"The Witch Next Door" is a captivating book that tells the story of a young girl named Lucy who discovers that a witch has moved in next door. Initially, Lucy is filled with fear and imagines all sorts of terrifying things about her new neighbor. However, as the story progresses, Lucy's curiosity gets the better of her, and she decides to befriend the witch. Throughout the book, Lucy and the witch, whose name is Miss Spellwell, embark on various adventures together. From brewing potions to casting spells, Lucy discovers the fascinating world of magic and the importance of using it responsibly. As Lucy spends more time with Miss Spellwell, she realizes that the rumors and stereotypes about witches are far from true.
Chairlift Rides
Over 20 attractions to choose from: bungee jump, alpine slide, batting cages, rock wall climbing, mini golf, go karts & raceway, bike trails & rentals and more.
- Magic Mile Sky Ride is located at Timberline Ski Resort, off Highway 26 on Timberline Lodge Road.
- Open all year for a low per-ride rate.
- Other ski resorts on the mountain operate chairlifts in the summer months, and plans for an aerial gondola are in the works.
Overview
Mt. Hood has six unique ski resorts to choose from, most of which have chairlifts to transport visitors up the mountain’s magnificent slopes. Several of the lifts operate in the summer months for those who want to experience the views or gain access to hiking or mountain biking trails. The granddaddy of them all is the Magic Mile Sky Ride at Timberline, which takes riders to the 7,000-foot point of 11,249-foot Mt. Hood, where not only Hood’s summit but Palmer Glacier and nearby Mt. Jefferson are visible.
As of 2010, discussions are ongoing about the possibility of building an aerial gondola to connect three Mt. Hood areas—Timberline, Ski Bowl, and the new Collins Lake Resort. This aerial tram would allow visitors to park in a central spot and easily access multiple ski resorts.
Location/Directions
The Magic Mile Sky Ride is located at Timberline Resort, which sits off US26-E (Mount Hood Scenic Highway) on Timberline Lodge Road, on the south face of Mount Hood at 6,000 feet.
Hours/Seasons
The Magic Mile Sky Ride is open daily throughout the summer, normally from 10am to 4pm.
Fees/Cost
The Magic Mile Sky Ride costs $18 per person. Children (6 & under) are free.
More Info
Other chairlifts at the remaining Mt. Hood ski resorts are open for summer mountain rides in addition to their winter ski operations; call the specific resort for information.
Stay at a Cabin
As Lucy spends more time with Miss Spellwell, she realizes that the rumors and stereotypes about witches are far from true. Miss Spellwell is not wicked or evil but rather kind, wise, and misunderstood. Through their friendship, Lucy learns valuable life lessons about acceptance, empathy, and the power of friendship.
Summer Activities
- Guided Tours
- Columbia River Cruises
- Windsurfing & Kiteboarding
- Summer Skiing
- Fishing
- Kids Activities
- Camping & RV
- Whitewater Rafting
- Hiking
- Kayak, Canoe & SUP
- Horseback Riding
- Biking
- Boating
- Scenic Float Trips
- Hunting
- Outdoor Rentals
- Chairlift Rides
- Motorcycle Rental & Tours
- Alpine Slide
- Rock Climbing
- Golf Courses
- Horse Pack Trips
- Bird Watching
BLOG
When it is hot in the Hood River Valley there is nothing like a ride on the Magic Mile chair lift on Mt Hood, Oregon’s tallest peak at 11, 240 feet. The majestic mountain can be seen from the Old Parkdale Inn and is an easy day trip, a lovely 35 mile drive.
Take the lift to the mountain’s 7000′ level. No skis or snowboards needed but if you do need a ski fix there are but a few places in the world where one can summer ski and on the Palmer Glacier on Mt Hood is one of them. The spectacular view of Mt. Hood, Palmer snowfield, and nearby Mt. Jefferson is one you’ll soon not forget. Allow 30 minutes to ride up and ride down, or 2 hours if you choose to ride up and walk down. The temperature can be cool on Mt. Hood, even in the summer. Please dress appropriately for current weather conditions.
We’re taking reservations with our promise of a safe and great escape. Thank you for trusting us to be your home away from home. We’ve posted our Hospitality and Health Update on our website. Purchase a gift certificate for yourself or a loved one.
