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Trail

Skiway Trail #755B

A Government Camp trail along the route of the old 1950s Skiway lift, with views of Mt. Hood and Skibowl and short loop options.

Representative photo, not this exact spot. Photo: Brett Buskirk via Pexels · Pexels License

The Skiway Trail #755B is named for the old Skiway lift, which ran from Thunderhead Lodge in Government Camp to Timberline Lodge during the early 1950s. The trail parallels the lower part of that lift line, so anyone staying in town can start right outside, with views of Mt. Hood and Skibowl.

Its wide clearing suits skiing and snowshoeing, though cross-country skiers and mountain bikers rate it most difficult for its few steep pitches. The trail sign is on Government Camp Loop Road by the Thunderhead Sno-Park. Add Wally’s Tie and Crosstown trails for a loop of about 1.75 miles, or Crosstown and Maggie’s Trail #753 for about 2.25 miles.

Trail map & elevation

Length0.7 mi one way
Climb258 ft up, 0 ft down
Elevation3,803 to 4,065 ft
DifficultyEasy
3,8003,9504,1000 mi0.6 mi
Elevation (ft) along the trail
Download GPX Directions to the start
Trail class
Class 3 of 5
Typical grade
12-20%
Surface
Native material
Tread width
18-24 inches
Ranger district
Zigzag

Connects to: Wally’s Tie Trail #755A, Maggie’s Trail #753, Crosstown Trail #755, Timberline to Town Trail #756

Line, length and trail class: U.S. Forest Service trail data. Elevation: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Difficulty is our estimate for hiking it out and back (once around for a loop), from distance and total climb. Lines can be off by a few hundred feet; carry a real map and check the official page for closures.

Getting there

From Portland, OR

  1. take US Hwy 26 28 miles east of Sandy to Government Camp.
  2. Take a left (north) at Government Camp Loop Road and travel 0.3 mile to Thunderhead Sno-park.
  3. You will see the Skiway Trailhead sign on the north side of the road, just east of Thunderhead Lodge.
  4. Please don’t park in the Thunderhead Lodge parking lot.

From the Forest Service

Ranger office

Zigzag Ranger District
Address: 70220 E Highway 26 Zigzag, OR 97049
Phone: 503-622-3191
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed 12 to 1 for lunch. (Closed on federal holidays)

Details from the official Forest Service page, a public-domain U.S. government source.

Trails nearby

Wally’s Tie Trail #755A 0.6 mi round trip 13 ft Easy Maggie’s Trail #753 0.8 mi round trip 80 ft Easy Crosstown Trail #755 5.4 mi round trip 618 ft Moderate Timberline to Town Trail #756 9.8 mi round trip 1,851 ft Hard Glade Trail #661 5.4 mi round trip 1,920 ft Camp Creek Loop Trail #754 2.4 mi round trip 414 ft Easy Lucy’s Trail #752 0.4 mi round trip 21 ft Easy Summit Trail #691 4 mi round trip 430 ft Moderate Alpine Trail 4.2 mi round trip 1,424 ft Enid Lake Trail #692A 0.8 mi round trip 212 ft Mirror Lake Trail #664 7 mi round trip 1,695 ft Hard

Places on this trail

Skiway Sno-Park

Last checked November 4, 2026