Hiking in Oregon: A Complete Guide for First Timers

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What to Know Before You Hit the Trail

Here are a few things we think you should know before hitting the trails in Oregon. 

Oregonians LOVE Hiking. Especially in the summer. Trails will be packed, particularly the popular ones (let’s be honest, almost every single trail below is in the “popular” category).

Get to the trailhead before 9:00 am (8:00 am, if you can) to snag a parking spot and not have to worry about finding additional parking that may or may not be totally legal.

Most Trails Are Dog Friendly (BUT They Need to Be On a Leash).

We call out whether or not a hike is dog friendly in the mini trail guides, but you should know that you definitely can’t take dogs on the trails in Crater Lake. 

Be Prepared to Be Wet (and Muddy). Especially between November and June. Waterproof hiking boots (or shoes) are basically an essential, as is a solid waterproof rain jacket.

Mud is also very common throughout the year, especially on the coast.

Check trail reports before you go to see if it’s going to be muddy. Bring a pair of extra shoes to change into post-hike and thank me later if you’re journeying into the muck. 

Leave No Trace. It should go without saying, but we are constantly flabbergasted at the amount of human waste we find on hiking trails all over the western United States.

Y’all, we gotta take care of the places we love exploring! If you carry it in, make sure to carry it out. And pick up after your dog!

The Best Hikes in Oregon: 20+ Amazing Trails to Tackle ASAP

Now, onwards (and probably upwards) to the reason you’ve read this far – the list of our favorite hikes in Oregon. 

Like we mentioned above, we’ve personally done all the hikes in this section of the guide, which means we have some specific tips and pointers for some of them. Like which direction to hike in, or how to get a parking spot. 

On the list below, you’ll find hikes in state parks, national parks, and on national forest land. The parking pass situation can be confusing! 

Which is why for each hike, we’ve included a bullet for which parking pass you’ll need to display at the trailhead.

Here’s a high-level summary of the passes you might need. 

A Northwest Forest Pass covers all of the trailheads on national forest land in both Oregon and Washington State, and is essentially a must-have for hikers in either state because the vast majority of hikes are on federal land. 

However, the America the Beautiful Pass (colloquially, the “national parks pass”) covers all federal land in the country, including national forests.

Basically, if you’re planning to visit more than two national parks in the next 12 months, buy an America the Beautiful Pass (you can get it online at REI).

If not, just get a Northwest Forest Pass (also available at REI). 

There are sometimes day pass envelopes at trailheads, but you should know that the infrastructure on national forest lands is much less reliable (and you’ll need $5 cash). 

There are also a couple of hikes on this list that are on land that is operated by Oregon State Parks.

There is an annual Oregon State Parks Pass that is a great deal for Oregon residents, otherwise you can pay the entrance fee when you enter the park. More information here.

We’re going to organize this list by our personal preference, which is extremely subjective. 

This list is NOT an exhaustive list of every single hike in Oregon, but is a list of great hikes that we personally have done and enjoyed, and think you probably will too. 

If you have a hike that you love and think should be on this list, reach out or leave us a comment below! We’d love to hear from you and find a new hike to add to our list!

You might notice that we don’t have a single hike that is in the Portland city limits on this list, and though we tried to come up with a justification for including something like the hike to Pittock Mansion or the 4T Trail, we just couldn’t justify it. If you’re looking for a hike in the city, head over to read our guide to hiking in Portland for our favorites. 

Have another question? Don’t hesitate to get in touch, or leave us a comment below. We’re more than happy to chat!

The views of Mount Hood from this trail are nothing short of spectacular, but you’re going to have to work hard to earn them. When we hiked this trail, we were on our Oregon road trip, which had us hiking 7-10 miles almost every single day. We were in the best shape of our lives. 

This trail kicked our butts and had us walking funny for several days afterwards. It’s a strenuous hike. Don’t underestimate it. 

That being said, we’d do it again in a heartbeat. Especially when the wildflowers in the meadows at the top are in full bloom. 