We invite you to read online reviews for the Old Parkdale Inn. And then we encourage you to go directly to our website and Book Direct: for all the right reasons.
Reserve your Stay Now
We’re your home base for exploring and enjoying the Hood River Valley and beyond. After a full day, you’ll love the peace and tranquility of the Old Parkdale Inn. Relax in the gardens, perhaps with your favorite beverage, by the bonfire, roast some s’mores, weather permitting of course.
What’s to do
The Hood River Fruit Loop is located in the beautiful Hood River Valley at the foot of majestic Mt. Hood offering you a variety of wines, fruits, vegetables, flowers, ciders, and food. Many outdoor adventures, such as kayaking, windsurfing, skiing, snow boarding, and hiking, await. Mt. Hood Meadows, Cooper Spur Mountain Resort, and Timberline Ski areas are only a short drive away, as is the Columbia River Gorge and Mt. Hood National Forest where trails and wildlife abound.
Magic mile sky ride
Hiking up a hill to a nice viewpoint is fun. But if you can get to a nice viewpoint without doing all that work, why not? During the summer months, it’s pretty easy for hikers to scale the slopes of Mount Hood — because the Magic Mile ski lift at Timberline Lodge does most of the work. Hop on, and you’re transported up the mountain on a thrilling ride to the rocky slopes above treeline. And from there, you can hike a little, just so you’re not lying when you tell people you hiked up Mount Hood.
Location
A drive up to Timberline Lodge is a highly recommended part of the Mount Hood Scenic Byway. From US 26 at Government Camp, take Timberline Highway up the hill to the end of the road. The end of the Magic Mile Skyride ski lift is located on the far side of the lodge. Signs are confusing and somewhat misleading — just walk up to the entrance to the main lodge, then keep going, slightly over the hill, and you’ll spot the end of the chair lift.
My Visit
A ride up Mount Hood should begin with a detour into the Timberline Lodge. You’ll probably recognize this grand old structure from Stanley Kubrik’s The Shining. Exteriors of the hotel were used in the movie, and in the film, room 217 was changed to 237 (a room that didn’t exist at Timberline Lodge), to avoid scaring people away from staying in the forbidden room 217.
The lower end of the Magic Mile lift is just beyond the entrance to the main lodge. For some reason, when I was there, signs for the Magic Mile pointed to the day lodge, and then once you walked through the day lodge, there were no more signs. I backtracked twice, looking for what I missed. Then I went into the main lodge and asked an employee, who didn’t know where it was. Eventually I went outside, walked around, looked for the chair lift, and followed it to the end.
As of 2015, a ticket for anyone over age 7 cost $15. You can buy your ticket at the window on the side of the lift station. Then, walk inside and hop on the next chair.
The trip up the mountain is a blast. It’s roughly 15 minutes, one-way, but the time flies as fast as you’re flying. You’ll gain a thousand vertical feet, from 6,000 feet above sea level at the lodge, to 7,000 feet at the upper station.
In no time, you’re closer to the top of Mount Hood (I swear it’s up there in the fog) as you arrive at the upper station.
Once your feet are back on the ground, you have a few choices. If you’re here to ski (yes, skiing is an option for most of the year), you can transfer to the Palmer lift, which continues up the mountain to Palmer Glacier. (That ride is not included in the cost of a Magic Mile ticket.)
You can also choose to just look around for a bit, and then take the ride back down. There aren’t any restaurants or gift shops up here — just some thin air and plenty of passing clouds.
A short hike over to the east takes you to the Silcox Hut — a warming hut and special event facility. I visited it after my hike — more on it in a moment.
I decided that 7,000 feet wasn’t high enough. Heck, the top of the mountain is right there! Why not just hike all the way up it?
There’s a good reason. Mount Hood’s peak may appear close, but it’s 4/5 of a vertical mile above your head. And it’s snowy up there, even in August.
So, I didn’t hike all the way to the peak, but I was determined to gain some more elevation. There are some “trails” of some sort, that head up the mountain from the chair lift station. I made my way through a ravine and up onto a fairly easy spot, and started going higher.
