Fires, Fear, and Fighting Back: The Week the Forest Burned Near Mt. Hood

Late in the season, around midnight on October 13, 1952, trouble began in the dry forests surrounding Mt. Hood. Flames appeared south of the Mt. Hood Highway, just east of Rhododendron, near Yocum Falls. As the fire moved down through Laurel Canyon, it stretched toward Flag Mountain. Initially, officials suspected a tree had fallen on a power line, sparking the blaze. However, the Sandy Electric Company suggested that men violating the hunting ban may have started the fire instead of the 33,000-volt power line.

In the early 1900s, Portland’s Montavilla neighborhood was home to one of its most fascinating figures: Dr. William DeVeny. Known as the “Buffalo Bill of Portland,” William DeVeny was a community leader, civic advocate, and larger-than-life character. His influence stretched beyond Montavilla and into the Mount Hood region, where he worked to improve access to the wilderness.

Have you ever driven along Barlow Trail Road or Lolo Pass Road and wondered about their origins? These quiet, winding roads are more than just modern routes—they are living pieces of history.

The Mountain View Inn was originally the home of Lena Little, wife of pioneer homesteader Francis C. Little. The building was relocated from its original place to the main road through Government Camp.

. The Mount Hood Aerial Transportation Company was formed with a plan to create an aerial tramway to Timberline Lodge on the south slope of Mount Hood from Government Camp, the gathering spot for every activity on The Mountain. It was to be called The Skiway

Category: Mt Hood Loop Highway

Fires, Fear, and Fighting Back: The Week the Forest Burned Near Mt. Hood

Zigzag Cabin Owner: A Local Legend

The Modern Barlow Trail Road

The Mountain View Inn

Mt. Hood Skiway Tram: When City Buses Flew to Timberline Lodge