The trail is a lollipop – you’ll climb up to a junction where you start a mini loop near the top. The views come fast and furious from beginning to end, starting with our favorite view of Mount Hood from Bald Mountain about a mile into the hike. 

The trail climbs somewhat gradually (but for a long, long time) up to a junction – going right takes you up a trail that is more of a scramble than a hike, and going left takes you on a longer meander through meadows of wildflowers with views of Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams to the north on a clear day.

There are two main routes to get up to McNeil Point.

First is the out and back version of this hike that avoids the somewhat scary scramble trail.

Second is the lollipop version that goes up the scramble trail (we wouldn’t come down that trail, but that’s just us) and down through the wildflower meadows to complete the lollipop counter clockwise.

We highly recommend the out-and-back version, because we want no part of that scramble section (and we’re experienced hikers). 

The out and back version of this hike that we’re referring to here avoids the cut off completely, veering left at the junction and following the Timberline Trail (#600) for the majority of the hike until it meets the McNeil Point Trail (#600M) for the final ascent. 

While this cuts out the somewhat technical scramble, it does add roughly 1.5 miles to the distance.

If you are set on doing the version that includes a scramble, we’d go up the scramble (definitely don’t go down that way) and down the meander, which will have you facing the great views and avoiding trying to scramble down the mountain. 

It is worth noting that, if you are planning to bring your dog, you DEFINITELY should do the out and back version of the hike and skip the scramble, which is not made for dogs. 

At the top, there’s an old stone structure that was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the depression, the same group that built basically all of the infrastructure in places like Zion National Park. It’s a nice refuge from the wind, which is sure to be howling. 

Bring plenty of food and water on this hike. It’s our favorite of the many amazing hikes at Mount Hood.

There’s a shorter, significantly easier version of this trail that starts lower, climbs up forested switchbacks bursting with rhododendrons in the spring, and ends with the best view of Hood at Bald Mountain.

We’ve done it both ways, and think McNeil Point is more spectacular, but less accessible because of its length and difficulty.

We have an entire guide dedicated to hiking the McNeil Point Trail – including logistics like which route to take, and a complete trail guide – which you should read for more detail. 

The Trail of Ten Falls does a big loop, passing – you guessed it! – ten different waterfalls along the way. There’s no point in this hike where you’ll find significant elevation gain, so it’s a pretty easy hike overall. Don’t let the mileage scare you off. 

Since it’s a loop, there are a couple of different places you can pick up the hike, but the best is going to be the South Falls Trailhead, where there’s a big parking lot.

Which, by the way, was completely full when we were there on a weekend morning in the summertime. So you’ll want to get there early to get a spot.  

Do it clockwise, starting from South Falls and heading downhill to Lower North Falls, where the trail starts a gradual uphill climb, ending at Upper North Falls. From there, it’s a mostly flat walk back to the parking lot. 

South Falls, standing at 177 feet, is the most impressive of them all in our opinion. It tumbles over the lip of a big bowl, which means you can actually walk behind the falls for a different – wetter – point of view. 

North Falls (and Upper North Falls) and Double Falls are the other waterfalls that stood out to us. 

For far more information than we’ve fit into this summary, you can head over to read our trail guide for the Trail of Ten Falls, which has everything you need to know to hit the trail.

This hike is best in the late spring / early summer, when the landscape is covered in all sorts of different colors – reds, yellows, purples, whites, and more. 

There are a couple of ways to do this hike. Most people should begin at the trailhead and tackle it clockwise, starting with the climb to Iron Mountain, where there’s a 360-degree view of the surrounding Cascade Mountain Range with a helpful guide to the different peaks nearby. 

From there, descend down to Cone Peak, which is more of a hill if you ask us, and descend the switchbacks back to the trailhead. 

Doing it this way means getting the majority of the climbing out of the way early on, and gradually descending through the forested switchbacks at the end. 

Did we mention the wildflowers? Cone Peak was blanketed in yellow flowers, and the switchbacks up to Iron Mountain were bursting with reds, yellows, and purples. Truly amazing, and we almost drove right past it and skipped it. 

If meandering through lush meadows alongside a rushing river (okay, technically it’s a creek) before emerging into a jaw-dropping valley nestled between two rocky peaks – the South Sister and Broken Top – sounds like a good time, this is the trail for you.

Plus, it offers the best bang for your buck in Oregon in terms of the beauty to effort ratio.

Despite the distance, Alysha and I agreed that this hike is actually pretty easy. There aren’t any really steep portions. It’s just a gentle climb all the way through. Don’t let the 9 mile length scare you off!

Basically, the entire trail follows Fall Creek, which means you’ll be treated to the sounds of a babbling brook the entire way through. And waterfalls. Lots of waterfalls. 

The sound of the creek only stops when you emerge into the meadows at the end of the hike, where you’ll find yourself in between three pristine lakes at the base of two of Oregon’s most spectacular peaks. 

We arrived at 7:30 am on a weekday in July, and it was already fairly busy. I’d recommend either a weekday hike, or getting to the trailhead – which is a 45 minute drive from Bend – no later than 8:00 am on a weekend.

It’s on the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, so it gets a lot of traffic – especially because it shares a trailhead with the route to summit the South Sister – and we got there before 7am and snagged a spot and got an early start on the trail (we only saw a couple of non-backpackers on the way up). 

The payoff to effort ratio here is high. The hike isn’t particularly difficult at all, and once you’ve gotten through the first 1.7 miles or so, you emerge out into a basin at the base of the South Sister, with great views of that peak, along with Broken Top. 

Then, you get out to Moraine Lake, which sits at the very base of the South Sister, and it’s magical. The water is cool and clear, and the views across the lake are great. 

This hike can be made into a little lollipop by heading left at the fork you’ll hit just before you reach the lake to get up onto the ridge (where the backcountry campsites are) above for even more spectacular views. 

You’ll then make a quick, steep climb to meet the South Sister Trail, which you can follow back towards the trail junction you hit when you emerged from the forest. 

This hike is great as a day hike, and would be an excellent, pretty accessible overnight backpacking trip (or a two night trip to climb the South Sister, which will shave off five miles from the brutal climb to the summit). 

Remember, you will need a Central Cascades Wilderness Permit for the “Three Sisters – Devils Lake/South Sister (Moraine Lake) Trailhead” if you do this hike from June to October (which is basically the only time it’s accessible without snowshoes anyway.  

This trail shares a trailhead with the very popular Mirror Lake Trail right off of US-26, which means it’s almost always full despite being a pretty large parking lot.

Mirror Lake is a little meh – I’ve never seen more mosquitoes in my life – but the climb to the ridge above it is much, much better. 

The hike up to Mirror Lake is fairly easy – you’ll see all sorts of families with small kids doing it – and you cross a few footbridges along the way. The first portion of the path is paved and ADA accessible. 

The climbing really starts to ramp up as you leave the lake and make your way up to the ridge, which sits 1,000 feet above it. 

From Mirror Lake, it’s a 2.5 mile hike up to the ridge, and then you can hike out across the ridge for an ever changing view of Mount Hood across the valley. On a clear day, you’ll also be able to see some of the other peaks in the Cascade Range, like Mount Adams and Jefferson. 

At the top, there are some sections of trail that take you across boulder fields, which can be tough to navigate. Make sure you’re prepared with sturdy footwear and a map (we use AllTrails for this). 

For more information, including logistics like when to hike and how to get there, head over and read our more detailed trail guide for Tom, Dick, and Harry Mountain.

The hike as a whole is a fantastic reminder that once you cross the Cascades into central and eastern Oregon, the landscape changes. Drastically. This is the high desert, and the rock formations in Smith Rock State Park are unlike anything you’d see in Western Oregon.

It feels more like Utah or Arizona than anything you think of when you think about the Pacific Northwest. 

Once you’re up on the ridge, though, the views are spectacular. The trail continues up and over the ridge, where you’ll come face to face with Monkey Face, a huge destination for rock climbers in Oregon. 

Monkey Face is also aptly named. It looks exactly like the profile of a monkey from a certain angle. You’re likely to see climbers scaling the rock face. That’s a no from me, Bob. 

From the top, you’ll then immediately descend a steep set of switchbacks to get back down to the river. 

There are two different ways you could tackle this trail, and the junction happens once you’ve gone up the climb, over to Monkey Face, and descended back down to the river level.

You’ll come to a junction – left takes you back along the flat river trail, right takes you on a gentler climb along the Summit Trail, which is the one we’d recommend. 

I’ve done it both ways, and the Summit Trail was full of great views, especially once you get up onto the ridge.

I did it with about 20 hungover bachelor party attendees, so you’ll probably be fine. Get an early start to beat the heat – especially in the summer – bring plenty of water and snacks, and watch out for rattlesnakes. 

We saw one on our last time out there, and it was the first rattlesnake I’ve ever seen in person! Be aware of where you place your hands and feet, and give them plenty of space. 

Oregon is a state known for its epic waterfalls, and Tamanawas Falls should be at the top of every hiker’s list, especially if you’re looking for a good hike near Hood River.

The Tamanawas Falls trail starts right off of Highway 26 on the eastern side of Mount Hood. It’s a small parking lot, and there are signs prohibiting parking all up and down the highway on either side.

There were tons of cars parked on the side of the road anyway, and I’m sure they all thought “they can’t give us ALL tickets, right? Safety in numbers!” 

Well, we saw rangers handing out tickets as we left. Get there early, and only park in the lot.

The trail starts by crossing the river over a wooden footbridge, and then heads into the forest. It’s a pretty easy hike all the way through, and it’s a lovely trail that follows a creek through the woods with the sound of the water accompanying you on your journey up the falls. 

There’s one stretch of the hike that’s tough, and it’s right before you get to the falls. It’s a steep, rocky, slippery section that lasts less than a quarter mile. Alysha actually slipped and fell on the way down, resulting in a big purple bruise. 

It’s tough, but it’s not the kind of thing that should prevent most people from doing the hike. Wear shoes or boots with good traction, take it slow, and you’ll likely be fine. 

The waterfall at the end is well worth the relatively low effort it takes to reach it. The water tumbles off of a rocky shelf, falling 110 feet down into Cold Spring Creek below. The mist coming off the waterfall is a nice respite from the heat in the summer, though it makes taking pictures of the falls a little tricky. 

We have an entire guide dedicated to giving you all the information you need to hike the Tamanawas Falls trail, which you should read for far more information than we’ve fit into this summary.

Since then, we’ve driven the Oregon Coast many, many times on our way down to Alysha’s mom’s house in Northern California (the coastal route, though slower, is SO MUCH more pleasant than I-5), and every single time we’ve checked in on Saddle Mountain only to find that it’s still closed for trail repairs. 

It was closed for two years (maybe more?), and as soon as we heard that it was re-opening in early September of 2023, we marked the date on our calendars.

Two days after it opened, we left our house in Portland in the early morning, and 90 minutes later arrived at the Saddle Mountain Trailhead.

Only to find a thick bank of coastal fog waiting for us at the beginning of a trail known for its spectacular, never ending views in all directions. 

“Well, we came all the way out here, might as well head up and see if it clears” we told ourselves as we started up the trail. 

By the time we made it to the top, we had gotten above the fog (which was still sitting in some of the surrounding valleys) and could see clear to the Pacific Ocean to the west, the mouth of the Columbia River to the north, and over to Mount Rainier (barely!), Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams, and Mount Hood to the east. 

The difficulty category for this hike is a little tough for us to put our finger on, because the first half and the second half are almost completely different hikes. 

The first half (ish, it’s really more like two thirds) is pretty firmly in the moderate category. Then, you hit a viewpoint facing south, and the trail almost immediately turns more difficult, with a series of rocky climbs on the way up to the saddle. 

From the saddle, the hike is downright difficult. The last quarter mile or so is steep, rocky (though there is a metal mesh to help with traction), and makes you earn the excellent views from the top.

Careful on the way down, too. A fellow hiker slipped and fell, and both of us slipped at one point (though we stayed on our feet). 

The trailhead is along Highway 26 on the way out towards Cannon Beach and Seaside just before you get out to the coast, so it would make an excellent beginning to a day trip from Portland out to the coast. 

One note for dog owners: The top half of the trail – from the saddle to the peak, mostly – is covered in what is essentially chain link fence laid down along the trail. We took our dog Lupine up with us not realizing this, and while she didn’t have any injuries, she definitely was not a fan of it, and I can see it being troublesome for dogs, especially bigger ones. 

However, we think you definitely should because the trail isn’t particularly hard, and it’s gorgeous once you cross the Sandy River. 

Speaking of crossing the river, that’s the most difficult part of this hike. When we were there, the river was roaring and there was basically nowhere to cross. We ended up tightroping it over a downed log, which seemed to be the only way to get to the other side. 

We later learned that there used to be a seasonal bridge installed here by the Forest Service, but they no longer put it up as of 2021 (please let us know if this changes!). That means you’re left to your own devices when it comes to crossing the river. Which can be dangerous when the river is high. 

The trail is a lollipop, starting with a relatively boring walk out to the river, which is just over a mile. Once you find your way across the river, there’s a fork in the trail – left takes you on the Pacific Crest Trail, right takes you along the river. 

Both directions get you to Ramona Falls, and we don’t really have a strong perspective which way is better or more scenic. We went clockwise, but I’m not sure it really matters. 

Ramona Falls is a towering waterfall that seems nearly as wide as it is tall (and it’s 120 feet tall). Individual torrents of water cascade over the mossy green rocks, ending in a small creek at the foot of the falls. 

Complete the loop, cross the river, and head back to your car once you’ve picked your jaw up off the trail.

The hike starts with an amble along a well-established sandy trail until you emerge onto a mini bluff, with the sprawling Oregon Dunes in front of you.

The Dunes are amazing, and we were in awe of the patches of wildflowers and forest that were somehow alive and well in the middle of this sandy landscape. 

Hiking on the dunes is a bit of a nightmare. It’s slow-going, hard, and your shoes will be full of sand by the end of the hike.

High-top hiking boots will be your friend here, otherwise you’ll be in for a day of sandy shoes. 

The trail traverses the dunes and when you reach the other side, you briefly enter a forested but still somehow sandy stretch that emerges onto a beautiful beach. 

Note: You’ll need a map here, because the trail markers in the dunes are hard to find, at best. We use AllTrails (specifically AllTrails Pro, which gives you the ability to download a trail map and show your own location).

There are a couple of ways to do this hike, and the easiest and most direct is to drive most of the way up to the upper trailhead, which results in a shorter, easier hike.

However, not only is that trailhead closed at the time of writing, but the hike from the bottom up is really, really nice and we’d recommend it. Which is why that’s the version we’re talking about here. 

The parking lot for the trail is at the south trailhead, and from there the hike starts out along the road for a hot second before jumping onto a boardwalk and path that parallels the road, taking you into a dense ferny forest.

Then you’ll get dumped out back onto the road, which you’ll follow to the actual starting point for the hike, which is roughly here. 

Heads up – this trail is known for the Tule elk that call the area home. We saw a big herd of them in the field on the right as you hike on the road to the starting point of the actual trail. Be on the lookout!

The trail starts with a steep set of stairs in various conditions, so watch your footing. From the beginning of this hike, you’re walking through a dense sitka spruce forest, with ferns along the forest floor. It’s magical, and it’s one of the aspects of hiking in the Pacific Northwest that we love, especially along the coast. 

The trail continues to climb steadily through the forest, and at approximately 1.2 miles into the hike, you’ll emerge from the forest onto Cascade Head, where you’ll have magnificent views to the south and west (at least on a clear day).

It was very, very blustery as soon as we exited the forest, so be prepared for some wind. 

