Spring is in the air at Whispering Woods!
May 1, 2017 by Whispering
The snow is starting to melt, birds are starting to sing, and our beautiful wild flowers are starting to bloom.
After a snow-filled winter, Mt Hood is beginning to glow bright green with new growth. Our local hiking trails around the Welches area are flourishing with life.
Even as the Salmon, Sandy and Zigzag Rivers are roaring with snow melt, there are a few nearby trails that are (almost) snow free, including:
Old Salmon River Trail #742A
A beautiful trail that winds around the Salmon River. This trail is relatively flat, kid friendly, and only 1.9 miles long.
You will enjoy the sound of the Salmon River as you cross several bridges along your route.
Sandy Ridge Trail System
Located in Welches off Barlow Trail Road, the Sandy Ridge Trail system contains over 15 miles of winding trails, rivers, small waterfalls and beautiful wildlife. Trail elevations range from 1000 to 2260 ft.
At .75 miles long, Laura’s Loop is an easy hike or ride. To step it up a notch, try Hide and Seek, an intermediate trail at about 4 miles long that parallels Little Joe Creek along the way. These trails are both hiking and mountain bike friendly.
WARNING: If you are hiking, please be cautious as mountain bikes may be traveling at high speed along the way.
Little Zigzag Falls Trail #795c
This beautiful half-mile long trail winds along the Zigzag River at an elevation between 3200 and 3300 ft in elevation.
In the springtime, you may encounter a few sections of hard-packed snow on your way to a beautiful waterfall at the end of the trail. An extra feature to this trail is the original, historic Route 26 bridge.
The Wildwood Recreation Site
Ideal for all ages, you will find flat, over-sized walking trails, beautiful bridges and a special cascade underwater viewing window at the Wetland Boardwalk, a wildlife viewing sanctuary. It’s a great place for the entire family.
Their is a $5.00 entrance fee to Wildwood Recreation Site.
After May 15th, a $5.00 National Forest Recreation Day Pass must be purchased to enjoy any of the Mt. Hood National Forest trails, with day passes available for purchase at the Whispering Woods Front desk. If you prefer an Annual or 3-Day pass, they are available at the Zigzag Ranger Station and our local Thriftway grocery store.
With the early Spring weather permitting, these trails are a great start to the season. For additional information, please contact the Whispering Woods front desk at 503-622-3171 or the Zigzag Ranger station at 503-622-3191.
Enjoying the best cuisine on Mt. Hood!!
February 26, 2017 by Whispering
Staying for a week or just a weekend? The great cuisine and entertainment on Mt. Hood is endless.
Rhododendron Restaurants
Looking for a cozy crackling fire after a long day on the slopes? The Skyway Bar and Grill is the perfect place to unwind. Their Bacon Cheeseburger, Mac and Cheese with 20 different toppings, Smoked Ribs and Cheesy Garlic Fries are an absolute must-try. Don’t leave with out trying a Hot Moroccan Coffee to warm you up!
For authentic Sicilian food, look no further than Al Forno Ferruzza in Rhododendron. It’s is a special treat! Our favorites include Quattro Stagione Wood Fired Pizza and the Antipasti Verdure with Sicilian Olives and Capers. If you don’t feel like getting out of your pajamas, they will deliver anything you want for a $5.00 charge.
Welches Restaurants
One of our favorite breakfast places to visit is The Dragon Fly Bakery and Cafe located in the Mt. Hood RV Village. Chef Rory bakes Fresh Cinnamon Rolls and a variety of breads daily. A couple of “not to be missed” items on the menu are the Pancakes, Build your own omelette and Eggs Benedict!
If you enjoy an excellent fine dining experience in a casual setting, we can’t say enough about the quality and flavor of The Rendezvous Grill. For lunch: Try the BLT with Avacado, Wild Coho Fish and Chips. For dinner, try the Sauteed King Salmon Salad and The New York Steak with Gorgonzola Butter.
Government Camp Restaurants
If you are visiting in Government Camp, we recommend The Mt. Hood Brewing Co. Known for their great micro brews, the Ice Axe Ale is a favorite. In the food department, try the MHBC Wings and the Granny Smith Apple and Spinach Salad.
If you are looking for a giant Cheeseburger, The Ratskeller offers burgers the size of Mt. Hood!! It takes a large steak knife to hold it all together.
For early mornings out the door to the slopes, stop bye the Huckleberry Inn for a famous glazed doughnut or maple bar and hot coffee to go!
Prefer to Cook In Your Own Condo?
