Hi all! I have the good luck of having lots of time off work to explore, and the bad luck of having an angry knee that makes elevation very hard. I am looking for some areas to go for 2-5ish days that have a fair amount of hikes under 1000ft elevation. I keep going into rabbit holes on the internet, and hoping for some suggestions from yall. Dog friendly is a must, driving for hours is fine, and I will be sleeping in my car so large camp sites are not necessary. Ideally I would take a lot of trips, so the more the merrier!
Thank you so much for any suggestions you may have!
Favorite area with easyish hikes?
Re: Favorite area with easyish hikes?
Are you day hiking or backpacking?
Re: Favorite area with easyish hikes?
Given your parameters, you're probably looking at hikes up creeks, rivers, or along the coast.
* Oregon Coast Trail in southern Oregon; Oregon Dunes trails; also Tillamook Head, etc.
* Wilson River Trail
* Columbia Gorge: Herman Creek, Oneonta, Gorge Trail
* Rogue River Trail
* Cottonwood Canyon
* Blue Mountains: Malheur River, Little Malheur, North Fork John Day, east end of Wenaha River
* In the Wallowas, Catherine Creek, South Imnaha, Main Eagle, etc.
* Steens: Big Indian Gorge, Little Blitzen Gorge
These just off the top of my head. The above are longer hikes; many shorter options, of course.
* Oregon Coast Trail in southern Oregon; Oregon Dunes trails; also Tillamook Head, etc.
* Wilson River Trail
* Columbia Gorge: Herman Creek, Oneonta, Gorge Trail
* Rogue River Trail
* Cottonwood Canyon
* Blue Mountains: Malheur River, Little Malheur, North Fork John Day, east end of Wenaha River
* In the Wallowas, Catherine Creek, South Imnaha, Main Eagle, etc.
* Steens: Big Indian Gorge, Little Blitzen Gorge
These just off the top of my head. The above are longer hikes; many shorter options, of course.
Re: Favorite area with easyish hikes?
Amazing. Thank you!bobcat wrote: ↑June 11th, 2022, 8:22 amGiven your parameters, you're probably looking at hikes up creeks, rivers, or along the coast.
* Oregon Coast Trail in southern Oregon; Oregon Dunes trails; also Tillamook Head, etc.
* Wilson River Trail
* Columbia Gorge: Herman Creek, Oneonta, Gorge Trail
* Rogue River Trail
* Cottonwood Canyon
* Blue Mountains: Malheur River, Little Malheur, North Fork John Day, east end of Wenaha River
* In the Wallowas, Catherine Creek, South Imnaha, Main Eagle, etc.
* Steens: Big Indian Gorge, Little Blitzen Gorge
These just off the top of my head. The above are longer hikes; many shorter options, of course.
Re: Favorite area with easyish hikes?
A thousand feet over what distance? Do you have a sense of the maximum slope that is comfortable for you? Is a trail that stays about the same elevation but has repeated ups and downs or significant steps better or worse than a smooth trail at a constant slope like many old road grades?
Re: Favorite area with easyish hikes?
Indian Heaven Wilderness, north of Carson, has minimal altitude gain, especial for the trailheads on the west side, and lots of gorgeous subalpine lakes. However it is famous for bad mosquitoes and this year's wet spring may make this a particularly bad year for that. And a little to the north of that is the Lewis River Trail, which is pretty flat - and never has bad mosquitoes.
Re: Favorite area with easyish hikes?
Ive always avoided Indian Heaven because of the mosquitoes, but maybe it can be my rainy day destinationdrm wrote: ↑June 12th, 2022, 8:03 amIndian Heaven Wilderness, north of Carson, has minimal altitude gain, especial for the trailheads on the west side, and lots of gorgeous subalpine lakes. However it is famous for bad mosquitoes and this year's wet spring may make this a particularly bad year for that. And a little to the north of that is the Lewis River Trail, which is pretty flat - and never has bad mosquitoes.
Re: Favorite area with easyish hikes?
If it's a windy day, then the bugs will be hiding. Even so, I have gone there in midsummer and had minimal bugs, even with nice weather. But it's random - a few times, I started in and turned around when a black cloud formed around my head.
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Re: Favorite area with easyish hikes?
There are a few different river hikes in the eastern part of the Olympics that are somewhat close together (driving-wise) and fairly gradual: Dosewallips, N Fork Skokomish, Duckabush (at least if you stop before Big Hump), Lower Big Quilcene. The Hoh and Elwha (although the road is closed to the Elwha, requiring some road walking) are also very pleasant and gradual but there aren't a lot of other gradual trails around them, and they're significantly farther from Oregon.
Not sure when you're thinking of going, but all of the above are snow-free right now for at least several miles. You will need a permit for overnight backpacking if you enter into the National Park, and no dogs allowed in the N.P. if that matters.
Edit: Oops, sorry, I see you specifically said dog friendly is a must! Some of the above do go a few miles before hitting N.P., and you could bring a dog to the boundary at least. I'll leave my response in case others find it useful.
Not sure when you're thinking of going, but all of the above are snow-free right now for at least several miles. You will need a permit for overnight backpacking if you enter into the National Park, and no dogs allowed in the N.P. if that matters.
Edit: Oops, sorry, I see you specifically said dog friendly is a must! Some of the above do go a few miles before hitting N.P., and you could bring a dog to the boundary at least. I'll leave my response in case others find it useful.