Oregon Hiking

Yellow balsamroot flowers grow in clumps on grassy Rowena Plateau in the Columbia River Gorge.

Rowena Crest Viewpoint is the star of the eastern Columbia Gorge, rivaling the epic views found at it’s western counterpart Crown Point, but far exceeding it in the wildflower department and in hiking opportunities as well. And everyone knows it....

One singularly tall old tree rises above the forest to the right of snowy Mt Hood on a clear February afternoon.

Here's my top ten viewpoints of Mt Hood where visitors have space to hang out with family and friends as they take in the view and take their snaps. All are fairly easily to reach, some are even handicapped accessible....

Forested cliffs and distant capes rise from the blue Pacific Ocean on a clear summer day on the Oregon Coast.

Cape Meares is really quite fantastic, with outstanding views, a historic lighthouse, and some very special spruces. Volunteers lead whale watching in December and again during Spring Break as gray whales migrate past....

Moss coats the rocks below Tamanawas Falls in Oregon.

Tamanawas Falls is grand, both tall and wide with a big undercut behind it. It creates clouds of mist which blow along the amphitheater walls, carpeting all in it’s path with verdant mosses and wildflowers. When flows are high it’s one massive sheet, but at lower flows the falls breaks apart into a few different cataracts, like a smile with a missing tooth. ...

611-foot Multnomah Falls drops into the Columbia River Gorge in two steps.

Multnomah Falls is Oregon’s tallest accessible waterfall and perhaps the state’s most iconic landmark. It’s close proximity to Portland and it’s ease of access make it Oregon’s most visited location as well, with over 2 million visitors per year. And simply put, it is truly beautiful....

Fog obscures the fantastic forms of Sitka spruce trees in the coastal forest at Heceta Head.

Dramatic Heceta Head Lighthouse is perfectly set and utterly photogenic, as is the historic lightkeeper’s assistant’s home. And how cool that visitors can stay there! Add on a lovely little beach and one of the most amazing hikes in the state and you’ve got a recipe for a fantastic day at the Oregon Coast!...

A trail passes beneath a gnarled Oregon oak. Golden sunlight light catches in the leaves and the tall grass along the trail.

Mosier Plateau Trail provides a hike through an environment unlike most in Northern Oregon. Located in an area of transition between the wet forests found west of Hood River and the desert found east of the The Dalles, visitors will discover a beautiful oak parkland and grassland ecosystem offering two great viewpoints plus a brush with local history....

Horsetail Falls slides steeply down a frozen cliff into an icy pool in this winter waterfall scene.

The falls in this area are both stunning and varied, with a greater density of waterfalls than the famous Trail of Ten Falls in Silver Falls State Park. The fire damaged areas also give hikers a chance to see the impacts of variations in fire intensity on the landscape as well as to witness the recovery of the Columbia Gorge....

View of Latourell Falls with branches of golden fall leaves encircling the falls.

In my humble (or not so humble) opinion, Guy W. Talbot State Park is a true standout in the Columbia River Gorge area. This beautiful state park features two gorgeous waterfalls set in a lush forest, with stunning Latourell Falls as it’s awe-inspring centerpiece. If you are visiting the Columbia River Gorge, Talbot State Park is an absolute must....

A bigleaf maple stands above the sapphire and turquoise waters of Tamolitch Blue Pool.

Tamolitch Blue Pool is one of Oregon’s most popular destinations. It’s hard to miss it on Instagram or in travel blogs. Why? Because Tamolitch Blue Pool is insanely beautiful! It’s waters are a sparkling sapphire blue with perfect clarity. The view from above is one of the best you’ll find anywhere...

A trail passes behind Middle North Falls in Silver Falls State Park, with the trail to the left of the falls in the image.

Silver Falls State Park is widely considered to be the crown jewel of Oregon State Parks. This gigantic, sprawling park offers world-class hiking, biking, camping, and more in a beautiful and diverse area of forest in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains near Salem. The highlight of the park is the incredible Trail of Ten Falls, which leads past waterfall after waterfall....

The sun sets behind hills along the mighty Columbia River as viewed from the Angel's Rest Trail in Oregon.

Angel’s Rest is rocky promontory overlooking the Columbia Gorge near Portland, OR. The Ange’s Rest hike is an Oregon classic, featuring a variety of ecosystems and some stunning views at the end of the trail. However, Angel’s Rest hike is fairly long with a big elevation gain, making it not suitable for everyone. ...

