12 Scenic Trails To Explore In Oregon, One For Each Month Of The Year
This year, we’re resolving to get out and explore more. Oregon is home to some of the most extraordinary natural wonders in the country, and we’re making it our mission to embrace all our state has to offer! For us, this means logging some major miles on the trails, as there really is no better way to experience the beauty of the #pnwonderland, than to *immerse* (or bathe!) yourself in it. We’ve put together the following list of 12 scenic trails to explore in Oregon, one for each month of the year. Think of this as your Beaver State hiking bucket list!
Let's get the year started off on a high note... literally! Smith Rock State Park is beautiful year-round, but the quiet stillness that descends upon this region in the cold-weather months is positively sublime. The Misery Ridge and River Trail is four miles out and back and has a 1,000-foot elevation climb, so be prepared for a workout. But the views? Totally worth it.
Smith Rock State Park, Terrebonne, OR 97760, USA
How does a 97-foot waterfall in a frozen landscape sound to you? Cold? Yes. Icy? Yes. Downright gorgeous? Absolutely! This 6.5-mile waterfall hike can be snowy and icy this time of year, so bring some traction devices and wear some warm snow boots. Dogs are also allowed on this trail, so feel free to bring Fido along!
Tumalo Falls, Oregon 97703, USA
Oregon’s trails offer incredible adventures for beginners and seasoned hikers alike. And Drift Creek Falls Trail has it all; this hike features a waterfall, swinging bridge, and unrivaled views. Head to Lincoln City for the ultimate day trek in Oregon, the Drift Creek Falls Trail! We love visiting this trail in the late winter/early spring, as the snowmelt and precipitation make for particularly breathtaking cascades.
Drift Creek Falls, Oregon 97385, USA
In a city with well over 650,000 people, you'd think it would be hard to find a quiet spot. Not so! Forest Park is so large and secluded that you can actually find a little bit of peace and quiet here. Hop on the 29-mile-long trail at any of its entry points, and enjoy some of the most incredible views of Rose City. We're partial to stopping at Pittock Mansion, which leads to a scenic overlook offering sweeping views of downtown Portland and beyond.
Wildwood Trail, Portland, OR, USA
In May, we're journeying to the superlative Silver Falls State Park for one of the very best scenic hikes in Oregon. Spanning 9,000 glorious acres, Silver Falls is the largest and most popular state park in Oregon, and it's easy to see why once you see all this wondrous place has to offer. This Oregon state park is best known for its waterfalls, and on the Trail of Ten Falls, you'll see them all!
Silver Falls State Park, 20024 Silver Falls Hwy SE, Sublimity, OR 97385, USA
Summer's here and we're celebrating with an underrated hike that belongs on everyone's bucket list. The Columbia River Gorge is one big playground for outdoor enthusiasts, and the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail is one of the most accessible and underrated hikes in the area. This one-of-a-kind trail in Oregon features a waterfall, two tunnels, and numerous overlooks, for a scenic day trek that everyone should do at least once.
Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail, Historic Columbia River Hwy State Trail, Cascade Locks, OR 97014, USA
Here in Oregon, there’s never a bad time to enjoy a waterfall hike. Spring, summer, fall, or winter, you’ll find us out and about, chasing waterfalls and reveling in the splendor of the Beaver State. If you’re looking for a short-and-sweet hike with an epic waterfall finish, we have one you’re sure to enjoy. Lace up your boots and come along with us as we set out on the Downing Creek Trail, a lovely little one-mile trek leading to one of the most amazing hidden waterfalls in Oregon!
Downing Creek Falls, Oregon, USA
A hike to a secret beach? Only in Oregon! The Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor is a 12-mile forested park with a rugged, steep coastline full of small sand beaches. Secret Beach is one of the corridor's numerous beaches, but as its name implies, finding this hidden treasure isn't easy. This little oasis is nestled on the northernmost end of the corridor, and the easiest way to access it is via the Secret Beach Trail. This off-the-beaten-path beach makes for the perfect summer day trip in Oregon!
