Skip to main content
ForestMatters, LLC

The Beaver State

Oregon

From volcanic peaks to old-growth rainforest: 30 million acres of public land to explore.

2Forest Guides
16Trail Guides
2.7MAcres Covered
11,250 ftHighest Peak

Oregon at a Glance

Public Land

53% of Oregon is publicly owned, one of the highest percentages in the country

Volcanic Legacy

Oregon has 20+ named volcanic peaks in the Cascades, including three over 10,000 ft

Deepest Lake

Crater Lake (1,943 ft deep) is the deepest lake in the United States

Old Growth

Oregon contains more old-growth forest than any other state in the lower 48

Trail Miles

Over 8,000 miles of hiking trails cross Oregon's national forest lands

Wildfire Season

August and September bring peak fire season. Check conditions before any trip

When to Visit

Mid-June through October for most trails. High alpine routes (above 7,000 ft) often stay snowed in until late July.

National Forests in Oregon

Fall color at Sparks Lake meadow in Deschutes National Forest, Oregon

Deschutes National Forest

1,596,900 acresJune through October

Complete guide to Deschutes National Forest in central Oregon. Trail recommendations, campgrounds, permits, volcanic landscapes, and trip planning resources.

9 min read

Eureka Peak in Mount Hood National Forest, Oregon

Mount Hood National Forest

1,067,043 acresJune through October

Complete guide to Mount Hood National Forest in Oregon. Trail recommendations, campgrounds, permits, seasonal tips, and everything you need to plan your trip.

11 min read

Trails in Oregon

strenuousout-and-back

Black Crater Trail

7.8 mi2,500 ft gain
OregonJuly through October

A strenuous 7.8-mile out-and-back to the 7,251-foot summit of Black Crater in Deschutes National Forest, Oregon, with views of the Three Sisters, Mount Washington, and the high desert that few Cascade trails can match.

6 min read

easyout-and-back

Fall River Trail

4.4 mi50 ft gain
Oregonyear-round

An easy 4.4-mile out-and-back along the spring-fed Fall River in Deschutes National Forest, Oregon, a crystal-clear, 48-degree stream through ponderosa and lodgepole forest south of Sunriver.

6 min read

moderateout-and-back

Green Lakes Trail

9 mi1,100 ft gain
OregonJuly through October

Guide to the Green Lakes Trail in the Three Sisters Wilderness. A 9-mile out-and-back hike to stunning alpine lakes beneath Broken Top and South Sister.

8 min read

strenuousout-and-back

Paulina Peak Trail

4 mi1,500 ft gain
OregonJune through October

A strenuous 4-mile out-and-back climb to the highest point in the Newberry Caldera at 7,985 feet, with 360-degree views of the Cascade volcanoes, two crater lakes, and obsidian flows on the caldera floor below.

7 min read

easyloop

Proxy Falls Loop

1.6 mi100 ft gain
OregonJune through October

A short 1.6-mile loop in the Three Sisters Wilderness connecting two dramatically different waterfalls, including 226-foot Upper Proxy Falls and Lower Proxy Falls, which vanishes into a lava field with no stream outlet.

7 min read

strenuousout-and-back

South Sister Summit Trail

12 mi4,900 ft gain
OregonJuly through September

Complete guide to summiting South Sister, Oregon's third-tallest peak at 10,358 feet. Route details, permit requirements, and tips for this strenuous 12-mile day hike.

8 min read

easyout-and-back

Todd Lake Trail

1 mi200 ft gain
OregonJuly through October

A short, easy hike to a quiet alpine lake beneath the north face of Broken Top, with direct views of South Sister and a gentler pace than the crowded trailheads nearby on the Cascade Lakes Highway.

7 min read

easy-moderateout-and-back

Tumalo Falls Trail

7 mi600 ft gain
OregonJune through October

Guide to the Tumalo Falls Trail near Bend, Oregon. A scenic 7-mile out-and-back hike past a 97-foot waterfall and along Tumalo Creek.

9 min read

moderateout-and-back

Elk Meadows Trail

6.4 mi800 ft gain
OregonJuly through October

A 6.4-mile out-and-back on the northeast side of Mount Hood in Mount Hood National Forest, Oregon, reaching a broad subalpine meadow with a direct close-up view of Eliot Glacier and exceptional late-July wildflower blooms.

7 min read

easyloop

Lost Lake Loop Trail

3.1 mi80 ft gain
OregonMay through October

Guide to the Lost Lake Loop Trail in Mount Hood National Forest. A flat 3.1-mile loop around a 240-acre lake on Hood's north side, with iconic reflections of the mountain and old-growth Douglas fir forest.

8 min read

strenuousout-and-back

McNeil Point Trail

8.6 mi2,500 ft gain
OregonJuly through September

Guide to the McNeil Point Trail in Mount Hood National Forest. A strenuous 8.6-mile hike to a 6,100-foot ridge on Hood's northwest shoulder, with panoramic glacier views and a 1930s CCC stone shelter.

8 min read

easy-moderateout-and-back

Mirror Lake Trail

3.2 mi700 ft gain
OregonJune through October

Guide to the Mirror Lake Trail near Government Camp, Oregon. A family-friendly 3.2-mile hike to an alpine lake with views of Mount Hood's south face.

8 min read

moderateloop

Ramona Falls Trail

7.1 mi1,000 ft gain
OregonJune through October

Guide to the Ramona Falls Trail in Mount Hood National Forest. A 7.1-mile loop to one of Oregon's most photogenic waterfalls through old-growth forest.

10 min read

easy-moderateout-and-back

Tamanawas Falls Trail

3.8 mi430 ft gain
OregonMay through November

Guide to the Tamanawas Falls Trail in Mount Hood National Forest. A 3.8-mile hike through old-growth forest to a 100-foot waterfall dropping from a basalt lava cliff on Hood's east side.

7 min read

strenuousloop

Timberline Trail

41.1 mi9,000 ft gain
OregonLate July through September

Complete guide to the Timberline Trail, a 41.1-mile loop circumnavigating Mount Hood. Route details, river crossings, permit info, and tips for backpacking Oregon's most iconic alpine trail.

9 min read

moderate-hardout-and-back

Tom Dick and Harry Mountain Trail

8.8 mi1,800 ft gain
OregonJuly through October

An 8.8-mile out-and-back from Government Camp to a 5,066-foot summit in Mount Hood National Forest, Oregon, passing the Mirror Lake basin and climbing to panoramic views of Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, and the Sandy River Valley.

8 min read

Trip Planning Guides

Best Hikes Near Bend, Oregon

Best Hikes Near

The best day hikes near Bend, Oregon in the Deschutes National Forest. From volcanic summits to alpine lakes and waterfalls, these are central Oregon's top trails.

6 min read

Best Hikes Near Portland, Oregon

Best Hikes Near

The best day hikes within 2 hours of Portland, Oregon. From Mount Hood waterfalls to Columbia River Gorge trails, these are the hikes worth your weekend.

6 min read

Did You Know?

1

The Pacific Crest Trail crosses 362 miles through Oregon, more than any other state.

2

Deschutes National Forest gets 300 days of sunshine per year, making it one of the driest national forests in the Pacific Northwest.

3

Mount Hood is the most-climbed glaciated peak in North America, with over 10,000 summit attempts per year.

4

Oregon's Opal Creek Wilderness contains some of the last unlogged watershed in the state, with trees over 1,000 years old.

5

The Three Sisters (South, Middle, and North) are the third, fourth, and fifth highest peaks in Oregon, and you can see all three from a single trail.