Three hikers walk along the paved path at Wildwood Recreation Site between the trees
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01/06/2025 | Accessible Travel, Government Camp, Villages of Mt. Hood

A Guide To Experiencing Mt. Hood With A Neurodivergent Family

By Guest Authors: Jenn and Brian Warren

Mt. Hood is Portland’s favorite natural playground, but it might not be the first place you think of for neurodivergent-friendly activities. We are a neurodiverse family and it’s sometimes a challenge to find things we can all enjoy — but Mt. Hood delivered! Here are a few of the activities that we did on our trip.

Make Zigzag Ranger Station your first stop! The friendly staff will be happy to answer any questions you have about Mt. Hood activities, and you can pick up printed trail maps to use in areas where reception is poor. Rangers know what trails are closed, and they can recommend the best trails for your group’s age and stage. For example, Ramona Falls is a beautiful and very popular hike, but the ranger told us that it requires hikers to cross a river walking on a log, a feat that would be difficult for small children.

A white book about insects sits on a brown wooden table with other magazines behind on a dark brown shelf.

The Zigzag Ranger Station offers lots of kid activity books.

Trillium Lake is well known for its alpine beauty. It’s also a great neurodivergent-friendly hike. Our family started our fall hike together but eventually split into groups based on what we found most interesting. Our daughter loves mushrooms, so she strolled and stopped to photograph all the various types of mushrooms that came along the way.

Our boys were more interested in running and climbing boulders and tree trunks, so they ran ahead.

A long brown wooden boardwalk stretches into green trees.

Trillium Lake is a great fall hike as the summer crowds have left.

The Mt. Hood Cultural Center and Museum exhibits the history of Mt. Hood, from the days of the Oregon Trail to modern ski competitions. The mountain's volcanic origins and ecological diversity are also on display. Our kids grabbed one of the free scavenger hunts at the front desk and eagerly explored the museum to find all the items. We were impressed with all the ski memorabilia and the wall of different types of skis! We also appreciated the display on the first Oregon Trail emigrants. Unique pioneer artifacts included a floorcloth and a Steiner Cabin door. The lighted topographical model of Mt. Hood was great for helping our visual learners make sense of the maps we had seen in other
parts of the museum.

A child looks into a replica of a brown wood doll house size of Timberline Lodge.

Make sure to view the replica of Timberline Lodge.

Wildwood Recreation Site is the perfect place to explore slowly. Some of us were ready to take a break, so we sat on a bench quietly enjoying the natural beauty and a snack. The younger boys were still full of energy, so they climbed the play structure and ran around playing hide and seek between the picnic sites.

We all took a walk along the river and were amazed to see adult salmon spawning below the bridge! The underwater observation station further down the trail was fascinating as well, allowing our kids to observe the river life up close.

Three children look at the fish through the glass window at the underwater viewing area at Wildwood Recreation Site.

The underwater viewing area provides a unique look at life under the river.

We stopped for dinner at Naan N Curry before heading home. Mango lassis and hot cheesy naan were perfect for our kids with food sensory issues. The adventurous eaters among us tried as many different dishes as possible. We especially loved the samosa chaat and lamb vindaloo.

About The Authors
Group of people standing together in front of a green sign

We're Jenn and Brian Warren, founders of Dinkum Tribe, a community focused on neurodivergent families who love life and travel with their kids. Together with our six children, we're cultivating authentic living, practical solutions, genuine relationships and an abundance mindset. Join us as we learn how to make the most of our moments at home, on the road and around the world. We're based in Silverton, Oregon, and we share our adventures at dinkumtribe.com, on our YouTube channel and our handle on all social media is @DinkumTribe.

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