Elk Cove Camp

Pacific Northwest

Elk Cove Camp

Pacific Northwest

At a glanceFree campsite

Free CampingBackcountryTent Site

About this campsite

Free camping at Elk Cove Camp.

What this place offers

Accommodation Types

Backcountry

Tent Site

Free Camping

Location

Elk Cove Camp•OR

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Nearby Campsites

within 50km

16.1 km away

Badger Lake Campground

Free camping at Badger Lake Campground.

18.4 km away

Bonney Meadows Campground

Free camping at Bonney Meadows Campground.

3.4 km away

Cloud Cap Saddle Campground

Campground: Cloud Cap Saddle Campground. Operated by Lost Lake Resort.

4.0 km away

TILLY JANE GUARD STATION

Overview Tilly Jane Guard Station is an ideal getaway for individuals and families who enjoy the great outdoors in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. It is one of the oldest structures on Mt. Hood and provides shelter for warmth and an escape from the elements while participating in a variety of activities, specifically winter-related recreation. During the winter months it serves as a winter retreat for visitors hardy enough to access the cabin from the Tilly Jane Sno-Park. The Guard Station can usually only be accessed by skis or snowshoes, as the Cloud Cap road is closed from late October until early July. Guests can access the cabin following a 9-mile, gently sloping road, or via the historic Tilly Jane Ski Trail, which is roughly 2.7 miles with an elevation gain of 1,900 feet. Skis with skins or snowshoes are highly recommended and travelers should be prepared for extreme weather conditions. The TJ Ski Trail is poorly marked due to the 2008 Gnarl Ridge Fire so be on notice. Guests should be experienced in backcountry travel and survival skills. Guests must also bring several of their own amenities. Recreation Visitors to the Guard Station enjoy a variety of recreational activities, including hiking, snowshoeing and backcountry skiing, which can be done most of the year due to high levels of snowfall in the area. Many trails exist in the area, prompting exploration. Most trails are not marked so visitors should be familiar with the area. Above the tree line, visitors can catch a glimpse of Mt. Adams, St Helens, Mt. Rainier and the Hood River Valley flanked by the dry high desert of eastern Oregon. Facilities The cabin accommodates up to 8 people. It includes a full kitchen (no running water) and a second story sleeping loft with 8 sleeping pads. It has propane lighting and a cooking stove/oven, as well as all cooking pots and utensils. A variety of seating is available, as well as a table and chairs. A fireplace and woodstove with firewood are also provided. An on-site pit toilet is located within the wood room of the cabin. Water is obtained by melting snow or by digging an access hole to Tilly Jane Creek. We recommend all water be treated. Guests will need to bring their own bedding, clothing, food, and garbage bags. A variety of house rules exist, including proper closure of the cabin, which involves shutting off the gas, reinstalling the shutters and locking the cabin up. The cabin will need to be cleaned prior to leaving, dishes washed and everything in its place. Guests will also need to replenish a supply of wood and kindling for the next group. All food and garbage must be removed from the cabin. Natural Features The Guard Station is located high on the northeast side of Mt. Hood at an elevation of 5,700 feet. It was built in 1934 and initially received seasonal use for back country access and fire protection. The cabin is one of five structures in the area built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps and is part of the Cloud Cap/Tilly Jane Historic District. The facility is operated and maintained by the volunteer organization, Oregon Nordic Club, under a permit from the U.S. Forest Service. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (877) 444-6777. Charges & Cancellations Standard Rec.gov change/cancellation policies apply. Cancellations with less than 14 days notice will pay a $10 service fee AND forfeit the first night's reservation fee and $6 booking fee.

4.0 km away

TILLY JANE A-FRAME

Overview The Tilly Jane A-Frame is an ideal getaway for individuals, groups and families who enjoy the great outdoors in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. The facility is one of the oldest structures on Mt. Hood and is a popular cabin used by winter recreationists. Peak season for use of the cabin is usually November through June.. It provides access to scenic terrain, specifically hiking, snowshoeing and backcountry skiing activities. During the summer months (usually July-September) the A-Frame is easily accessed by taking a short quarter mile walk through the Tilly Jane Campground. During the winter months ( October-June), it serves as a winter retreat for persons hardy enough to make the effort to get to the cabin from the Tilly Jane Sno-Park. Winter conditions often exist for nine months of the year. Visitors can ski to the cabin following a 9 mile gently sloping road or climb the historic Tilly Jane ski trail which is roughly 2.7 miles, with an elevation gain of 1,900 feet. Skis or snowshoes are highly recommended! Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety. Backcountry travel experience is highly recommended. Recreation Visitors must hike, snowshoe or ski to the facility during the winter months. During the summer season, it is possible to drive up and walk to the structure. Multiple trails can be accessed from the A-Frame, some of which are well marked and others covered by snow for most of the year. Nearby trails offer a variety of day trips, including to the Cooper Spur Stone shelter which offers great views of the majestic Mt. Hood, St Helens, Mt. Adams and Mt. Rainer. Facilities The 24-by-48, two story structure has a sleeping loft, accessed by a ladder that can accommodate up to 20 people. More than one group may reserve the facility at the same time. It is equipped with two picnic tables, benches, a few chairs and a wood stove for heating and boiling/melting snow. In warmer months, water can be found with a short walk to Tilly Creek. We advise that all water be treated or boiled. In winter, water can be obtained by digging an access hole to Tilly Creek or by melting snow using the pots provided at the cabin. A primitive outhouse with a pit toilet is provided within the alcove of the structure. You will need to bring your own toilet paper. Guests will also need to provide sleeping bags and pads, warm clothing, headlamps, cooking pots/pans, stove and fuel, matches or a lighter. It is best to treat your stay as a backpacking trip, bringing everything you'd need minus a tent. Several lanterns and replacement mantels are available. You will need to provide the one pound green propane canisters if you wish to use the lanterns. Firewood and splitting tools are provided. Natural Features The A-Frame is located high on the north side of Mt. Hood at an elevation of 5,700 feet. It is one of five structures within the Cloud Cap/Tilly Jane Historic District. It was built in the late 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and was used extensively by the American Legion in its early days. The facility is surrounded by old growth trees and is roughly 1,000 feet below tree line. It is operated and maintained by the all-volunteer, Oregon Nordic Club, under permit from the Forest Service. A cook shed is adjacent to the A-Frame, but has been condemned by the Forest Service.