Best hikes in Portland, Oregon
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21+ Awesome Hikes Near Portland to Escape The Bustle

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Looking for the best hikes in Portland? I was born and raised here, and happen to love hiking, so you’re in the right place!

Portland has many nicknames: the City of Roses, Rip City, Bridge City, and Stumptown, to name a few. If we could add one more name to the list, it would be the City of 1000 Hikes.

Portland loves the outdoors, and nature loves Portland back. Between the Gorge, Forest Park, the Willamette River, and the Cascades, there really may be 1000 hikes near Portland to choose from.

We’re only going to cover a tiny bit of all the hikes out there today, just my favorites that I think will be your favorites too…

21+ Awesome Hikes Near Portland


Map of hikes in Portland with pinpoints.
Click the image to view a clickable map for hikes near Portland

✋ HOLD UP! Don’t Forget…

You need some wheels! It’s nearly impossible to get around the USA and check out the best adventures without a car! Here are our top recommendations…

🚗 Rent a car

If you don’t have your own, renting a car is your best bet!

👉 Find Deals on Cars and SUVs

🚐 Rent a home on wheels

For the more adventurous, rent a van or RV and ditch the hotel.

👉 Find The Best Van For Your Trip

Don’t Forget This!

A lot of the best adventures around Oregon will require a Northwest Pass. You can easily get one delivered straight to your door. Grab it now before you leave!

1. Marquam Trail

3 miles from Downtown Portland

Distance: 3 miles
Type of Trail:
Out & Back
Difficulty:
Moderate
Elevation Gain:
748 ft

The Marquam Trail winds around Marquam Park which is just south of downtown. This main trail takes you through a forest and up about 650 in elevation.

There are a number of trails in this park, but there’s only a couple of loop trails. Most trails end up in other parts of the surrounding neighborhood, so just keep track of where you turn if you want to explore more of the area.

View of Mount Hood from Marquam Nature Park in a "frame" of trees.
View of Mount Hood from Marquam Nature Park.

If you continue past the end of the Marquam trail (by just crossing the street where it ends) you’ll end up in Council Crest Park.

Council Crest has an amazing view of downtown Portland, and on clear days, you can even see four mountains in the Cascade range: Hood, Adams, Ranier, and St. Helens.

There is an off-leash area just adjacent to this viewpoint as well, which is awesome. However, dogs need to be leashed up when on the trails.


READ MORE: Exploring Marquam Nature Park


2. Pittock Mansion and Witches Castle

3 miles from Downtown Portland

Distance: 5 miles
Type of Trail: 
Out & back
Difficulty:
Moderate
Elevation Gain:
921 ft

A lot is packed into this Portland hike. Not only do you hit up two of the best attractions in Forest Park, but along the way, you can take in some amazing views and enjoy looking out for birds and wildlife.

You will start the hike following a bubbling stream and walking under incredible old-growth trees, crossing a bridge and up, up, up to Pittock Mansion.

Pittock Mansion at Forest Park with a nice garden in front.
Pittock Mansion

From here, you will get your first glance at the incredible Portland skyline. The mansion sits high above the city, known for its bright red roof, built in the early 1900s, it is quite a sight to see as you stroll through the forest.

Witch's Castle in Forest Park covered in graffiti with trees behind it.
Witch’s Castle in Forest Park, one of the most famous hikes in Portland

The Witches’ Castle is another cool attraction on this hike. As you pass the moss-covered stone house, you would be forgiven for thinking it is the home of a spooky old witch.

The reality is a lot more mundane, it is actually an old restroom built in the mid-1930s!

3. Washington Park Loop

3 miles from Downtown Portland

Distance: 3.4 mile
Type of Trail:
Loop
Difficulty:
Easy
Elevation Gain:
413 ft

Washington Park is beautiful. It has so much to offer its many visitors, and one of the best ways to enjoy them all is to take the Washington Park Loop Trail.

On one easy path, you will be guided through some main attractions, including monuments, the park’s old zoo, part of the Wildwood Trail, some of the impressive Hoyt Arboretum, and even redwood trees!

