lith a historic stop for hungry Pacific Crest Trail hikers, Timberline Lodge has discontinued its famous breakfast buffet, ending a tradition that had become an iconic part of the Oregon trail experience.
The lodge confirmed to The Trek via email that the buffet is no longer offered and said there are no plans to offer it again this summer.
A milestone on the PCT
Located on the slopes of Mount Hood, just yards from the PCT, Timberline Lodge is an important landmark for PCT and Timberline Trail hikers. The historic lodge offers several services that hikers rely on, including resupply box pickup, free nearby camping, places to charge devices, and indoor space to rest before returning to the trail.
However, for many hikers, the main attraction was the Cascade Dining Room’s all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet.
Photo via: Anna Rhoads
Hiker accounts dating back at least two decades mention the buffet, which offered a respite from hikers’ hunger and simple fare with waffles, pancakes, fresh fruit, eggs, smoothies, pastries and more. The number of dishes conquered could become as memorable a statistic as any long-distance day, and many hikers fondly knew the buffet as the best breakfast on the trail.
Over the years, Trek bloggers have written about the buffet as a destination in itself. One hiker wrote that he had heard about it before the trail and had been “thinking about it since Campo.” Another remembers being agitated by the breakfast and lunch buffets for six straight hours of dinner.
Cascade dining room remains open
Photo via: James Townsend
As for the future, Timberline Lodge has only confirmed that the buffet will not return this summer. The Cascade Dining Room remains open for a la carte dining, meaning hikers and lodge guests can still order breakfast and other meals from the regular menu.
It is unclear whether the decision to discontinue the buffet was seasonal, financial or part of a long-term change in the hotel’s dining operations. The Trek requested more information about the decision, but the shelter had not responded by the time of publication.
For hikers looking for an alternative all-you-can-eat experience, Multnomah Falls Lodge offers a Sunday brunch buffet just a short bus ride from Cascade Locks, Oregon. While it may not have the same tradition among PCT hikers, for those who pass through the Columbia River Gorge with the time and appetite to make it work, it may be the closest equivalent left.
Timberline Lodge will almost certainly continue to be an important stop for hikers passing through Mount Hood. But for those who remember arriving with an empty stomach and a buffet plate in hand, one of the trail’s most famous rituals is now part of PCT history.
Featured Image: Timberline Lodge. Photo via: John W.
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