Suggested hikes and outdoor trips!
Suggested hikes, camp outs, and outdoor adventures.
Get outside and explore Oregon's wild lands and waters with these suggested trips!
Check out wheelchair accessible destinations in Oregon (pdf) and Washington.
We've rated these hikes as:
| Great for Kids! |
Shorter, flat well-graded trails |
| Easy |
Little elevation gain, well maintained trails |
| Moderate |
Substantial elevation gain, more difficult trails |
| Strenuous |
Steep, poorly maintained trails, bridgeless stream crossings |
Be sure and check out our tips for a safe and fun adventure in Oregon's outdoors!
Northwest Oregon
| nAME |
DIFFICULTY |
DISTANCE |
ELEVATION GAIN | sEASON | ATTRACTIONS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Larch Mountain |
Moderate |
7 miles |
1,300 feet |
Late spring, summer, fall |
Old growth, close to Portland |
| Lost Lake | Great for kids | 3 miles | 20 feet | spring, summer, fall | Family friendly, great view of Mount Hood |
| Cooper Spur | Moderate to Strenuous | 5 miles | 1,100 feet | late spring, summer, early fall | Great views from the Northside of Mount Hood |
| Tamanawas Falls | Easy | 4 miles | 300 feet | spring, summer, fall | Beautiful falls on the East-side of Mount Hood |
| Herman Creek |
Moderate |
6.5 miles |
1,400 feet |
spring through fall |
1,000 year old cedars |
| Fifteenmile Creek | Moderate | 6 miles | 500 feet | spring, summer, early fall | Diverse old-growth, good in the Spring for a sunny break from Portland |
| Wahtum Lake |
Easy |
4.5 miles |
200 feet |
late spring through early fall |
Old growth noble fir and a small lake |
| Boulder Lake | Moderate | 5 miles | 1,100 feet | late spring, summer, early fall | A well-kept secret on the East-side of Mount Hood |
|
Moderate |
6 miles |
400 feet |
all year |
great snowshoeing, close to Portland | |
| Middle Santiam |
Moderate |
12 miles |
Minimal |
spring through late fall |
Great continuous old growth and diverse wildflowers |
| White River | Easy | 4 miles | 500 feet | all year | great snowshoeing, views, family-friendly |
| Easy | 2.6 miles w/ longer options | 650 feet | spring, fall, summer | old-growth forest, family friendly | |
| Mirror Lake | Easy to Moderate | 3.0 miles w/ longer options | 780 feet | all year | Great views of Mount Hood, very close to Portland |
| Opal Creek | Moderate to Strenuous | 7 miles w/ longer options | Varies | Spring, summer, fall |
Amazing old growth, waterfalls, rare wildlife |
| Crabtree Valley |
Moderate |
2-6 miles |
200-600 feet |
late spring through fall |
Some of the largest trees in Oregon |
| Hardesty Mountain |
Easy to Strenuous |
Out and back, or 9 mile strenuous option |
Varies | Late spring, summer, fall |
Eugene's backyard wild area! |
| Lookout Creek |
Moderate to Strenuous |
Approximately 6.5 miles |
Many ups and downs |
Late spring, summer, fall |
Spectacular old-growth near Eugene |
| Shale Ridge Trail |
Moderate |
Approximately 6 miles |
Some ups and downs - rock hopping required at creek crossing! |
Late spring, summer, fall |
Two Wilderness areas, Waldo Lake, and the birthplace of the Willamette River, all near Eugene |
| McKenzie River-Sahalie Falls |
Easy to Moderate |
Varies, options from 1.5 to 6 miles |
Moderate |
Late spring, summer, fall |
Beautiful waterfalls, birthplace of the McKenzie River--source of Eugene's drinking water |
| Fall Creek |
Moderate |
5.5 miles |
Moderate |
Late spring, summer, fall |
Old-growth forest, swimming holes, forest areas recovering from fire, near Eugene. |
Eastern Oregon
| nAME | DIFFICULTY | DISTANCE | ELEVATION GAIN | sEASON | ATTRACTIONS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strawberry Lakes | Moderate | 3-6 miles, with longer options | Moderate | Late spring, summer, early fall | Beautiful lake, trout fishing, waterfalls, and rugged cliffs in the Strawberry Mountains Wilderness. |
| North Fork Umatilla |
Moderate |
9.8 miles one way |
2,600 feet |
spring through fall |
Black cottonwood and Ponderosa pine dot the landscape. |
| Williamson River Canyon | Strenuous | Explore the canyon on foot or by canoe - length varies | Moderate | Late spring, summer, fall; summer for canoes | Beautiful river, redband trout, and scenic canyon in the Upper Klamath Basin. |
Southwest Oregon
| nAME | DIFFICULTY | DISTANCE | ELEVATION GAIN | sEASON | ATTRACTIONS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brice Creek | Easy to moderate |
Many options, 3.5 to 10 miles |
Low to moderate |
All year |
Waterfalls, scenic creek, old-growth forest just 25 miles from Cottage Grove. |
| Sky Lakes |
Moderate |
11 miles |
100 feet |
late spring though Sept. |
High elevation lakes for swimming. |
| Soda Mountain |
Strenuous |
5 miles |
2,000 feet |
spring through fall |
A biological jewel. Diverse topography and plant life. |
Oregon Coast
| nAME | DIFFICULTY | DISTANCE | ELEVATION GAIN | sEASON | ATTRACTIONS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Falls | Moderate |
4 miles |
Moderate |
All year |
Waterfalls, old-growth, beautiful creeks, all near Florence on the Oregon Coast. |
| Oregon Redwoods |
Moderate |
1.2 mile loop |
150 feet |
All year |
Oregon's best redwood forest. |
| Gwynn Creek and Cummins Creek | Moderate |
5.5-6 miles |
Moderate |
All year |
Massive old-growth trees in a coastal rainforest setting, near Cape Perpetua |
Klamath Basin
| nAME | DIFFICULTY | DISTANCE | ELEVATION GAIN | sEASON | ATTRACTIONS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Trails of Klamath County |
See link |
||||
| Klamath Basin Outings Overview |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Best during early spring and late fall |
National Wildlife Refuges; migratory birds and other animals; hiking, biking, canoe trips; birding |
| Butte Valley Wildlife Area/Meiss Lake |
Easy |
N/A |
N/A |
Any; canoe: January-March 1st |
Habitat diversity; water sport; birding |
| Klamath Basin Auto Tour |
Easy; several driving directions |
N/A |
N/A |
Best during spring, summer, and fall (be aware of hunting season hours) |
Terrific overview of Klamath National Wildlife Refuges; hiking, biking, exploration; birding |
| Wood River and Agency Lake Wetlands |
Moderate; easy access |
N/A |
N/A |
Best during spring, summer, and fall |
Canoe explorations; birding |
| Lower Williamson Gorge on the Fremont-Winema National Forest |
Strenuous; tricky trails, be cautious, read description carefully |
N/A |
N/A |
Best during late spring and summer |
Hiking; canoe and kayak trips; wildlife viewing |
| Malone Springs on Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge |
Moderate; several driving directions |
N/A |
N/A |
Any |
Canoe and kayak trips |