Hiker in bamboo forest in Washington Park.
In a bamboo forest in Portland!

You will be transported to the far reaches of Asia as you wander through the Portland Japanese Garden, then around the world as you explore the famous International Rose Test Garden.

If you powered through, you could complete the loop within a couple of hours, but spending a whole day here is easy, and we wouldn’t blame you.

This is just one of the perks of having such an incredible park close to the city. It offers some of the best hikes near Portland.

Nina posing at Washington Park Portland holding her cap while looking up at tall trees around her.
Finding shade in the redwoods while hiking in Portland’s Washington.

Washington Park has so much more to offer, so it is worth making the time to come back another day and tackle one of the other trails, such as the White Pine, Wildwood, Mac, and Walnut Trail Loop, or you could tackle more of the Wildwood Trail, the options are seemingly endless.


READ MORE: Exploring Washington Park in Portland


4. Hoyt Arboretum

4 miles from Downtown Portland

Distance: 1.3 miles
Type of Trail: Loop
Difficulty:
Easy
Elevation Gain:
213 ft

Portlanders love going to the Hoyt Arboretum. It’s close to the city but far enough to have massive trees. It’s also well-maintained and has many great spots for picnics and bird watching.

Hoyt Arboretum’s mission is to foster endangered plant species and educate the public. Over 2,300 species of trees and shrubs currently reside in the park, and there are some fantastic ones to look at.

Path through redwoods in Washington Park hike in Portland
Walking through Hoyt Arboretum Forest.

One of the most striking areas has to be the redwood deck. This is a raised deck that gives you a woodpecker’s eye view of some enormous redwood trees. There are also a few benches in that spot so you won’t lose your balance while staring straight up.

Hoyt Arboretum has 12 miles of hikes in total. Many trails loop back on themselves, so you could really spend hours walking around in the park.

Trail sign in Hoyt Arboretum Washington Park, Portland
Which way to go? You have options!

One popular loop is made from the Overlook, Wildwood, Hawthorn, Maple, Wildwood, and Holly Trails (tip: park near the Visitor Center where you can snag a trail map). This 1.3-mile route takes about two hours to do.

If you want more of a guided experience, you can join a group walk on a Saturday or Sunday from April through October. The guided tours leave at 11 and 1 and have a suggested donation of $3 for non-members.

The Arboretum is open from 5 am to 10 pm daily, while the Visitor Center is open from 9 am to 4 pm during the week (10 am to 4 pm on weekends).

5. Springwater on the Willamette

4 miles from Downtown Portland

Distance: 3 miles
Type of Trail: Out & Back
Difficulty:
Easy
Elevation Gain:
200 ft

Springwater on the Willamette is a paved path that goes right along the Willamette River. The path is part of the Springwater Corridor, a 21-mile long paved path that winds along an old railway route.

The section we’ll talk about today is a great option for people with disabilities or anyone who wants to take it easy for a bit.

Beautiful view of Springwater on the Willamette during fall with trees in yellow and red.
Willamette River in Portland

You can find the Springwater path at the Sellwood waterfront park just south of Oaks Amusement Park. Next, follow the path north and you’ll soon be in the Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge.

The path continues right along the Willamette for a number of miles, and you can even take it all the way to OMSI. To make it a 3-mile out-and-back, just turn around when the path starts to curve to the left with the river.

Taking the path all the way to OMSI and back will make it a 6-mile trek, but it will also give you some great views of Downtown Portland on the river.

6. Mount Tabor Loop Trail

6 miles from Downtown Portland

Distance: 2.2 miles
Type of Trail: Loop
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 250 ft

Mount Tabor is another gem within the Portland metro area. When you start this trail, it can seem like you teleport from the city to the forest within just a few minutes.

Mount Tabor offers a few hiking trails, but there really isn’t any chance for you to get lost. That’s because all the trails circle around the top of the mountain, so it’s pretty easy to keep your bearings.

Also, there are three main loop trails marked with colored signs: red, green, and blue. The green and red trails are a bit shorter and easier to do.

View from Mount Tabor during sunset and skyline view at the bottom.
View from Mount Tabor trail

However, if you have the time, the 3.3-mile blue loop trail is the one to do. The loop trail takes a couple of hours to do at a moderate pace and offers quite a few awesome viewpoints.

From the top, you can see expansive views of the city as well as Mount Hood and Mount St. Helens. If you time it right, you can see the stars and the city lights come out at the same time.

7. Tryon Creek

6 miles from Downtown Portland

Distance: 2 miles
Type of Trail: Loop
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 291 ft

The Tryon Creek natural area has been one of Portland’s favorite hiking spots for years. About 15 minutes from Portland, a handful of trails give you 8 miles of hiking terrain.

Tryon creek hike with lots of trees and a trailhead sign on the right side showing three trail options.
Hiking Tryon Creek

There’s a popular 2-mile loop on the Middle Creek, Cedar, and Old Main trails, though you can cut that in half if you stay on Middle Creek and go straight to Old Main.

Hikes at Tryon Creek are fairly easy with elevation gains under 300 feet, and the park is dog-friendly (on leash). Tryon Creek also has 3.5 miles of horse trails and 3 miles of paved bike trails.

The icing on the cake is a fantastic nature center located just off the main parking lot: it has exhibits on wildlife, geography, and history of the area.

Nina hiking over Beaver Bridge with lots of trees along the way.
Hiking Tyron Creek

There are no fees to park at Tryon Creek, and the park is open year-round just with shorter hours in the winter.


READ MORE:Tryon Creek State Natural Area


8. Elk Rock Island

7 miles from Downtown Portland

Distance: 1 mile
Type of Trail:
Loop
Difficulty:
Easy
Elevation Gain:
49 ft

Just south of Portland, you will find the hidden gem of the city, Elk Rock Island. The trail takes you around the island, and seeing as the island is so small, it is hard to get lost.

Interestingly, this island is the oldest place in the Portland area, made up of a 40 million-year-old exposed volcano, and that information alone should have you running there to check it out.

Water view at Elk Rock Island Park, with some rocks at the bottom and kayakers in the distance.
Elk Rock Island Park is an easy hike in Portland with great views!

The island can be reached by crossing a rocky channel over the Willamette River from Spring Park Natural Area and is accessible during the dry summer months.

The trail continues to take you around the island, where you can spot some of the local wildlife and scramble over the large rocks formed from past lava flows.

It’s a beautiful place to stroll, and it is worth doing to say you have walked on the oldest part of Portland.

9. Forest Park: Ridge, Wildwood, Northwest Oil Line Loop

10 miles from Downtown Portland

Distance: 3.1 miles
Type of Trail: Loop
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 331 ft

No list of hikes around Portland would be complete without mentioning Forest Park. At 5,100 acres, it’s the largest city park in the lower 48 states that is totally enclosed by a city.

The park is about 10 minutes from downtown and is open year-round. It offers over 80 miles of hiking trails and some supreme vistas of the city.

Hiker on Wildwood Trail surrounded by trees and greenery.
Hiking Forest Park

Of course, you don’t have to rack up mileage in the double digits to enjoy Forest Park.

The hike we’re talking about is a great loop trail that has less traffic and is deep in the forest. This is a relatively easy 3.1-mile route that takes you up and down 331 feet.

Hiker on trail in Portland's Forest Park surrounded by trees and greenery.
Forest Park is one of our favorite hiking areas in Portland!

Since the forest is so dense, you’ll probably be able to spot some wildlife when you’re on the trail. You can learn more about Forest Park’s vast offerings at the Forest Park Conservancy.


READ MORE: 8 Top Hikes in Forest Park


10. The Ridge, Firelane 7, Wildwood Waterline Trail

11 miles from Downtown Portland

Distance: 6.2 miles
Type of Trail:
Loop
Difficulty:
Moderate
Elevation Gain:
1,141 ft

The Ridge, Firelane 7, and Wildwood Waterline Trail may be a bit of a mouthful, but luckily you shouldn’t have to ask for directions when completing this great hike near Portland in Forest Park.

St Johns Bridge from Forest Park Ridge Trail in a "hole" made of leaves.
The view of St. Johns Bridge on this Portland hike.

It is a lengthy loop but showcases some of the best the park offers, perfect if you fancy escaping the city for a while.

As the hike is mostly forested, you can enjoy it in all seasons, with each different time of year bringing something new. You can hike in either direction, but most tend to take the clockwise loop for better views.

11. Mary S. Young Park: Riverside Loop Trail

11 miles from Downtown Portland

Distance: 0.8 miles
Type of Trail: Loop
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 118 ft

There are about 8 miles of trails in the park, but we’ll focus on the beginner Riverside Loop Trail here. This loop trail is 0.8 miles long and open to dogs as well.

Dog lovers will enjoy this park for its off-leash field adjacent to the parking lot.

Much of the Riverside Loop Trail is actually paved, however, once you get close to the river, the pavement ends. 

Lake view at Mary S. Young Park with some trees reflecting.
Hiking Mary S. Young Park

Depending on the time of year, you may encounter some large spots of mud, so keep an eye out for that.

The trail comes out at the river’s edge to some sandy beaches and big boulders, great spots for a picnic.

After you hit the river, you can follow the path south and turn back into the forest on the Heron Creek loop trail. That will wind back up to the parking area, giving you a good 3-mile hike.

12. Powell Butte Loop Trail

11 miles from Downtown Portland

Distance: 6.2 miles
Type of Trail: Loop
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 931 ft

Powell Butte is a little like Mount Tabor: you can always tell where you are. If you ever get turned around, just check to see which way the incline goes.

This loop trail covers most of the hiking mileage on Powell Butte. Since it’s 6.2 miles, it’s a great trail for a whole day excursion.

Beautiful view on Powell Butte loop of Mount Hood covered in snow.
Powell Butte Loop trail in Portland

However, be prepared to climb almost 1000 cumulative feet from the parking lot. It’s a lot of elevation, but it’s worth it.

That’s because this hike also gives you some great views of the surrounding city and mountains. In other words, you’re going to run out of space on your phone before you’re done with these hikes.

13. Mount Talbert Nature Park

14 miles from Downtown Portland

Distance: 2.9 miles
Type of Trail: Loop
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 629 ft

Mount Talbert is a great trail to take your kids on since it’s only a bit hilly and not very hard. It’s a 2.9-mile loop trail that winds through the forest up to the top of the dome.

You do gain about 600 feet in elevation, but the grade is pretty easy.

View from Mount Talbert, some greenery with a bit of a town.
Hiking Mount Talbert

However, this is one mountain hike on our list that doesn’t actually have THE most spectacular view from the top. With that said, it’s still a lush and beautiful trek and will make you forget that you’re in a city.

The trail is well-maintained and it even has signage to inform you about the local plant and animal life. Like many hikes around Portland, it can get muddy in the winter.


RELATED: 25 Day Trips From Portland


14. Sauvie Island

18 miles from Downtown Portland

Distance: 6 miles
Type of Trail: 
Out & back
Difficulty:
Easy
Elevation Gain:
52 ft

Many people choose to take a hike to see the biggest, most impressive lighthouses in the state, but it is also worth taking a hike to see Oregon’s smallest lighthouse.

Warrior Rock Lighthouse can be found on the popular Sauvie Island, so it is a great one to tack on to the end of a day of fruit picking and beach bumming.

Warrior Point Beach on Sauvie Island, a nice sandy beach on the river.
Warrior Point Beach on Sauvie Island

Flat and easy, this out-and-back Portland hiking trail should be accessible for all abilities. Most of the way, you will be following the shores of the Columbia River, with plenty of shade from the surrounding black cottonwood forest.

Follow the path straight, and before long, you will reach the old lighthouse, which was once used to direct shipping traffic up the Columbia River, and a beautiful, secluded beach.

Boat driving in the rivers past Warrior Rock Lighthouse.
Warrior Rock Lighthouse

If you visit in August, be sure to bring a small pail with you, so you can pick some of the many blackberries that grow along the trail. We ate our berries with some yogurt straight after the hike!


RELATED: 17 Best Beaches in Portland


15. Lacamas Park

23 miles from Downtown Portland

Distance: 4.9 miles
Type of Trail:
Loop
Difficulty:
Moderate
Elevation Gain:
518 ft

Lacamas Park is bursting with walks and trails that take you around the beautiful lakes and green meadows that characterize the park.

Seeing as the park is relatively small, most of the trails that wind their way around the area are interconnected, so you easily walk and see where your feet take you.

Pothole Falls in Lacamas Park showing a trickling waterfall down some rocks and trees on both sides.
Pothole Falls in Lacamas Park

As a first-timer to the park, we recommend the Lake to Lake Trail Loop. At 4.6 miles, it’s the perfect length for a good walk and takes in most of the park’s highlights.

Hiker in Lacamas Park surrounded by greenery.
Hiking in Lacamas Park

Witness the beauty of Round Lake and Lacamas Lake before delving into the forest.

If that’s not enough, the trail also takes in plenty of waterfalls and enormous rocks for scrambling.

16. Moulton Falls

40 miles from Downtown Portland

Distance: .9 miles
Type of Trail:
Loop
Difficulty:
Easy
Elevation Gain:
127 ft

This area has tons of incredible hikes, but one of the most popular has to be the Mouton Falls Hike itself.

Predominantly flat, it is a great hike for a range of abilities; with the river on one side of you and a large cliff to the other, it’s hard to get lost.

Moulton Falls Washington tumbling over rocks.
Moulton Falls

If you have the time, don’t just stop at one waterfall. You could also tick off Yacolt Falls, Lucia Falls, and Sunset Falls, all nearby, making it one of the best hikes near Portland.

17. Abiqua Falls

53 miles from Downtown Portland

Distance: 1-4 miles (depending on where you park)
Type of Trail:
Out & Back
Difficulty:
Moderate
Elevation Gain:
250 ft

Abiqua Falls is one of the most incredible waterfalls in Oregon and is just a short distance south of Portland.

It’s not just the waterfalls themselves that are impressive; the hike there is a fun adventure that offers some of the best of the Oregon landscape.

Abiqua Falls with Nina standing at the bank right in front of it.
Abiqua Falls

You will take a slick and slippery path down a hill to the falls from the parking lot. Some areas are so steep that there are ropes to help you scramble down.

You are doing better than most if you can make it down without being covered in mud!

Before long, you will be standing in front of Abiqua Falls, with its crazy basalt-column surroundings. There are a few different places to start this hike, and a few different routes.


READ MORE: Your Guide to The Abiqua Falls Hike Near Portland


18. Silver Falls State Park: Trail of Ten Falls

53 miles from Downtown Portland

Distance: 7.6 miles
Type of Trail: Loop
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 1,151 ft

Silver Falls State Park is one of Oregon’s natural wonders. The area includes a campground, many miles of hikes, a day-use area, a conference area, and more. It is a bit farther from Portland, but it’s definitely worth the trip.

North Falls tumbling over a rock face with Nina walking behind it.
Walking behind North Falls

→ If you don’t have access to a vehicle, join this fun day trip from Portland to hike the Trail of Ten Falls Loop at Silver Falls State Park and visit a local winery

To get the best experience at Silver Falls, we recommend doing the Trail of Ten Falls loop. This trail gains about 1200 feet in elevation and is moderately difficult, but once you start, you won’t want to turn back.

As you hike along, you’ll come across ten different waterfalls throughout the 7.6-mile hike, including Winter Falls, Twin Falls, and Drake Falls. The trail even goes behind a few waterfalls to give you a truly majestic view.


RELATED: Your Guide to Silver Falls State Park—the Trail of 10 Falls & More


19. Beaver Falls

60 miles from Downtown Portland

Distance: 0.6 miles
Type of Trail: Out & Back
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 78 ft

This is a great trail to do when you’re on your way to or from Astoria.

This trail is a great addition to a day of exploration: it’s a short 0.6-mile out-and-back and can be done in half an hour (though you may want to stay longer).

Beaver Falls with driftwood in the foreground.
Beaver Falls

There’s no parking fee and dogs are allowed on leash. Even though it’s short, it’s no less breathtaking. Beaver Falls is the star here, and it’s gorgeous during any time of year.

The length of this trail makes it doable even in cold or dreary weather, and it’s an easy route with less than 100 feet in elevation.

20. Soapstone Lake Trail

70 miles from Downtown Portland

Distance: 2.7 miles
Type of Trail: Out & Back
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 360 ft

Another awesome hike near Portland is Soapstone Lake Trail. It is about an hour and twenty minutes from downtown, but the drive is worth it.

Soapstone Lake is a tiny, pristine lake in the Tillamook State Forest located just a few minutes off Highway 26. Saddle Mountain is close by and tends to attract most of the hikers in the area, making the experience at Soapstone a little more intimate.

Soapstone lake view with tree reflection on the still lake.
Hiking around Soapstone Lake

You’re already deep in the woods when you park so you can enjoy the trees for the entire hike.

It’s really the size of a large pond: 2/10 of a mile long and 1/10 wide.

You can walk around it in about 30 minutes, or you can stay by the fork in the trail and hang out at the water’s edge. This trail is open year-round, requires no fee, and allows dogs on a leash.

21. Saddle Mountain Trail

72 miles from Downtown Portland

Distance: 4.5 miles
Type of Trail: Out & Back
Difficulty: Hard
Elevation Gain: 1,791ft

Saddle Mountain offers panoramic views of the surrounding area, great foliage, and an exhilarating hiking experience. It’s called Saddle Mountain for a reason, though. You’ll climb 1791 feet on this hike, and it starts right from the parking lot.

Saddle mountain hike at the summit with a bit of snow at the top.
Hiking near Saddle Mountain

As you climb, you’ll notice changes in the foliage with the altitude. Springtime is a great time to see wildflowers and succulents growing along the upper portions of the trail. When you near the top, the foliage thins out and you really feel like you’re on a mountain.

The first major viewpoint is on the lower part of the saddle (the top of the mountain is in a saddle shape).

You can walk out to the edge of this lower saddle and get a great view of the peak. Don’t do the second part of the hike in bad weather.

Saddle mountain hike views from the top.
Hiking near Saddle Mountain

You can see all the way to the Pacific Ocean in the west, the Columbia River and Astoria to the north, and the Tillamook State Forest on the surrounding sides.

If you have one day to explore hikes near Portland, this is the one to do.

 Are There Other Hikes Near Portland?


Of course! In fact, there are tons, but those were some of the best and closest hikes in Portland to start you off. If you are willing to head out a bit further from Portland, you’ll be opening your doors to even more gorgeous hikes with better views and scenery.

Mount Hood is at your doorstep, the Columbia River Gorge is teeming with waterfalls, and the coast can be visited in a day too! So here are some ideas for where you can hike just beyond Portland…

The Closest Portland Hikes on The Oregon Coast

The coast is about two hours away from the Portland city center. The entire northern area of the Oregon Coast is for the taking!

Explore Astoria and hike around historic forts at Fort Stevens State Park.

Tackle the epic Cape Falcon trail, camp and walk along the beach at Nehalem Bay State Park and hike around Ecola State Park until you can see the famous Tillamook Oregon Lighthouse in the distance!

VW van in Nehalem Bay State Park under trees.
Van life in Nehalem Bay State Park on the Oregon Coast

RELATED: 17 Breathtaking Oregon Coast Hikes


Mount Hood Hikes Near Portland

You’ve seen Mount Hood in the distance while in the city and it’s close enough to head out for the city for the day or even the weekend and get those trail shoes worn in a bit more.

→ If you don’t have access to a vehicle, join this full-day trip to Mount Hood, Hood River, and Multnomah Falls from Portland

There are tons of hikes outside of Portland in Mount Hood and you’d certainly need multiple trips to catch them all. If you’re up for chasing waterfalls or a jaunt around a lake, the Mount Hood Wildness is for you.

You can even do a bit of a combo adventure where you hike and kayak or SUP on the lake.

There are a few lakes with incredible views of Mount Hood looming in the distance, take a walk around Trillium or Lost Lake and then paddle or wade your around the shimmering lake later to cool off.

Two of the coolest hikes in the Mount Hood area is the Tom, Dick, and Harry hike and the Tamanawas Falls hike.


RELATED: 9 Awesome Mount Hood Hikes


Waterfall Hikes Around Portland

With the Columbia River Gorge to the east of Portland, there’s a magical playground of treks leading to incredible views over the Gorge and to fantasy-like waterfalls hidden in the forest.

There are a lot of fun waterfall tours from Portland to the Columbia River Gorge you can take too, like this half-day waterfall hiking tour, or this Hike and Bike Waterfall tour.

Surely Multnomah Falls rings a bell as the State’s most popular waterfall, it’s so easy, you barely have to leave the parking lot to enjoy its roar.

There’s a vine of trails around this waterfall that leads to even more spectacular falls, like Fairy Falls and Wahkeena Falls.

Latourell Falls is a relatively easy hike near Portland that features two stunning waterfalls. Dry Creek Falls is rarely crowded and is usually gushing over crazy basalt cliffs despite its name.

There are tons of hikes and waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge to enjoy, read our guide for more info, there are way too many to name here!


RELATED: 10 Hikes to Waterfalls Near Portland


Where to Stay Around Portland

We have a list of some great campsites near Portland to check out, but here are a few quick recommendations that are dotted around Portland and close to nature and these hikes!

  • Nottingham Campground: Located off of Highway 35, this campground is centrally located and is next to Mt. Hood and Hood River. It’s also next to Tamanawas Falls, and you’ll have a peaceful experience here.
  • Oxbow: Oxbow Park features 74 campsites, and the cost is $22 per night per site. You can even hike twelve miles of trails around the area.
  • Devils Lake State Recreation Area: This campground is situated amid lots of wildlife, and beaches are a ten-minute walk away. (This is two hours from Portland but one of the closest beach camping spots)
Camping at Nottingham  with a yellow tent along a river.
Camp out at Mount Hood at Nottingham
  • Tiny House With Lofted Views of the Forest: This unique tiny house is a cozy, wood-featured escape nestled in the forest, and has a lofted bed with gorgeous forest views. It is a 30-minute drive from Portland.
  • Bungalow Guest House: Escape to the Bungalow Guest House in Portland for a cozy and comfortable getaway. This separate building features a full-size bed that folds up to make more space, a full kitchen with all the appliances you need, and air conditioning to keep you cool. Enjoy outdoor dining on the upper patio or deck.
  • 1909 St Johns Bungalow: A beautifully remodeled space filled with charm and comfort. Relax in the open-plan kitchen, dining, and living room, complete with a queen-sized sofa bed, and enjoy the claw-foot tub and shower in the bathroom.
  • Peaceful Garden Cottage: This gorgeous, light-filled garden cottage is a peaceful spot while only being a ten-minute drive into the city center. Enjoy the flower-filled patio in the summer months.
  • Columbia Waterfront & Downtown Camas: This is a cozy and spacious 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom duplex unit located within walking distance of the Columbia River with amazing views. The downstairs bedroom has a comfy king bed, a 60″ TV, and a private bathroom. The upstairs has an open kitchen and living area, balcony and whirlpool tub. Enjoy a picnic with views of Mt Hood from the waterfront or check out a local hike.
  • Two Rivers Relaxing Retreat: Experience the best of Alberta Arts in Portland with the Two Rivers Relaxing Retreat, a brand new cozy two-bedroom basement apartment that has everything you need for a comfortable and convenient stay. This spacious 800sq ft unit features a kitchenette, dining and reading areas, and a desk for work.
  • Tiny Forest Cabin: This adorable tiny cabin is located on 2.3 acres of forest, while still being close to Portland. Enjoy the peace and quiet of nature on your patio, or gaze at the treetops through the skylight in the loft bedroom.

MORE ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS IN PORTLAND:

Enjoy these hikes around Portland! Here are other adventures near Portland and here are some more trails in Oregon to take on.

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