Tilly Jane Guard Station
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.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Shade | Water / sewer | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guard Station | Full | No / – | Springs | 8 / – | Yes | Basic |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | Reservation Fee: $6.00 (non-refundable). Recreation Fee: $200.00 per night, two night minimum/maximum required |
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.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Hood River, OR: South on Hwy 35 for 23 miles, well past the Hood River Ranger Station. Look for the Cooper Spur Inn sign and turn right off Hwy 35 onto Cooper Spur Rd. (Just north of/before Olallie trailhead). Drive Cooper Spur Rd. for 2.4 miles to Cooper Spur Inn. Turn left onto the Cloud Cap/Tilly Jane Road #3512.
| Nearest town | Parkdale, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 45.3989° N, 121.6481° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Skis with skins or snowshoes are highly recommended and travelers should be prepared for extreme weather conditions.
Charges and cancellations
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.
Fire nearby
- WildfireGrasshopper
12 mi from the campground · 93,972 acres · 98% contained
- PrescribedStone Ck/Clackamas Guard Station Rx - West
22 mi from the campground
- PrescribedTop Of The World Rx
26 mi from the campground
- PrescribedTracy Hill Rx
27 mi from the campground · 28 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Outer Limits Sports ↗ | 4.7 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 22.6 mi |
| RV sales & service | Look No Further RV's ↗ | 44.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 5.2 miVista Ridge Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 5.6 miUmbrella/Sahalie Falls Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- under 0.1 miTilly Jane Nordic2.6 mi trail
- under 0.1 miPolallie Ridge2.7 mi trail
- 0.1 miTilly Jane Ski2.7 mi trail
- 0.4 miTilly Jane ↗1.7 mi trail
- 0.4 miEliot Glacier1.2 mi trail
- 0.5 miWagon Road Nordic2.2 mi trail
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.4 miCloud Cap Trailhead ↗Mt. Hood National Forest
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Mount Hood Wilderness, which overlaps Mt. Hood National Forest.
- inMount Hood Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 64,742 acres
- inMt. Hood National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,060,160 acres
- 6.4 miBadger Creek Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 28,915 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
Historic landmarks nearby
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.
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.
Guidebooks for Oregon
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Tilly Jane Guard Station?
Sites at Tilly Jane Guard Station are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Tilly Jane Guard Station?
Reservation Fee: $6.00 (non-refundable). Recreation Fee: $200.00 per night, two night minimum/maximum required
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Tilly Jane Guard Station?
Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Tilly Jane Guard Station have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Tilly Jane Guard Station?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 4 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
Is there cell service at Tilly Jane Guard Station?
FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE and T-Mobile 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Tilly Jane Guard Station?
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. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Tilly Jane Guard Station?
Parkdale, Oregon.
Source: Getting there
What if Tilly Jane Guard Station is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Tilly Jane Campground/Day Use (0.1 mi, first-come), Cloud Cap Saddle Campground/Day Use (0.4 mi, first-come), and Sherwood Campground (3.8 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby