Must See Hikes

This is a quick list of hikes recommended by Oregon Hikers for visiting hikers. Click the links for more detailed information.

This list is just a quick glance. There are many other worthwhile hikes in Oregon and southern Washington. (Drive times are from Portland.)

Hike	Distance	Elevation Change	Season	Drive Time

Adams Glacier Meadows Hike	8.2 miles	2315 feet	Jul-Oct	160 minute drive
Hike up the west slope of Mt. Adams to high alpine meadows at High Camp




Battle Ax Loop Hike	6.0 miles	1765 feet	Jun-Oct	145 minute drive
Scenic loop in the Bull of the Woods Wilderness, with big views from an old lookout site




Belknap Crater Hike	6.8 miles	1880 feet	Jul-Oct	220 minute drive
Cross sere lava flows in the Mount Washington Wilderness to visit a couple of recent shield volcanoes




Blue Basin Loop Hike	4.1 miles	860 feet	Year round	260 minute drive
A loop that takes you into a fossil-rich claystone basin and then up around its rim.




Cached Lake Loop Hike	17.4 miles	4740 feet	Jul-Oct	350 minute drive
Lollipop backpack up a beautiful valley and then over rugged terrain in the southern Wallowas




Cape Perpetua Hike	6.5 miles	1100 feet	year round	160 minute drive
A variety of different trails lead to churning chasms, huge spruce trees, a quiet creek, headland wildflower meadows, and scenic views




Coldwater Peak Hike	13.8 miles	3360 feet	Jul-Oct	120 minute drive
Travel through the heart of the 1980 blast zone, and marvel at the pace of recovery as nature slowly reclaims the scoured landscape. Reach the top of Coldwater Peak for a sweeping vista of the entire Mount Margaret Backcountry, high above picturesque Saint Helens Lake.




Cooper Spur Hike	6.4 miles	2800 feet	Jul-Oct	120 minute drive
Mount Hood's highest trail hike. Hike to a 1930s era stone shelter and beautiful views of the Eliot Glacier.




Dalles Mountain Ranch Loop Hike	6.9 miles	1060 feet	Year round	95 minute drive
Stunning spring wildflower loop in open country on the slopes of the Columbia Hills




Dog Mountain Hike	6.9 miles	2800 feet	Mar-Oct	75 minute drive
Steep yet popular trail to a spectacular summit. Incredible wildflower displays make this the best hike in the area during late May and early June.




Eagle Creek to Tunnel Falls Hike	12.0 miles	1640 feet	Year round	45 minute drive
Classic and ancient trail up the Eagle Creek Gorge. Lots of waterfalls, including Punch Bowl Falls and incredible Tunnel Falls, where the trail actually tunnels behind the waterfall. Lots of cliffside hiking make this a poor choice for dogs or those scared of heights.




Elkhorn Crest Hike	12.5 miles	3600 feet	July-Oct	360 minute drive
Stunning hike along the highest ridge in the Elkhorn Range, with views, wildflowers, lakes, and mountain goats!




Garfield Peak Hike	3.5 miles	1115 feet	Jul-Oct	250 minute drive
Steep hike to a spectacular summit on the rim of Crater Lake.




Elk Cove from Vista Ridge Hike	8.8 miles	1790 feet	Jul-Oct	120 minute drive
Moderate hike to wildflower meadows on the north face of Mt Hood. This trail usually opens in late June, with the best flower displays in early August.




Hager Mountain Hike	7.4 miles	2025 feet	May-Oct	300 minute drive
Hike up through ponderosa forest and mountain meadows to an active lookout on the edge of the Great Basin




Ice Lake Hike	15.4 miles	3380 feet	Jul-Sep	330 minute drive
Hike along a river and then up through wildflowers meadows past a series of waterfalls to a high alpine lake in the Wallowas




Jefferson Park via Park Ridge Hike	11.2 miles	2500 feet	Jul-Sep	150 minute drive
Mount Jefferson Wilderness hike to the lake-studded parklands below Mt. Jefferson




Little Blitzen Gorge Hike	9.9 miles	1290 feet	Apr-Oct	400 minute drive
Hike up one of the classic glaciated gorges on Steens Mountain.




Lookingglass Lake via Shorthorn Trail Hike	11.8 miles	2495 feet	Jul-Sep	135 minute drive
Hike along the south side of Mt. Adams, beginning in a burn, to reach an isolated reflection lake




Lower Imnaha River Hike	9.8 miles	610 feet	Mar-Nov	440 minute drive
Follow a sheer-walled canyon to the Snake River and an old mining settlement




McClellan Mountain Hike	10.3 miles	3030 feet	Jun-Oct	320 minute drive
Ridgecrest hike on the Aldrich Mountains with an easy cross-country section




McNeil Point Hike	10.4 miles	2200 feet	Jul-Oct	120 minute drive
Stunning views to the west highlight this hike. Another stone shelter and you can see the lights of Portland at night.




Multnomah-Wahkeena Loop Hike	4.9 miles	1600 feet	year round	40 minute drive
Popular loop hike with 10 waterfalls. Starts at the famous Multnomah Falls Lodge. Where else you get a mocha at the trailhead?




Opal Pool-Cedar Flats Hike	10.5 miles	400 feet	year round	120 minute drive
Water level hike on a closed road near Opal Creek. Highlights include an old mining town and an ancient grove of cedars. Overnight lodging is available in Jawbone Flats and you have to hike to get there.




Painted Canyon Loop Hike	9.4 miles	1145 feet	year round	500 minute drive
Off-trail adventure down one desert canyon and up another, viewing spectacular rhyolite formations. Be well-prepared!




Paradise Park from Timberline Lodge Hike	12.3 miles	2300 feet	Jul-Oct	120 minute drive
Hike through massive Zigzag Canyon to summer flower meadows.




Rogue River Hike	39.8 miles	3080 feet	Year round	270 minute drive
Easily graded, early season backpack along the Rogue River; commercial shuttle is possible




Sahalie and Koosah Falls Loop Hike	2.6 miles	380 feet	May-Nov.	135 minute drive
Lovely loop to several waterfalls, large and small, on the McKenzie River.




Samuel Boardman: North Island to Arch Rock Hike	8.4 miles	1080 feet	year round	350 minute drive
A spectacular hike along the rugged coastline north of Brookings.




Sheep Canyon Loop Hike	12.1 miles	2975 feet	Jun-Nov	90 minute drive
Varied loop on the south side of Mount Saint Helens.




Silver Star Mountain Hike	5.7 miles	1240 feet	Mar-Nov	90 minute drive
Climb to a peak with an open 360 degree summit. Five volcanoes can be seen from here, if you can pry your eyes from the June-July wildflowers and October fall colors.




Smith Rock Summit Loop Hike	7.7 miles	1840 feet	Year round	190 minute drive
Spectacular views of the Smith Rock area and the Cascades as you loop over Misery Ridge and back via Burma Road




Strawberry Mountain Hike	12.6 miles	3610 feet	Jun-Oct	300 minute drive
Hike through a varied landscape with lakes, meadows, a waterfall, and wildflowers to the top of the highest peak for miles




Table Mountain from Bonneville Hike	15.5 miles	4320 feet	Apr-Oct	60 minute drive
Very tough hike. Lot of elevation gain, including climbing a talus slope. The rewards are incredible clifftop views of the entire gorge.




Tam McArthur Rim Hike	5.0 miles	1200 feet	Aug-Oct	180 minute drive
Short hike with a very big payoff: spectacular views of the central Cascades.




Trail of Ten Falls Loop Hike	7.8 miles	870 feet	Year round	90 minute drive
Pleasant creekside hike featuring ten (count them ten) waterfalls. The waterfalls are more impressive in the spring, but this hike great all year.




Yocum Ridge Hike	18.4 miles	3880 feet	Jul-Oct	120 minute drive
Challenging hike to amazing alpine viewpoints

Must See Hikes

Must See Hikes

From Oregon Hikers Field Guide