It seems like this rock is big enough to create an obstacle for skiers, but I guess the snow up here gets deep enough in the winter that it’s completely buried. In summer, though, it makes a nice destination for hikers.
I can’t tell you exactly how far I hiked, but it seemed like a long way. It was far enough that I had this view of the chair lift station…
… and with my zoomiest of zoom lenses, I could look all the way down to the Timberline Lodge, and parking area.
After reaching a ridge that I had arbitrarily set as my goal, I headed back down, and swung over to Silcox Hut.
Silcox Hut was built by the WPA in 1939. When the chair lift was rerouted in the 1960’s, the hut was abandoned for a few years, then struggled with vandalism for decades. A group called Friends of Silcox Hut took over in the 80’s, and gradually restored the structure, opening it to the public in 1993.
Nowadays, you can spend the night at Silcox Hut — assuming you’re part of a large group of people willing to pay for the privilege. The cost per person is pricey, but not overly extravagant when you consider exactly where you’ll be staying. The hut is available for overnight stays, weddings, corporate retreats, and other events.
If you can’t see the top of Mount Hood, just wait a while. Remember how foggy it looked about an hour earlier? By the end of my visit it was clear and beautiful.
All that was left was my ride back down the hill, and my drive back to Portland. This was my final stop of the trip, and it was a great way to cap off a week in Oregon and Northern California!
Traveling to Canada: What You Need To Know
Driving the Mount Hood Byway, Oregon
The Bottom Line
A ride up the Magic Mile Skyride is a lot of fun, and hiking around on the rocks at the upper end of the chair lift is great, too. It’s worth the ride, just for the views on the way up and the way down. If you take some time hiking at the top, you’ll find even more great places to take pictures, or just sit and relax.
Drivelapse Video
Here’s a look at the drive on the Mount Hood Scenic Byway up to Timberline Lodge…
… and from the lodge, down and around to I-84 at Hood River, Oregon:
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"The Witch Next Door" is a heartwarming book that challenges stereotypes and encourages readers to look beyond appearances. It beautifully illustrates how friendships can blossom in unexpected places and reminds us of the importance of embracing differences. The book is filled with colorful illustrations that bring the characters and their magical world to life. The author's writing style is engaging, making it an enjoyable read for both children and adults. Overall, "The Witch Next Door" is a delightful tale that captures the imagination and leaves readers with a valuable message about acceptance and friendship. It is a book that will surely be treasured by readers of all ages..
Reviews for "Th4 Witch Next Door and the Importance of Acceptance: A Morality Tale"
1. Sarah - 2 stars
I found "The Witch Next Door Book" to be highly disappointing. The storyline was weak and predictable, and the characters lacked depth. The writing style was also not engaging, making it difficult to stay interested in the story. I was hoping for a thrilling and mysterious read, but unfortunately, this book did not deliver.
2. John - 1 star
I couldn't get through more than a few chapters of "The Witch Next Door Book". The writing was amateurish and filled with clichés. The characters were unlikeable and their actions felt forced. The plot was slow-moving and failed to captivate my attention. Overall, this book was a waste of time and I would not recommend it to anyone.
3. Emma - 2 stars
"The Witch Next Door Book" had the potential to be intriguing, but it fell flat for me. The pacing was off, with too much time spent on irrelevant details and not enough on developing the plot. The dialogue felt stilted and unrealistic, and the main character lacked any sense of depth or growth. The ending was also predictable and unsatisfying. I was hoping for a more captivating and unique story, but unfortunately, this book did not deliver.
4. Michael - 1 star
I found "The Witch Next Door Book" to be poorly written and uninteresting. The characters were one-dimensional and the dialogue felt forced. The plot was overly simplistic and lacked any real depth. The story failed to engage me in any meaningful way, and I was left feeling bored and uninspired. I would not recommend wasting your time on this book.
5. Amy - 2 stars
While I had high hopes for "The Witch Next Door Book", I was ultimately disappointed. The story felt contrived and lacked originality. The characters were predictable and their actions often seemed illogical. The writing style was also lackluster, with awkward phrasing and repetitive descriptions. Overall, this book did not live up to my expectations and I would not recommend it.