This hike seems to take in the temperate beauty of the Pacific Northwest in its most subtle and immersive way. Cross wooden bridges over the pristine emerald creek waters that flow below; and continue along the path to picturesque abandoned sheds and mining equipment.
For an easy hike and an opportunity to bring the pooch along with you, head to Drift Creek Falls where the climax of the hike is not only the falls, but the 240-foot suspension bridge that overlooks those same falls. The hike is a low-grade three-mile jaunt.
If you read the book Wild or saw the Reese Witherspoon led movie you may have been inspired to tackle the Pacific Coast Trail (PCT). For those of us who don’t have about five-months to dedicate to such an effort you can still check off the list “hiking on the PCT.” Sure, it’s not the whole thing, but a simple day hike can be accessed at Rosary Lakes Trailhead. Check!
For a fully comprehensive inland hike you won’t go wrong with a visit to the Columbia River Gorge, where Eagle Creek Trail begins. You’ll be treated to Punch Bowl Falls, a turquoise pool, and other waterfalls along the basalt cliffs and forest along the way.
Towering over the Portland area and its surroundings is Mount Hood where over 1,200 miles of trail exist. This hike knocks out a pretty big chunk of those miles with a 12-mile roundtrip. Prepare yourself as this considered a very difficult hike with 2,200-foot gain but the constant reward of beautiful scenery throughout the hike is well worth it.
Within an Uber ride from central Portland is the somewhat overvisited Multnomah Falls. This is where that iconic photo of the bridge over the waterfall is taken, and the photo still doesn’t do it justice. To avoid the crowds, keep hiking past all of the tourists for the loop that climbs up the mountain and over the waterfall. You’ll see a number of other falls along the way and will feel immersed in the woods.
It’s difficult to imagine a more beautiful coastline than that of the Pacific Northwest, therefore we’d be remiss to leave out this stunning hike. Cape Perpetua offers a number of short hikes to explore the clifftops overlooking the sea and beaches below.
In only 2.5-miles you can reach the 92-foot waterfall that you will likely have completely to yourself. Thanks to a lack of signage, other would be hikers are hard-pressed to locate this beautiful hike. Unfortunately, that means you’re in for a challenge in doing the same. Good luck!
The largest state park in the state is Silver Falls State Park, which boasts over 20-miles of hiking trails and ten waterfalls to gush at. The hiking is easy, so you might want to plan this one for a less rigorous endeavor with, perhaps, a picnic, or consider moving quickly to cover as much mileage as possible. To see all ten falls on one hike you’ll need to cover about nine miles, which is a literal walk-in-the-park.
If you’ve made it to Crater Lake then you’re already blessed with a day of breathtaking views. But for one step further, consider taking the Wizard Island hike which is 2.1 miles and 738-foot gain on the island in the middle of all of your favorite Crater Lake Photos.
