Oregon is home to some of the best hiking places, and if you live in Oregon, you’ll agree. While summer has arrived, the fun summer activities that usually accompanies it has not. If you live in Oregon or are just visiting and you need an awesome activity that you can keep up social distancing, hiking is one that will not only get you out of your house, it will also lead you on adventures that you’ll remember and cherish forever.
Here are ten best hiking places I suggest you start with if you haven’t hiked in Oregon before. They all hold a special kind of beauty that you may not usually get while at home. Enjoy the beautiful trees, warm weather, and especially the waterfalls while hiking these easy to moderate trails that will keep you reaching for your camera!
I’ve included directions to all of the trailheads with Portland being the start of the journey, but All Trails is a great site to learn more about these spots and how to find them from your location!
The Henline Waterfall is the perfect hike for you and your family as it is a super easy 2-mile hike roundtrip. You are led to a beautiful 125-foot waterfall that change often with the different amount of rainfall. The best time to go and get the best pictures is during late spring or mid fall.
To the right of the waterfall is the abandoned Silver King Mine. This mine was used to find gold, being drilled 1,700 feet into the rock. They did not find enough gold to make a profit. The mine is eery and something fun to explore if you like a little scare factor on your hike.
If you are interested in a more moderate hike, take the Henline Falls-Ogle Mountain Trail Junction that will lead you closer to the top of the trail. This one is a bit steeper so be careful.
Here are the directions if you are in the Portland area.
Being a huge fan of the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, I was so excited to find out about the Hobbit Trail! This is another one of the best hiking places to visit while in Oregon but it can be easily missed when you are heading towards so keep a close eye out. It is an easy and short hike that will lead you to a secluded beach.
As the picture shows, you will be lead through some tunnels made of thick bushes that resemble something of the Hobbit village. The beach is a wonderful and relaxing place, but that real adventure is getting to explore the forest. You will feel like you were transported right into the movie.
I haven’t tried this one out yet, but it is definitely one my list! Here are the directions from Portland.
Having a hard time finding a new place to swim? Opal Creek is not only one of the best hiking places in Oregon, but it also has some beautiful water to splash around in. The trail winds through a forest of 500-year-old trees. These trees were endangered by logging but were saved when a long-fought Wilderness bill was passed in 1998.
The smaller 4-mile hike will lead you to the 30-foot Sawmill waterfall, however, to get to Opal Pools, there is a longer 7.1-mile hike that will take you a little more adventurous trail. The water will feel so good after such a long hike!
Here are the directions from Portland.
Munra Point is considered a very difficult hike as it is very steep. The views are amazing from this hike, however, if you are very afraid of heights, I strongly suggest you sit this hike out.
This hike is only a forty-minute drive from Portland and gives you an amazing view of the Columbia River Gorge. When you arrive, there will be a sign to the Wahclella Falls trailhead, but do not take this one. Instead, go back towards the freeway, and take the left onto the Columbia River Highway Trail. Continue over the Tanner Creek bridge and take a left onto Trail #400. Continue on this trail until you come to the unmaintained trail heading south. This is the trail you want to take.
Please be careful if you take this hike. I recommend this one to experienced hikers. Here are the directions if you are in the Portland area.
Elowah Falls is among the best hiking places in Oregon. It is easy for you and your family as it is a 2.4-mile loop hike near the Cascade Locks. This hiking trail is accessible year-round. The waterfall plunges 210 feet and you can get a great view from the footbridge that crosses McCord Creek.
If you are looking for a longer hike, take the Upper McCord Creek Falls Trail to get closer to the top of Elowah Falls as well as catch a view of the smaller McCord Creek Falls. Make sure to bring you raincoat cause you are sure to get wet from all of the mist of the waterfall.
Here are the directions from Portland.
Why hike to just one waterfall when you can hike to two waterfalls on the same trail! The Koosah and Sahalie Waterfalls hike is one of the best hiking places in Oregon as it is an easy 2.6-mile loop hike that you and your family can take together. It leads you to two separate waterfalls, and if you want to hike a little bit longer, you can make it to Tamolitch Pools, which I talk about a little bit later.
Koosah Waterfall drops about 70 feet into a deep pool while Sahalie Waterfall drops 100 feet over a natural lava dam. Sahalie Waterfall makes a sneak peek in the Disney movie Homeward Bound. These two falls are best to visit from March to October, but they also make beautiful sights in the winter when the water begins to freeze. Just be careful, the trail can be a little dangerous due to ice and slipping.
Here are the directions from Portland.
Multnomah Falls; the one waterfall you should see if you are ever in Oregon. This waterfall is a very popular landmark for Oregon. If you aren’t looking for a long hike, this one is pretty easy as you just hike up the stairs to the bridge. However, if you are looking for the more difficult and long hike, continue past the bridge where a trail will take you to the top of the falls. Don’t look down if you can’t handle heights.
The gorgeous waterfall has seen its fair share of crazy events. In 1991, a forest fire hit and just barely missed the historic 1925 lodge. Then, in 1996, a bus-sized rock from the waterfall’s cliff fell off and landed in the pools splashing rock splinters all across the bridge. In, 1998, a torrential rainstorm hit and caused a landslide of trees, rock, and mud that ended blocking off the hiking trail for a year.
Other than those crazy events, this waterfall is a majestic and peaceful part of nature that you shouldn’t miss. Here are the directions if you are in Portland.
Ready for a cool dip in some very blue waters? Then head over to the Tamolitch Pool trail where you’ll be rewarded when you are met with Tamolitch Pool or the Blue Pool. This body of water is a lava flow pool and if you are lucky and get there after enough rain has fallen, the lava rock could start a waterfall that flows into the pool.
This is a 2-mile hike and a pretty easy one at that. It follows the McKenzie River and along the way, you’ll have scenic views and get to admire the Douglas Firs forest that winds its way to the pool. The water usually stays at a constant 30 year-round, so make sure to bring a few towels to keep yourself warm after a chilly swim.
Here are the directions if you are in the Portland area.
Blacklock Point is actually one of Oregon’s largest state parks, but because it is not a “developed” park, it is not on the state parks website. This beautiful hike takes you to the shores of Floras Lake that leads you to the beach where you’ll hike along the bottom of the colorful cliffs. You’ll head inland and take the Oregon Coast trail through woods and finally come to the amazing cliff tops where you’ll find the best view.
Get your camera ready as this hike will give you the chance to capture the beauty of this world and of Oregon. This hike can be done all year, but you have to be ready to hike for a long time as this hike is around 9.1 miles. It is a loop, so you will easily find your way back again.
Here are the directions from Portland to Blacklock Point. It is a little bit of a drive, but that is if you are in Portland. If you are closer, it is definitely worth checking out!
If you are not too afraid of heights, I suggest trying out Angel’s Rest. This 4.8-mile hike to the top and back leads to an exposed bluff on the western end of the Columbia River Gorge. While on the bluff, you get a 270-degree view of many different landmarks including Beacon Rock and Silver Star Mountain.
This is also the perfect location to get your hiking photos in as it has a great view of the Columbia River. The hike itself is said to be moderate, difficulty wise, and slightly on the steeper side. The drive from Portland to the trailhead is under forty-five minutes, which makes it all the more worth it!
If you are in Portland, here are directions to Angel’s Rest trailhead.
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