The re-route of the Eliot Branch crossing on the Timberline Trail is complete and open to the public. The 1.5 mile re-route is downstream of the original ‘round the mountain’ trail, which washed out in 2006 following a debris flow. Hikers will now be able to circumnavigate Mt. Hood along the entire 41 mile route. More than half of the trail is located inside the Mt. Hood Wilderness and is managed to preserve natural processes, provide solitude and primitive recreation, and to retain the primeval character of wild lands. Wilderness permits are required from May 15 to Oct. 15 and group size is limited to 12. The re-route is not fully signed yet and the Forest Service will be working with volunteers to do pre-winter maintenance this fall.