Best Hiking Trails in Oregon
Columbia Gorge waterfalls, Cascade volcanoes, and a coast you can walk for weeks. Our team's Oregon picks, by region and season.
Oregon punches above its weight. The Columbia Gorge alone has more ribbon-waterfall hikes than most states have waterfalls full-stop. Owen ran the Pacific Crest Trail through Oregon in 2023 and calls Crater Lake's rim "the one section every PCT hiker talks about for the next 500 miles." Mia has done the Tam McArthur Rim traverse half a dozen times. Rae thinks Hells Canyon is the most underrated hike in the country — we don't disagree.
Oregon's great secret is that the east side is completely different from the west. West: wet, green, maritime. East: high desert, big sky, dry fir. Pick your trip to fit both if you have the time.
By region
Columbia River Gorge
Waterfalls in layers. Multnomah is the famous one; Eagle Creek is the hike.
Mount Hood
Year-round access to the south side; Timberline Trail circumnavigates the peak in 5–6 days.
Central Oregon (Bend/Sisters)
Volcanic plateau, lava beds, alpine lakes. Smith Rock for a bit of rock scrambling.
Oregon Coast
The Coast Trail runs 400+ miles. Oswald West and Cape Lookout for the day-hike highlights.
Wallowas (NE Oregon)
The "Oregon Alps." Lakes Basin backpack is a multi-day classic.
When to go
Plan a hike in Oregon
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More hikes in Oregon
Common questions
- Is Eagle Creek open?
- It's been reopening in sections since the 2017 fire; check the USFS alerts day-of.
- Permits?
- Most Oregon hikes need nothing beyond a $5 day-use pass. Three Sisters Wilderness requires a limited-entry permit June–Sept.
- How wet is it?
- Very, October–May, west of the Cascades. Pack real rain gear, not a windbreaker.