Late afternoon sunlight casts shadows across the gently-wrinked face of Painted Hills.

John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is one of the greatest parts of Oregon. Comprised of three separate units, each with it’s own flavor, visitors have the opportunity to witness the past captured in stone. The beautiful, semi-arid environment is not exactly a desert, but it’s also a far cry from the wet forests and valleys found west of the Cascades. ...

Large monoliths capped with shore pines rise from calm seas at Secret Beach on the Southern Oregon Coast.

Samuel H Boardman State Scenic Corridor encompasses 12 miles of the beautiful Southern Oregon Coast along Hwy 101. Many consider this to be the single most beautiful and picturesque area of coastline in the continental United States. With over a dozen developed sites, miles of beaches, hidden coves, stunning rock formations, virgin forests, and breathtaking vistas, Boardman is well worth a full day (or more) of exploration. ...

The lacy base of Green Peak Falls lands in a small, calm pool.

Green Peak Falls is by far the more impressive of the pair of waterfalls found in the Alsea River headwaters. It splashes and slides down a 50-foot chute with a lower 5-foot ledge falls which fills a big pool below. The falls are gentle and approachable in summer and fall, when you can climb up on the lower ledge and explore around the pool. At high winter and spring flows the falls gush down with force...

Alsea Falls steps down two big ledges with leafy forest in the background.

Later in the fall, Alsea Falls becomes a great spot for fishing and for watching the salmon and steelhead try to jump the falls. In winter the falls rage and roar. In late spring the area is filled with rhododendron blooms. And I must agree that the forest in this whole area was extremely pretty....

A ropy web of tree roots imitates the shape of Little Zigzag Falls behind them on a sunlit day in Mt Hood National Forest, Oregon.

The hike to the falls is especially nice on a hot summer day. Little Zigzag River is fed by springs and snowmelt coming off Mt Hood. As such, the water is always extremely cold, which in turn keeps the little forested canyon nice and cool. In addition the hike is quick and feels nearly flat...

Cannon Beach features a group of three major offshore - aptly-named Haystack Rock is on the right, with The Needles, a pair of tall and skinny sea stacks, at center and left.

If you’re looking for great photographs and Instagram-worthy shots I suggest focusing on these top spots. My top Oregon beach picks alll feature something extra, be it cool rock formations, arches, waterfalls, tidepools, cliffs, or even caves....

Abiqua Falls drops 92 feet over a columnar basalt cliff into a calm, blue pool. Forest in visible above the falls, and mossy boulders fill the left foreground.

Abiqua Falls is one of the most epic waterfall locations in Oregon. The main falls pour gracefully and cleanly over columnar basalt cliffs into a huge amphitheater where red lichen mixes with mosses and cliff-dwelling plants on the towering stone walls. While the main plunge is a modest 92 feet, the size and depth of the waterfall basin imparts a sense of grandeur....

Two tall pinnacles of stone with craggy tops reach up into a blue sky laced with thin clouds at Smith Rock State Park.

Smith Rock State Park is a grand feather in the cap of the extensive Oregon State Parks system. With miles of trails to explore and world-class rock climbing set within a gorgeous desert canyon with unique geology harboring loads of wildlife and sublime views, this park has something to offer everyone who loves the great outdoors....

The Deschutes River pours over Steelhead Falls in Oregon.

Set in an impressive canyon, Steelhead Falls is an emerald oasis in the Central Oregon desert landscape that’s worth a visit. This wide and powerful 20-foot plunge on the upper Deschutes River pours down a few channels into a frothing bowl with a perfect head-on viewpoint....

Branches of flowering cherry trees loaded with blush-pink blossoms erupt in late March on the Portland waterfront.

Portland and the Willamette Valley offer no shortage of spring splendor. From gardens to farms to hiking trails, here’s a play by play of the best spots to enjoy the wonder and beauty of spring!...

Up close view of craggy Mt Hood Oregon bathed in pink sunset light with an evergreen forest silhouette in the foreground.

Mt Hood is Oregon’s tallest and most iconic peak. With it’s relative ease of access, close proximity to Portland, and beautiful scenery, a day on Mt Hood is a day well spent!...

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