for next time. And one warning about using dispersed sites: follow fire precautions and burn bans. We are in a drought and fires are not allowed outside of established iron rings within monitored camping area on Mt Hood and in most areas of Oregon. If you need a fire to enjoy camping, that would be a benefit of paying to camp. We lit some candles and placed them on top of the fire ring at our sites, which I'm not sure is totally legal/acceptable but I thought it was a nice compromise. And while we are discussing campfires, don't be the turd that brings firewood from a different state or forest...you can spread diseases and such, m'kay? Always get your firewood from nearby.
A great hike on Mt Hood located close to both Lost Lake and the dispersed camping on Lolo's Pass is Ramona Falls...but we'll save that for next time. And one warning about using dispersed sites: follow fire precautions and burn bans. We are in a drought and fires are not allowed outside of established iron rings within monitored camping area on Mt Hood and in most areas of Oregon. If you need a fire to enjoy camping, that would be a benefit of paying to camp. We lit some candles and placed them on top of the fire ring at our sites, which I'm not sure is totally legal/acceptable but I thought it was a nice compromise. And while we are discussing campfires, don't be the turd that brings firewood from a different state or forest...you can spread diseases and such, m'kay? Always get your firewood from nearby.