If There Are Only 5 Hikes You Ever Do In Oregon, Make Them These
No matter the season, weather, day of the week, it’s always a good time to lace up your hiking boots and hit the trails here in Oregon. From beautiful hikes that lead to beautiful waterfalls to treks that traverse the beaches and foresters, we’ve put together a list of the best hikes in Oregon. While we know it’s hard to pick just five, the following trails are special enough to belong on every Oregonian’s bucket list. So whether you’re wondering about waterfalls to hike near me, scenic trails near me, or, more broadly, the best hikes near me, rest assured you’ll find what you’re looking for along these Oregon trails!
1. Hug Point Falls
Hug Point State Recreation Site, Beach Access Rd, Arch Cape, OR 97102, USA
A visit to Hug Point State Recreation Site absolutely needs to be on your Oregon bucket list. Located on a picturesque piece of Oregon shoreline, Hug Point State Recreation Site is one of Oregon's most incredible treasures, and this short and sweet little hike lets you see it all! The trail leads to a stunning sandy cove where you’ll find incredible sandstones cliffs, colorful tide pools, numerous caves, and a spectacular waterfall right on the beach. Hug Point Falls is a 15-foot waterfall that gently cascades down a sandstone drop-off along the Oregon Coast, and the best part is that it's only a leisurely half-mile walk from the parking lot.
Jawbone Flats is a stunning 6.6-mile excursion along the beautiful Little North Santiam River. The trail leads through a gorgeous old-growth forest, passing an abandoned mining town, a crystal clear swimming hole, and more. In fact, if you do a little bit of poking around near the abandoned mill, you'll find the beautiful Cascada De Los Ninos, AKA Sawmill Falls. This lovely hike is truly one for the bucket list.
At 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.
And located in Silver Falls State Park, the Trail of Ten Falls is one of the most enchanting hikes in all of Oregon. This beautiful trail winds through a lush, green forest, passing 10 stunning waterfalls (four of which you can walk behind). In addition to its dazzling falls, Silver Falls State Park is home to an amazingly diverse array of ecosystems and terrain -- the park boasts a lush temperate rain forest of Douglas-fir, western hemlock, Oregon grape, and other native trees and plants.
Editor's note: As of March 2021 this area is closed due to damage. For more information, please visit OregonHikers.org.
Have you ever wanted to hike along an abandoned railroad? This impressive hike will let you walk on an abandoned train track along the beautiful Upper Salmonberry River. You'll pass waterfalls, ponds, and rusted train cars, and travel through railroad tunnels, high above the forested canyon below. It's 10 miles in total, but you can turn around at any point to make it as short as you’d like.
Tucked away in the wondrous Columbia River Gorge, the Emerald Falls-Gorton Creek Falls Hike is an overlooked hidden gem. The trail is only one mile long and leads through a lush green forest past two lovely waterfalls: Gorton Creek Falls and Emerald Falls.
What do you think are the best hikes in Oregon? Share your picks with us in the comments below!
Are you still searching for more waterfalls near me to chase in Oregon? Head out to the Columbia River Gorge, which boasts more than 90 wonderful waterfalls on the Oregon side alone!
Address: Hug Point State Recreation Site, Beach Access Rd, Arch Cape, OR 97102, USA
Address: jawbone Flats Hike
Address: Jawbone Flats, National Forest Development Road 2209 (Trail), Gates, OR 97346, USA
Address: Wolf Creek Trestle Hike, Standard Grade, Timber, OR 97144, USA
Address: Silver Falls State Park, 20024 Silver Falls Hwy SE, Sublimity, OR 97385, USA
Address: Gorton Creek Falls, Gorton Creek, National Forest,, Cascade Locks, OR 97014, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best hikes in Oregon
March 18, 2022
Sarah M.
What are some hidden waterfalls near me in Oregon?
Waterfalls abound in the Beaver State, seemingly everywhere you look around! While the state’s home to some incredible cascades that are known around the world, there are numerous other hidden waterfalls in Oregon worth seeking out. One of our favorites is Bridal Veil Falls; located in Multnomah County on Bridal Veil Creek, this place is great for catching a behind-the-scenes look at waterfall beauty. The hike to the falls is accessible, too!
What are some of the best hikes in Oregon?
There’s no shortage of beautiful hikes here in Oregon; and with such an embarrassment of riches, picking a trail can actually be quite overwhelming! So we did the leg work for you (at least, the *planning* leg work … you’ll have to embark upon these hikes yourself!), and came up with this list of 12 scenic hikes in Oregon, one for each month of the year.
Address: Hug Point State Recreation Site, Beach Access Rd, Arch Cape, OR 97102, USA
Address: jawbone Flats Hike
Address: Jawbone Flats, National Forest Development Road 2209 (Trail), Gates, OR 97346, USA
Address: Wolf Creek Trestle Hike, Standard Grade, Timber, OR 97144, USA
Address: Silver Falls State Park, 20024 Silver Falls Hwy SE, Sublimity, OR 97385, USA
Address: Gorton Creek Falls, Gorton Creek, National Forest,, Cascade Locks, OR 97014, USA
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