Secret Beach, Brookings, OR 97415, USA
Trillium Lake is one of Oregon's most-photographed spots. On a clear day, the reflection of Mt. Hood is like a mirror, reflected in the cerulean waters of Trillium Lake. In the late summer, as the leaves slowly start their metamorphosis, the lake's cold pools seem to take on an even bolder blue hue against the golds and coppers the foliage. The best part? The Trillium Lake Loop Trail is an easy, 1.9-mile journey, making this wonder something everyone can experience!
Trillium Lake Loop Trail #761, Oregon 97028, USA
Double, double toil and trouble... if you're on the hunt for a hauntingly fun hike in Oregon, you'll want to check out the Wildwood Trail and Lower Macleay Trail Loop! This 3.2-mile trail is located just outside Portland, and is a straightforward trek all can enjoy -- provided you aren't spooked by ghost stories... or witch's castles!
Wildwood Trail & Lower Macleay Trail, Portland, OR 97210, USA
The year's winding down, and the holiday season is ramping up. As we enter this most wonderful (and, at times, stressful) time of the year, hit "pause" and head into the forest. The Hobbit Trail and China Creek Trail Loop is an easy trek in Florence, Oregon, that features old-growth forests, winsome woodland scenery, and a completely magical experience sure to calm and center you ahead of the busy season!
Hobbit Trail Trailhead, 91892-91974 Oregon Coast Hwy, Florence, OR 97439, USA
We're ending the year at Oregon's most breathtaking natural wonder: the incomparable Crater Lake. Crater Lake is incredibly busy during the summer, but winter months are a lot more quiet. It's an easy journey along the trail, which is four miles, round-trip. On a clear day, the lake is absolutely stunning!
Crater Lake, Oregon 97604, USA
This year, resolve to hit the trails! Hike your way through the beautiful Beaver State along these scenic trails in Oregon. Happy hiking!
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Scenic Trails in Oregon
January 01, 1970
What are the best trails in Oregon?
You didn’t think the above list of scenic trails in Oregon were the only bucket-list-worthy hikes in the Beaver State, did you? Far from it! In the interest of keeping this list from getting out of hand, we’ll narrow things down by offering the following best waterfall hikes in Oregon:
- Trail of Ten Falls. With over 230 falls in Oregon, there are certainly ample opportunities for waterfall chasing, but the Trail of Ten Falls is on a whole other level entirely. As its name suggests, this trail features 10 glorious waterfalls that hikers can walk past, under, and around, for a wholly immersive experience unlike any other. Clocking in at just over seven miles, the Trail of Ten Falls is certainly an all-day hike, but it’s worth each and every mile. You’ll encounter no less than 10 falls on this route through the lush foothills of the Cascades, including South Falls, North Falls, and Middle North Falls, all three of which exceed 100 feet in height and allow hikers to walk beneath their waters. If you’re looking for the best waterfall hike in the country, this is it!
- The Tamanawas Falls Trail is located in one of the most glorious parts of Mt. Hood National Forest, and it runs parallel to the Hood River in the majestic Cascade Mountains. This 3.8-mile trail follows Cold Spring Creek through verdant forest landscape that looks like something conjured up by Tolkien, complete with a charming footbridge, sun-soaked tree canopies, and moss-covered rocks. The trail passes several small falls, culminating in the glorious 100-foot-tall, 40-foot-wide waterfall known as Tamanawas Falls.
- Bridal Veil Falls Trail. Another gem in the Columbus River Gorge, hike to this falls clocks in at just a half-mile long and is well-paved and easy to navigate. A viewing platform located in front of the cascade provides the perfect vantage point of Bridal Veil Falls, an 118-foot-tall natural wonder that drops in two perfect cascades. In fact, the Columbia River Gorge is the largest designated National Scenic Area in the country, there’s no better place to go waterfall chasing. It’s the very definition of a #pnwonderland; bisected by a commanding canyon and resplendent river, this PNW paradise is flush with forests, foliage, and falls. Lots and lots of waterfalls. From Latourell Falls and Bridal Veil Falls to Wahclella Falls and (of course) Multnomah Falls, one could easily spend days exploring the 90+ falls found on Oregon’s side of the Gorge!
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