Mt. Hood- Camping in Timberline Parking Lot

I'm trying to figure out a weekend to head down to Hood and ski Timberline since they are open for the year and my plan was to just throw up a tent in the parking lot. Has anyone done this before? Will they give you any trouble? Are there others that do the same thing this time of year?

Any info is appreciated.

-F

it's not legal- not sure how serious their pursuit would be at this point of the year. Try camping east of Govy near Trillium Lake. I've been stopped (woken up) for a bivy in the snowbank two springs ago in May.


Has anybody made it down there and know what shape the Palmer Glacier is in?

F.S. Road on left about 200yds after turning onto Timberline access road works good, or camp in car at Timberline.

We have spent numerous nights in our camping van in the Timberline parking lot next to the guardrail with a great view of the mountain.  I have not seen any tents in the parking lot during many years of visiting.  "snoholic's" comment is a good alternative.

I've camped in the Alpine campground a 1/2 mile or so below the lodge. Campground is closed right now but we've parked at the gate and walked to the camp sites 50 yards or so from the gate. Heard they were doing some tree thinning this year - don't know the current status, but this is usually my spot.

Agree with above post. Park outside the gate at the Timberline campground (Right across from the Mile 1 sign heading up to Timberline) and camp at the sites or sleep in your car in the parking lot. Did that last weekend and had no problems. Slept in my sleeping bag outside of a car once in the parking lot and was threatened with a fine....so thats a no go. I think what they dont see wont hurt em.