This was a 13.7 mile, 2900 FT Elevation Gain Day-Hike in Oregon, Mount Hood Wilderness, focusing on the SW Quadrant of the approximately 40-mile EPIC Timberline Loop that goes around Mount Hood (one of the two best alpine backpacking hikes in Oregon along with Broken Top Loop), starting at Timberline Lodge Pacific Crest Trailhead, and hiking West towards Little Zig Zag Canyon, Zig Zag Canyon, crossing Zig Zag River and ultimately to Paradise Park and Paradise Branch Falls Lookout as our turnaround point as an out and back Day-Hike.
Weather was a low of 34, high of 59, blue sky day and mildly to moderately windy.
This was hiked on 10/3/2021 with fall colors in transition or full bloom, trail was completely clear of snow, and there were NO Mosquitoes!
On Alltrails, this hike is called "Timberline Trail Around Mount Hood", with a focus on the SW Quadrant.
As far as road conditions, it's highway until the turnoff for Timberline Lodge, and a well paved road all the way up the 6 miles to the parking lot.
This is as easy and convenient of a trailhead parking as you will ever find.
In my opinion, the road most definitely DOES NOT require 4-Wheel Drive.
As far as permits, the Timberline Lodge Pacific Crest Trailhead DOES NOT require a Recreation.gov permit.