Destination "Timothy Lake" on Mt Hood (OK south a little from Hood)

We aren't sure how many years we have been coming to our favorite mountain lake, but our first time was before we had any children when Linda and I were dating. I feel pretty confident to state we have camped at Timothy for 35 years and not missed a single year.  So much for old people thoughts.  We have reservations for six days starting next Monday. The kids well make they way up on their own at different times of the week with most of the crowd around on Friday and Saturday.  Over the years we have brought an assortment of camping gear and toys reflecting our resources and interest from tents, bicycles, school buses, and a huge assortment of watercraft. This year we travel with our Self contained trailer, 3 small car topper Snark sailboats, Livingston dinghy with 7.5 hp Honda, bicycles of course, food for an army, chainsaw, generator, you get the picture I'm sure.

Dinghy Sailing on Timothy Lake, Mt Hood National Forest

 We wont win any ecogreen awards and certainly don't expect  any minimalist hikers/campers to approve of our portable compound.  In our defense though, we will not be using plastic bottled water by the case, we will be cooking over campfires, and not using much propane, the sailboats don't pollute, I'm bringing the generator, but may not use it, Our adult children (about 10 are expected) will be tent camping.  We practice no trace camping, or as much as can be done at least in a National Forest Campground.
To reserve a campsite at Timothy Lake you must
get on your computer exactly 6 months in advance of your date and try to beat out all the others doing the same thing. The system will not let you reserve more than 6 months in advance. The water front sites will book up first, and will all be gone in the first day.  The  further back sites will take a little time but will not last very long either.  By the time camping in July and August rolls around pretty much all sites will be reserved.  Timothy Lake has 6 campgrounds, starting at the dam they are "Pine Point", next is what we call the "Walk In" site (for years we would camp here for free) where you park about 250 feet away, next is "Hoodview", followed by "Gone Creek" and lastly "Oak Grove Fork"  Across the lake on a dusty rutted road is a small place we always just call "The Cove , or that "Place over by Little Crater Creek" I would expect that the cove is now reservations too, I know they started charging a fee years ago when they realized they couldn't stop four wheeler  people from camping there. There is a hike in (about 1 mile) place called "Meditation Point" just past the dam. A popular camping method for people with boats is to leave your trailer and car at any of the campgrounds (4 have ramps) and then camp in an inaccessible spot along the shore, this is technically not allowed but several areas in coves and on points are regularly used. At night it is easy to spot these modern day outlaws by the glow of their campfires visible from across the lake.

 I'm sure everyone has their favorite place, my vote for 35 years and counting is, well you know.