Embracing Mt. Hood History At Alder Creek Cabin

By Guest Author: Matt Wastradowski

Between 1925 and 1952, German emigrant Henry Steiner built about 100 cabins by hand, mostly on the forested slopes of Mt. Hood. The storybook lodgings used locally sourced lumber and incorporated stylized gables, basalt fireplaces, exposed beams and other whimsical flourishes that became synonymous with the “Oregon rustic” architectural style. When you close your eyes and imagine a bucolic mountain cabin today, chances are good that Henry Steiner influenced what you see.

Long enamored by the idyllic nature of a Steiner cabin, I’d never had the chance to experience that cozy comfort for myself — until earlier this spring, when I was lucky enough to spend the night at Alder Creek Cabin, just nine miles east of Sandy and about eight miles west of Welches at the base of Mt. Hood.

On that relaxing getaway, I read a book in the shade of towering Douglas-fir and western red cedar trees, listened to the Sandy River rush by just out of sight, perused the on-site gardens and relaxed inside a woodsy living room. It was everything I could have wanted from a stay on Mt. Hood, and that connection to such an iconic part of regional history only deepened the experience. If you’d like to enjoy a similar vacation, here’s everything you need to know about planning a trip to Alder Creek Cabin on Mt. Hood.

The fully updated Alder Creek Cabin provides a cozy stay on Mt. Hood.

The cottage that would become Alder Creek Cabin was constructed in 1929 and was among the roughly 100 or so that Henry Steiner built around Mt. Hood. Details about its early life are scarce, but the husband-and-wife duo of Terry Hescock and Coni Scott first eyed the property while restoring the home next door — another Steiner-built lodging they dubbed Hidden Woods — in the late 1990s. Scott says that a steady diet of disrespectful renters had left what would become Alder Creek Cabin in a state of disrepair.

They purchased the cottage in the late '90s, fully cleaned the property and initially offered overnight stays to friends and family in 2001. The following year, Hescock and Scott began operating Alder Creek Cabin as a fully restored vacation rental — a tradition carried on today. In fact, Scott says that children and even grandchildren of some of the earliest guests book stays today — a testament to the care, craft and thoughtfulness she and Hescock put into the cabin.

A beautifully landscaped yard and outdoor patio are perfect to relax in after a day exploring. 

The work that Hescock and Scott put into the cabin is clear even before stepping inside. A back patio comes outfitted with a shaded dining table and barbecue grill, and it’s all a few steps away from an outdoor hot tub (which resides under a pergola), barrel sauna and fire pit.

The interior somehow gets even more impressive. The living room surrounds a massive rock fireplace and comes outfitted with leather couches and chairs, coffee tables decorated with adorable black bears, vintage artwork and other outdoorsy bric-à-brac. (Of course, it’s not all old-school; Wi-Fi and a high-definition television offer high-speed streaming.) Everything about the decor feels warm and inviting — like time slows down for a little while and encourages the kind of relaxation only a mountain vacation can provide.

A full kitchen makes it easy to prepare meals, and a cozy dining nook provides plenty of space when you'd like to eat inside. Up a flight of wooden stairs are two bedrooms with one queen bed in each room, plush bedding (sheets and pillowcases are ironed by Scott between visits) and no small amount of vintage charm. In one of the bedrooms, for instance, framed photographs depict the forest that provided trees for the Hidden Woods log home next door.

If you’d like to walk around the property, Scott tends to a handful of on-site gardens that she calls the Gardens at Hidden Woods. A few sheets of paper, available in the cabin, offer a kind of guided tour while explaining the various gardens, what's in each and (in some cases) where Scott found them. Eager to stretch my legs after the day’s drive, I was happy to admire the bright purple azaleas blooming on a springtime visit.

As an added bonus, Hescock and Scott encourage visitors to find eight whimsical, life-sized illustrations of adorable mice that their friends have painted in the cabin over the years. Some of the pocket-sized paintings are easily seen around the home, while others are harder to spot. On my visit, I managed to find four of the eight paintings — which Scott says is par for the course from first-time guests. She says that the paintings have developed a cult-like following over the years, inspiring numerous return visits from guests who couldn’t find them all in one trip.

Can you find the eight whimsical paintings of mice hidden throughout the cabin? And no hints from me!

It’s not easy to pull yourself away from Alder Creek Cabin — but if you must, you’ll find plenty to love about the lower-elevation attractions and restaurants on Mt. Hood.

For starters, outdoor opportunities show off what makes this area of Mt. Hood so special. Just four miles east, Barlow Wayside Park sits along a stretch of the one-time Barlow Road — a toll road that cut away from the Oregon Trail, traversed the slopes of Mt. Hood and made the journey a bit easier for many emigrants. Today, the quiet park hosts a number of short, mostly flat hiking trails through a verdant forest that's home to thigh-high ferns and a number of riverside benches. A few minutes to the east, Wildwood Recreation Site is home to paved, wheelchair-accessible paths that cross the Sandy River and lead to an underwater viewing platform where you might spy spawning salmon every fall. For something more upbeat and faster-paced, rent a mountain bike from Mt. Hood Bicycle in Welches and spend a few hours traversing the nearby Sandy Ridge Trail System, where nearly 20 miles of paths welcome riders of all skill levels.

Whether gearing up for a day in the woods or returning from hours of adventure, head to Sandy to celebrate with food and drink. Perhaps the biggest, most popular stop in town is the Tollgate Inn, named for a Barlow Road gate that once welcomed travelers to modern-day Sandy. (Learn more about the Barlow Road at a number of fun stops largely along Highway 26.) The sprawling Tollgate Inn complex encompasses a handful of mostly interconnected buildings that host an on-site bakery and coffee shop (beloved for hearty sandwiches and fresh pastries), an old-school saloon and a family-style restaurant where portions of chicken-fried steak, pot roast and chicken parmesan are hearty enough to demand a to-go box. I opted for a satisfying grilled chicken sandwich while enjoying the lively atmosphere — buoyed by plaid curtains hanging over the windows and Western-inspired artwork lining the walls.

Looking elsewhere for a good meal? See which food carts sound good at Sandlandia World Cuisine, which hosts creative food trucks dishing fare from around the world. Sandbar BBQ, meanwhile, delivers slow-cooked meats — available a la carte or in tacos, chili, salad, sandwiches, egg rolls and other creative sides you don’t normally find at a down-home barbecue joint. Nearby, Just Rum Distillery, one of several craft distilleries in Mt. Hood Territory, pours roughly a half-dozen house-made rums in flights or cocktails, as well as homemade cider.

The Tollgate Inn is a staple in the Sandy community for great food.