Whispering Woods Resort offers our guests full kitchens, full sized appliances and a full size BBQ on the deck of every condo. If planning meals in your condo, we recommend stopping in the nearby town of Sandy, just 16 miles west on Hwy 26. Popular stores in Sandy include Fred Meyer (grocery and department store), Safeway (groceries), Grocery Outlet (groceries), Bi-Mart (department store and a few groceries), and Dollar Tree.
Welches Grocery Store
If you are already at the Resort and you have forgotten something, we have a well-stocked local Thriftway Grocery Store less than 5 minutes by car and about 1 mile on foot. Thriftway has just about everything, including a great wine and beer selection, fresh produce, meats and cheeses.
Want to see a menu?
Please stop by the front desk for menus and more information. Most of us who work at Whispering Woods are local residents and we think our local restaurants are some of the finest in Oregon. We look forward to seeing you and hope you enjoy your culinary mountain experience!!
Come Visit Mt. Hood For The Best Skiing And Boarding!
January 16, 2017 by Whispering
Get ready Whispering Woods guests! Mt. Hood is your skiing and snowboarding destination.
Home to world class skiing and snowboarding in the Pacific Northwest, take your pick from three famous snow resorts.
Mt. Hood Skibowl is “America’s Largest Night Ski Area,” featuring 34 fully lit runs and 65 total runs. This resort has more black diamond runs than any other in the state.
Be sure to try Ski Bowl’s nighttime cosmic tubing from 5pm to 11pm. Only 15 minutes from Whispering Woods Resort.
Next stop, the famous Timberline Lodge. Step back in time at this beautiful, historic snow resort. Come ski where the movie The Shining was filmed.
Timberline is a great beginner and intermediate mountain for all ages, and also offers night skiing. If you fancy a summer skiing experience, you can also find it here.
National and International Olympic-class ski teams descend on Mt. Hood in the summer months, skiing the Palmer Snowfield from June through September.
Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort is a skiers paradise. With 2,150 acres of ski-able terrain and night skiing, this resort is perfect for the entire family.
For beginners, intermediate and advanced skiiers, “Meadows” offers lessons, equipment rentals, coaching, camps and clinics. They even offer day care for those with children who aren’t yet on skis.
Read to hit the slopes?
Whispering Woods guests get discounted Timberline tickets. Come see our friendly front desk staff for more information on our Mt. Hood Ski Resorts.
For Skibowl information: www.skibowl.com or call 503-222-2695.
For Timberline information: TimberlineLodge.com or call 503-272-3311.
For Mt. Hood Meadows information: SkiHood.com or call 503-337-2222
Pucci and Bruno Chairlifts open at Timberline for the Thanksgiving Day Weekend!!
November 27, 2016 by Whispering
Beautiful snow is falling on Mt. Hood and Timberline ski area is opening 2 lifts for the Thanksgiving week.
With more snow expected to fall the weekend of Thanksgiving, more lifts and ski areas may also open soon.
If you plan on driving to any of the area ski resorts, remember your snow park permits. You can purchase a snow park permit at the Whispering Woods front desk and at many area merchants.
As an alternative to driving, Mt. Hood Express is a public bus service with local stops and service to Mt. Hood Ski Bowl and Timberline Lodge ski area.
For Mt. Hood Express information, visit www.mthoodexpress.com or call 503-668-3466.
For more information on area ski conditions, visit timberlinelodge.com or skibowl.com. You may also call Timberline at 503-272-3311.
Sail the Portland Spirit for the Holidays!!
November 27, 2016 by Whispering
Looking for family fun this holiday season? Come sail the Portland Spirit, an ideal and fun adventure for all ages.
The Portland Spirit offers several different cruises tailored to your needs. Enjoy live piano music and fantastic service during lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch cruises.
During the holidays, The Cinnamon Bear Cruise is fantastic for young children. Enjoy storytelling from Queen Melissa and magic from Presto the Magician.
On December 25th, their will be 2 holiday buffet cruises running. Boarding times are 11am and 4pm.
What a beautiful way to spend Christmas sailing on the Willamette River. Enjoy Portland’s scenic downtown skyline from the water.
For more information call 503-224-3900 or 800-224-3901, or visit them at portlandspirt.com
Hiking The Salmon River Trail All Year Long!!
November 6, 2016 by Whispering
If you want to enjoy a truly four season hike, the beautiful Salmon River Trail never gets old. To find it on a map, look for Trail 742.
Located just minutes away from Whispering Woods Resort, it parallels the Salmon River and offers hiking options for everyone.
If you have never hiked along a river, you’re in for a treat. The sound of a river while hiking is tranquil and soul cleansing. Breathtaking beauty can be seen in all four seasons. From spring flowers to the changing colors of Fall, the sights and sounds are a satisfying experience.
