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Must See Hikes

From Oregon Hikers Field Guide

Revision as of 04:12, 6 March 2018 by Bobcat (Talk | contribs)

This is a quick list of hikes commonly recommended by Oregon Hikers members 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.



Hike Distance Elevation Change Season Drive Time
Mt. Rainier from Coldwater Peak.jpg
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 Shelter.jpg
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.
DallesMountainRanch1.jpg
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
DogMtnHike1.jpg
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.
Lower Twin Lake, Elkhorn Ridge.jpg
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!
ElkCoveAutumn.jpg
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.
IceLake7.jpg
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
ParkRidge6.jpg
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
LookingglassShorthorn2.jpg
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
HoodMcNeilPoint01.jpg
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.
Ecola1.jpg
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?
Cascade.jpg
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.
ParadiseParkZigzagCanyon.jpg
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.
180 TrailLookingNorth.jpg
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.
Vast meadows, Strawberry Mountain.jpg
Strawberry Mountain Hike 12.6 miles 3610 feet June-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
TableMountainSummit.jpg
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.
LowerSouth1.jpg
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.
TunnelFallsTunnel2.jpg
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 Punchbowl Falls (an easy short hike) 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.
Yocummthd.jpg
Yocum Ridge Hike 14.2 miles 3600 feet Jul-Oct 120 minute drive
Challenging hike to amazing alpine viewpoints
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Oregon Hikers Field Guide is built as a collaborative effort by its user community. While we make every effort to fact-check, information found here should be considered anecdotal. You should cross-check against other references before planning a hike. Trail routing and conditions are subject to change. Please contact us if you notice errors on this page.

Hiking is a potentially risky activity, and the entire risk for users of this field guide is assumed by the user, and in no event shall Trailkeepers of Oregon be liable for any injury or damages suffered as a result of relying on content in this field guide. All content posted on the field guide becomes the property of Trailkeepers of Oregon, and may not be used without permission.