Guides
A trail in Silver Falls State Park past 10 beautiful waterfalls, perfect for the whole family.
This casual hike through a beautiful canyon in Oregon's largest State park takes you past TEN beautiful waterfalls ranging in height from 27 feet to 178 feet and 4 of them you can even walk behind! There are plenty of benches to rest at and the trail is extremely well maintained, perfect for the whole family. Before or after the amazing hike you can...
Climbing to the summit of the South Sister from Devil's Lake Trailhead.
The South Sister, also known as Charity, is Oregon's third highest mountain. The hike to the top is very difficult, but fairly easy as far as climbing mountains can go, as there is indeed a trail that goes all the way to the top and can be done without any technical mountain climbing gear. The hike can easily be done in a day, and usually takes...
Standard Route with optional ski descent
Mt. Hood is the tallest mountain (and volcano) in the state of Oregon. At 11,239 feet (3426 meters) it is truly a worthy alpine ascent. The volcano last erupted in 1907 and was first climbed by W.S. Buckley, W.L. Chittenden, James Deardorff, H.L. Pittock and L.J. Powell in 1857. The mountain lies 50 miles east of Portland and is considered by some...
Hike this short section of the McKenzie River Trail to the beautiful Tamolitch (Blue Pool)
The McKenzie River trail is twenty six miles long and runs from Clear Lake to McKenzie Bridge. It's world famous for Mountain Bikers, and very nice for hikers as well. This short portion of the trail takes you to the beautiful turquoise Tamolitch Pool, also known as Blue Pool. Beginning of this easy hike is through old growth Douglas fir forest....
A moderate hike to three waterfalls and a fun swimming hole.
The interesting thing about this hike to twin waterfalls is that it starts at the top of the hills and heads downhill, which means you must hike back uphill for the second half of the hike. As you hike down you will pass by Upper Kentucky Falls then down to the twin falls of Lower Kentucky Falls and North Fork Falls, where there is a nice wooden...
Easy hike along Sweet Creek passes by a ton of waterfalls, with majestic Sweet Creek Falls as a grand finale.
In this Coast Range valley, the Sweet Creek Trail follows the scenic cascading waters of Sweet Creek. Each waterfall is framed by mossy rocks and ferns and under a canopy of Douglas-fir, Alder and Big leaf maple.
Iron Mountain is the crown jewel of the Santiam Foothills. Views of all the large mountains in the Cascade range.
There are two options to hike to the summit of Iron Mountain. One is a short, but difficult hike, while the other wraps around the mountain through the meadows of Cone Peak (as laid out in this guide). According to government websites there are over 300 species of flowering plants and 18 different plant communities on Iron Mountain. At the summit...
Via Corrigan Lake and the Northwest Ridge with optional ski descent
This is a truly amazing ski descent on a less traveled Oregon Volcano. The Ascent is straightforward through the trees. The GPS track in this guide does not follow the trail which at the time was buried under feet of snow. It was however the most direct and easy ski ascent. When you get to 7,000 feet you'll you have the choice of going left or right...
Hike to the highest point of the Columbia Gorge with amazing views of Mt Hood, Mt St Helens and Mt Adams
Many consider this hike Oregon's hardest trail, and in fact the Starvation Ridge portion is used to train for the Mt. Hood Summit. If you take the easier way up you will pass by a few waterfalls before you start a difficult climb to the top. As you climb this six million year old shield volcano you will find breathtaking views of the Columbia...
Mary's Peak, the highest point in the Coast Range has a variety of trails, and spectacular views from Ocean to Cascades
Marys Peak, at 4,097 feet, is the highest point in Oregon’s Coast Range and the most prominent peak to the west of Corvallis. On a clear day, from the top of the peak, you can see both the Pacific Ocean to the west and many of the Cascade peaks to the east across the Willamette Valley. Wildflower displays in the meadow and rock gardens change...
A beautiful waterfall in the coastal range.
This is a short hike deep in the coastal range that brings you to an amazing waterfall and a very high and long suspension bridge. You may lose gps signal deep in the forest but the trail is very clear. You'll have a choice to take a loop trail on the way back to make the hike a little longer which is what this track shows.
Hike to this majestic waterfall along the North Umpqua River.
The trails wind through old-growth forests of Douglas-fir, hemlock, and sugar pine, with trees often over six feet in diameter. The crown jewel of the hike is majestic Fall Creek Falls, which is a great place to swim in the summer time. You can get a view of Fall Creek Falls from the bottom, as well as another mid way up the falls, as well as...
The first section of the North Umpqua River Trail to Fern falls.
The trail winds along the south bank of the North Umpqua River trail through old-growth forests of Douglas-fir, hemlock, and sugar pine, with trees often over six feet in diameter.
A beautiful waterfall along the North Umpqua River, as well as an old Indian site.
The trails wind through old-growth forests of Douglas-fir, hemlock, and sugar pine, with trees often over six feet in diameter. The crown jewel of the hike is beautiful Susan Creek Falls, which is a great place to swim in the summer time. A little further you can view the location of Indian mounds. A place where Native American boys went to...
Follow this trail to Pittock Mansion for a panoramic view of Portland
At over 1,000 feet you will have great views of Portland and will also have a great opportunity for bird watching. Take the time to explore the grounds and make sure to read the links I've included with this guide for more information on the site. The building is overseen by the Bureau of Parks and Recreation and it is open for touring.
Spectacular 240-foot suspension bridge that hovers 100 feet above Drift Creek Falls.
Flanked by ferns, alder trees and vine maple, Drift Creek Trail winds through the rain-drenched Siuslaw National Forest. The highlight of the trail is a 240-foot long cable suspension bridge. Anchored by cables and ties that are cemented into opposing bluffs, the bridge holds over a hundred fifty thousand pounds. While the bridge does offer a...
Table Rock is at 4881 feet, offers some incredible views of the Cascades. Here is my track from July 2, 2011. Just under 8 miles and 2900 feet of elevation gained, some of which was goofing around some of the different rock outcroppings. The first 1.5 miles of the hike are on an old logging road,You will come to a landslide that wiped out part of the...
Eugene's most popular and iconic Butte, with the best view of Eugene/Springfield in the area.
This hike is the most popular in Eugene. Take your choice of trails through Douglas fir trees. At the top you will find a rocky outcroping with views all up and down the Willamette Valley. The butte was called Champ-a te or Cham-o-tee by the native Kalapuya, meaning rattlesnake. One popular theory is that Spencer Butte was named for a young...
A short 2 to 4 mile hike into the waterfall. There are two locations to park off of HWY 35 so make sure not to leave valuables in the car. The parking location shown on the map is from the Polallie trail head. Park and cross hwy 35 to a steep unmarked trail on the west side. Follow this trail south. It will connect with the Tamanawas fall trail after...
Popular hike just outside of Eugene with stunning views of the Willamette Valley. Adjacent arboretum with nature walks.
Several hiking trails are maintained by the Lane County Parks Department on Mount Pisgah. The summit is accessible by a steep 1.4-mile trail from a parking area near the base of the hill. Several other trails make their way through the adjacent arboretum and up the slopes. The summit offers a panoramic view of the southern Willamette Valley and includes...
This short and steep hike to the top of Mt June will reward you with views of the Three Sisters and the Cascade range.
A former lookout site, the summit at Mount June is the area's tallest peak at 4,618ft. The hike is short at 1.2 miles from trailhead to peak, but there are some fairly steep sections. The hike will take you through a Douglas fir forest with rhododendrons scattered throughout. From the top you will get nice views of the Three Sisters as well...
A short hike through old growth temperate rainforest, only minutes outside town!
This is the best place to see what the Coastal Range used to look like before European settlers and modern logging. The massive trees here were sheltered by the steep valley and later donated to OSU as part of the Research Forest. It's an impressive place, even more so when you realize that the entire area used to look similarly.
Nice hike or bike ride around the rim of this Bend area park
Shevlin Park is a haven located less than three miles from Bend and a perfect location for hiking, jogging, fishing, cross country skiing and picnicking. There is an extensive trail and pathway system providing for both summer and winter uses. The ODFW fishing limit for Shevlin Pond is 2 trout per day, 8-inch minimum length. Fishing is restricted to...
Two beautiful waterfalls that gush in the winter and great for swimming in the summer.
Alsea Falls Recreation Area is next to the South Fork Alsea River, in a lush coastal forest of red cedars, maples, and Douglas firs. The recreation area has 22 picnic tables, 16 campsites, hiking trails, and an outstanding view of Alsea Falls. Throughout the spring and summer, visitors find blooming rhododendrons, Oregon grapes, dogwoods, and other...
Moderate hike through the woods type hike through six of pine, fir and maple trees, as well as Crone Miller lake.
Peavy Arboretum is an arboretum operated by Oregon State University and located on Arboretum Road, Corvallis, Oregon. The arboretum was dedicated by the university in 1926, operated as a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp from 1933-1942, and reverted to College of Forestry management in 1964. While the CCC was active, they planted trees, expanded...
One of the most popular climbs in the Columbia Gorge with great views of both Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams and the Columbia.
This is a wonderful climb in teh Columbia Gorge with great views from the many cliffs and ledges near the top of Mt. Hood, Adams and the Columbia River. There is a side catwalk trail you can take along the way and even a beautiful waterfall with bridge viewpoint. I don't want to give away too much as being surprised is always better. Bring a camera!
This hiking trail loops all the way around Clear Lake along the scenic McKenzie Highway in Oregon.
Clear Lake, the "lake born of fire", is the headwaters of the McKenzie River and was formed 3000 years ago when lava from Sand Mountain reached the river and backed up water to form the lake. The original forest that had lined the river banks was submerged. Remnants of some of these submerged trees still stand under 120 feet of water and are visible...
An easy hike with fantastic views of Mt. Jefferson and a little know gem of a cave that frames Jeffy in the distance.
This is an easy hike to a peak with a perfect view of Jefferson. Make sure to follow the GPS track carefully to find one of the coolest and least known caves in Oregon.
One of the best mountain biking areas in the Portland Metro area.
This trail offers varied terrain from steep hill climbs to quick sections of road biking to some technical terrain. This trail was opened to bikers around 2004 and quickly became one of the more popular loop trails for mountain bikers in the Portland Area. You'll have views of Mt. Hood from several places and you can even take a swim in the lake...
Waterfalls and beautiful gorge scenery along an easy trail.
This is an easy "out and back" hike with great scenery of waterfalls, ferns, and rocky outcroppings. It's quite popular with easy vehicle access at the trailhead, so plan to see alot of other hikers and is part of the Pacific Crest Trail - this is not the trail for you if you're looking for solitude.
An easy hike or snowshoe up to a small lake with fantastic views of Mt. Hood.
This 3 mile round trip will bring you to a small lake beneath Tom Dick Peak which has beautiful views of Mt. Hood across the pass. You can hike up the slope a bit further to POI #3 if you would like a view over Mirror Lake but I only suggest doing this in summer time as in the winter that slope is prone to avalanche. Bring a camera and hope for calm...
A popular sight seeing, camping, hiking, fishing, boating, and off road recreational area in eastern Oregon.
The towering rock structures of Succor Creek Canyon rise above prime riparian habitat and rock-hounding grounds. Leslie Gulch is a strikingly beautiful vastness of volcanic tuff towers. This is a picturesque place where wind, water, and time have created spectacular panoramas of unusually sculpted colorful conical towers, honeycombed pinnacles,...
Via Southwest Ridge with optional ski descent
A super fun and easy ascent of Mt. Scott, the highest point of Crater Lake. We did this with skis and got a lot of funny looks from the people in shorts hiking up besides us in sneakers in July. But, we had a fun little descent from the ridge down the remaining snowfields while drinking a few beers on the way up. You'll have amazing views of the...
This is a spectacular hike through upper alpine volcanic mountains in the central Cascades mountains of Oregon. The views are well worth the trip up a winding switch back single track trail. Starting at the trail head from Three Creek Lake, you can get some great views of Broken Top, North and Middle Sister and Mt Jefferson.
Loop trail passes by two waterfalls on the McKenzie River
Sahalie Falls and Koosah Falls are located on the old "Clear Lake Cutoff" section of Highway 126. These falls mark the terminus of two thick flows of basaltic andesite lava that dammed Clear Lake and moved into the McKenzie River 3,000 years ago. The results are two breathtaking waterfalls with foaming white water cascades in between. Sahalie (or...
A quick hike up for a 360 degree view of the high desert
In Bend for the day? Don't have time to get out and take advantage of all the surrounding area? Give Pilot Butte a try! It's a quick mile each way from the base to the summit, short enough that there's a kiosk showing the trail running times to get to the top. Once you reach the top, there are views of all the Oregon Cascades and the surrounding...
Walk behind this 100 foot waterfall in the Little River area of the Upper Umpqua River area.
The glistening waters of this attractive waterfall invite visitors to experience a closer view. Water plunges 100 feet over a cliff with the trail passing behind the falls into a natural cavern. This trail is developed for hiker use only.
The trail of ten falls is a popular pick for any northwest hiker because of the cluster of unique waterfalls.
From the Oregon State Parks Website: Nestled in the lower elevation of Oregon's Cascade Mountains lies a temperate rain forest. It is here that the Trail of Ten Falls/Canyon Trail can be found. The Canyon Trail and the falls descend to a forest floor covered with ferns, mosses, and wildflowers. You will also find stands of Douglas fir, hemlock, and...
Beautiful flower meadows and a hike up the East side of Three Fingered Jack.
This very popular loop route takes you on a tour of a high alpine meadow, with bubbling Canyon Creek flowing through it. In addition, you’ll enjoy spectacular views of the jagged spires of Three Fingered Jack, the eroded core of an extinct 100,000-year-old volcano. This is a really beautiful hike with so many points of interest. From wildflower...
Deer habitat used by hikers, hunters, bikers, and horse riders. Views of Umpqua River and Valley.
The trail outlined in this guide is one of many that cris cross through the North Bank Ranch Habitat. You will see a few junctions mentioned along the POI's in this guide, and at some you will find maps of the area, if you wish to go in different directions. The trail outlined in this guide gives you a nice moderate hike to introduce you to the...