The Salmon River Trail #742 starts a little before the bridge on Salmon River Road and, depending on who you ask and where you start, runs from 8 – 14 miles in length. Winding from the edge of the Salmon River to a bluff with several view points, the patch varies from narrow to wide with several steep sections. You can find more information here and here.
For a shorter hike, the Old Salmon River Trail 742A, is only 2 miles long and is great for all ages. It parallels the Salmon river through wild and scenic beauty, with a few bridges that take you across small running creeks.
Whether you choose to hike Trail 742 or 742A, it will be a wonderful addition to your Mt. Hood visit.
Remember your phone or camara! Please ask our friendly front desk staff for directions and additional information.
Night Time Mountain Biking Comes to Mt. Hood September 23rd 2016!!
September 18, 2016 by Whispering
Mt. Hood Adventure Park will be the first mountain bike park in the United States to offer night time mountain biking. September 23rd, 2016, will be the first night of fun.
Visit Hurricane Racing and The Bike Learning Center (BLC) at Mt. Hood Skibowl to enjoy a bicycle park with features for all riding levels. Located at Ski Bowl West, it’s summertime riding at its best.
With elevated north shore boards, wall rides, berm turns and sculptured jumps, Skibowl is a place famous for it’s challenging flow and scenic riding environment.
If you need to rent bikes and equipment, Hurricane makes it easy. Choose from a huge selection of new and used bikes for sale, as well as helmets, gloves, knee and elbow pads and chest protectors for sale or rent.
For those interested in learning to ride, The Bike Learning Center is perfect for all ages. They teach fundamental skills necessary for riding in a bike park.
The BLC offers a progressive learning environment featuring dual slalom courses and a pump track section. Instructors teach beginning to experienced riders looking to enhance their techniques.
You can purchase an all day bike lift for $39, a single bike lift $20, or a season pass $205. For more information call 503-222-2695 or visit www.skibowl.com
Whispering Woods guests are enjoying Summer fun!!
September 11, 2016 by Whispering
This year let Whispering Woods be your resort destination. We are home to Mt. Hood.
Your endless kayaking fun starts here. It’s a chance to become one with nature.
The feeling of beauty is all around you. To catch a glance of a soaring eagle above or the beautiful refection of Mt Hood on Trillium lake is something to remember.
Mt. Hood Adventures is offering Kayaking on Trillium or Clear Lake this year. Enjoy canoeing, paddle boarding, single and double kayaks.
Rental prices are $25.00 per hour or $55.00 for the entire day. Life vests, oars, sunscreen and cameras are included. Mt. Hood adventures will drop off your kayak or boat to the lake.
All you have to do is make your reservations at www.MtHoodAdventures.com or by calling 503-715-2175.
Summer Fun in the Mt. Hood Territory
July 28, 2015 by Whispering
There’s still plenty of summer left here on the Mountain. Just because the calendar reads the end of July and the kids go back to school the end of August doesn’t mean there isn’t time for a great getaway at the “nearby, far away vacation place.”
Play all day at The Adventure Park at Mt. Hood Ski Bowl, pull out those hiking boots and decide which trails you’d like to take on (based on degree of difficulty) at www.nwhiker.com, check the tires on your mountain bike and see what challenges you’d like to undertake Ride Oregon website or simply pack a few things and head to Whispering Woods Resort for a bit of relaxing by the pool. Remember as the late Robin Williams said in Dead Poets Society: “CARPE DIEM!”
Whispering Woods Resort is famous for its friendly, comfortable atmosphere and ability to provide luxury accommodations for a day, weekend or week-long stay. Whatever your schedule permits, pack up the kids and “hit the high road to adventure and romance” right in your own backyard.
Check out our Manager’s Specials or follow us on Facebook to keep abreast of some of the wonderful things available to you…about an hour from home!
Whispering Woods Pool and Hot Tub Renovation is On Schedule
February 23, 2012 by Whispering
We are 3 days into the pool and hot tub renovation process and things are progressing on schedule. It won’t be long before we are “in hot water” again!
Step one for the contractor was to build a greenhouse over the swimming pool so work could continue rain or shine (see photo). So far, it has been mostly rain, but “inside” the greenhouse it is dry and the workers are active.
Yesterday was the final “demolition” day when old coping brick and waterline tile were removed. Today, work is progressing on the installation of new coping brick and tile. It’s a pretty messy process, but it is exciting to see progress. The brick and tile should be done by Monday when the plastering phase will begin.
After the plastering is finished, it will take a couple of days to fill the pool (only a few hours for the hot tub) and a several more days to heat and balance the water. In the mean time our guests have been enjoying their use of the indoor pool and hot tub at the Mt. Hood Village less than 3 miles away.
Stay tuned for more updates!