The trail snakes around the point and then starts a more intense climb up the hill to an even better viewpoint, which involves 500 feet of elevation gain in a touch more than a quarter of a mile. 

This is where the lower and upper trail meet – the upper trail approaches this viewpoint from above, which makes it a much easier (but less interesting) hike. 

This trail is operated and maintained by the Nature Conservancy, and DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED. 

It’s a pretty steady climb from the trailhead up to the lookout. There are some switchbacks along the way, and the view of the deep blue water of Crater Lake seems to get better and better as you ascend. Just wait until you get to the top.

Note: The road on the eastern side of Crater Lake is closed in the winter, which means that you can’t drive to the trailhead. You can still access the trailhead in the late spring / early summer by parking here, right outside the gate, and hiking to the trailhead.

It adds a couple of miles in each direction, but it’s along a paved road. We were there on the day the road opened for the season, but we actually did the hike the day before, when the road was still closed.

Check road conditions here before you go. 

Read the recent trail reports before you go so that you know whether or not to expect a mud bath!

This hike is in Lincoln City, and takes you out to the coast where there’s a little peninsula jutting out into the Pacific Ocean that has been named God’s Thumb. 

The hike out to God’s Thumb is nice – it’s a forested trail that passes by the Knoll first, a stunning viewpoint out over the Oregon Coast, and then continues until you emerge onto the bluff over the ocean. 

The final ascent to the top is steep and skinny, but it should be doable for most people. Stick to the well-worn trail, and take it slow. It will be windy at the top, so bring a windbreaker. 

Note: When it’s muddy, the trail up to the thumb at the end gets washed out, and it’s very slippery. We’d avoid climbing up to the top if it’s super muddy. 

Ecola State Park (Oregon Coast): If you’re looking for a nice hike along the coast to a sandy beach, we like both of the main hikes at Ecola State Park near Cannon Beach – the Indian Beach Trail and the hike down to Crescent Beach. Both leave from the same parking lot, which gets very busy (so go early). Put them together and you have an excellent day out on the coast!

Cleetwood Cove (Crater Lake): The reason this hike got cut is that the payoff is great, but the hike sucks. This trail gets you to the lowest accessible point in Crater Lake National Park. The Cleetwood Cove trail takes you from the rim road right down to the water level. And, yes, you can jump in. This is the only spot in the park (that we know of – let us know if that has changed or if we’re mistaken!) where you can get to the water level. To get there, though, you climb straight down an unforgiving set of switchbacks. Great, right? Downhill isn’t too bad! Except what goes down must come back up, and it’s a tough climb on the way back up. And Crater Lake sits at around 6,000 feet of elevation, which makes it that much harder. More trail information here

Wahclella Falls (Gorge): This is probably our favorite waterfall in the Gorge. It’s short and sweet, the waterfall at the end is really nice, and the small parking lot limits crowds (to an extent). We bring a lot of friends and family here when they come to visit.  More trail information here

Broken Top / No Name Lake: This hike was (is?) very Insta-famous, and the problem is that it’s tough to get to. Either you need a very high clearance vehicle to navigate the terrible road, or you need to embark on a long hike (if you’re coming from the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway). However, we recently learned that you can do the hike from the northern side (near Sisters) by following the Tam McArthur Rim Trail. We had plans to do it last fall on our trip to Bend, but it snowed the night before we were planning on doing it, so we had to postpone it. 

Wallowa Lake / Eagle Cap Wilderness: A visit out to northeastern Oregon has been on our list since the second we moved to Portland, and we just haven’t quite made it out there yet (partially because our dog gets very anxious when she gets zipped in a tent, so backpacking is tough these days). And to see the best of this part of the world, you really do have to sleep out there. We have our eye on this loop for when we do make it out there. 

The Strawberry Mountain Wilderness: Oh hey, a beautiful place that’s even further than the Wallowas! The Strawberry Mountain Wilderness is tucked away in the eastern edge of Oregon (near Boise), and is quite a trek from up here in the northwest corner of the state. But my goodness is it beautiful down there! High on our list for 2025! You can check out some of the hikes here. 

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