12 Stops Along the Pacific Crest Trail

Portland and Mount Hood

Cheryl writes that, from afar, the sight of Mount Hood had never failed to take her breath away. This volcanic beauty looms large over Portland, Oregon, and is the highest mountain in the state. According to National Geographic, Mount Hood is the second-most climbed mountain in the world, ranking just below Japan's Mount Fuji.

Hikers who climb to the 6,000-feet mark can rest their feet at Timberline Lodge, a National Historic Landmark built during the Great Depression.