A how-to and where-to bookfor campers who wish to camp on their own away from the temporary tent towns that most public campgrounds become on the weekends. In addition to encouraging an ethic of responsible camping throughout the book, it arms the reader with the knowledge necessary for a spontaneous and rewarding independent camping experience and provides turn-by-turn directions and GPS coordinates for hundreds of campsites throughout the Mount Hood National Forest. It also shows the reader where to go in the Forest to make a cell phone call.

The Mount Hood National Forest is the closest national forest to Portland and encompasses the northern end of Oregon's Cascade Mountains and the Columbia River Gorge. Established in 1908 as the Oregon National Forest and renamed the Mount Hood National Forest in 1924, it now consists of more than a million acres. The forest is home to Oregon's tallest mountain, as well as eight designated wilderness areas covering more than 300,000 acres. The forest is also the site of the historic Timberline Lodge and old Barlow Road, the final leg of the Oregon Trail. Thousands of visitors come to the forest every year for camping, hiking, mountain climbing, fishing, skiing, mountain biking, and other recreational pursuits.

Offering breathtaking views of Mt. Hood's surroundings, this stunning pictorial also includes details about popular destinations within Mt. Hood National Park, as well as lesser-known areas of the national forest. Full color.