This meadow of fine-tooth penstemon(Penstemon subserratus) is located below the parking lot at Cloud Cap Inn. Cloud Cap is located near timberline at the 6000 foot elevation on the north slope of Mt. Hood. Fine-tooth penstemon blooms at this altitude in late July.
Cloud Cap Inn was built as a resort in 1889 and operated intermittently until World War II. Because of its relatively remote location and its rugged access road, Cloud Cap was difficult to operate profitably.
Cloud Cap is no longer open to the public and does not offer accomodations. It was rescued from oblivion by the Crag Rats of Hood River, Americaa's oldest mountain rescue organization. Cloud Cap Inn is reached via the scenic Hood River Valley and the controversialCooper Spur Mountain Resort.
