One of the most popular outdoor recreation destinations near Portland, Mt. Hood National Forest is only about an hour’s drive east from Oregon’s largest city.
If you don’t have time to visit one of the national parks in the Pacific Northwest, all of which are at least three hours from Portland, you could just head to Mt. Hood instead.
And let’s be honest, the sheer natural beauty of this majestic mountain—Oregon’s highest—, its vast forests, numerous pristine lakes and abundant wildlife rivals many of America’s national parks.
In fact, Mt. Hood, along with the adjacent Columbia River Gorge, has been proposed as a national park more than once in the past—from the 1890s to the 1920s and 1930s. There’s still a campaign to make Mt. Hood a national park today.
If or until that happens, Mt. Hood National Forest remains one of America’s most popular and spectacular national forests.
There are numerous hiking trails around Mt. Hood. Running through pristine temperate rain forest, around shimmering lakes, across alpine meadows, past waterfalls and to exposed ridgeline overlooks, they offer something to all visitors.
So, if you’re looking for amazing day hikes in Mount Hood National Forest, check out the list below! They’re all easy day trips from Portland.
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Best Day Hikes in Mount Hood National Forest, Oregon
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1. Zigzag Canyon Trail
One of the most underrated trails at Mount Hood is the Zigzag Canyon Trail. This beautiful hike starts at the iconic Timberline Lodge—used as the setting for the Overlook Hotel in The Shining—a must-visit place in Mt. Hood National Forest.
However, few visitors to this historic lodge, which boasts a truly amazing interior, venture further than its general vicinity.
Yet, the Zigzag Canyon Trail features stunning alpine scenery, taking hikers deep into the very landscapes that attracted the lodge’s builders here many decades ago.
The trail follows the Pacific Crest Trail from the Timberline Lodge to a magnificent viewpoint overlooking Zigzag Canyon.
It’s about 2.3 miles one way, the viewpoint a perfect spot for a snack or quiet immersion in Mt. Hood’s glorious scenery. Carved by glacial waters of the Zigzag River, the Zigzag Canyon is a 700-foot-deep gorge on Mt. Hood’s southwest flank.
Retrace your steps back through this gorgeous alpine country to the Timberline Lodge.
Due to its high elevation, the Zigzag Canyon Trail is snow-covered for a significant part of the year. In winter and spring, it’s completely covered by snow—the area is a super-popular winter sports destination. The best seasons to hike the Zigzag Canyon Trail are late-summer through fall.
- Distance: 4.7 miles (out and back)
- Duration: 2 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Trailhead: Timberline Lodge
2. Tamanawas Falls Trail
While, unlike the nearby Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Hood National Forest doesn’t have a huge number of scenic waterfalls, there are a few worth seeing. One of them is Tamanawas Falls, arguably the prettiest of all Mt. Hood waterfalls.
Located in the eastern part of Mt. Hood National Forest near the town of Parkdale, Tamanawas Falls is a 100-foot waterfall in Cold Spring Creek, dropping photogenically over a lava cliff.
Flanked by vibrant green and moss-covered rock walls, it’s a magical Mt. Hood hike. The trail is about 1.7 miles from the trailhead to the falls, crossing Cold Spring Creek a couple of times via footbridges.
The Tamanawas Falls Trail in Mt. Hood National Forest is open year-round, but typically has snow and ice in winter through mid-spring. Although absolutely beautiful in winter, you’ll need snowshoes or microspikes to hike this wonderful trail in those colder months.
- Distance: 3.4 miles (out and back)
- Duration: 1.5-2 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Trailhead: Tamanawas Falls Trailhead (about 25 miles south on Highway 35 from Hood River)
3. Tom, Dick & Harry Mountain Trail
The Tom, Dick and Harry Mountain Trail is one of my personal favorite hikes in Mt. Hood National Forest. I’ve hiked it several times in different seasons and it’s always spectacular.
This trail features a beautiful lake and sweeping panoramic views of Mt. Hood.
From the top, you can also see several other Cascade Range volcanoes, including Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams and Mount Rainier to the north, as well as Mount Jefferson to the south.
The first part of this highly recommended hike is on the popular Mirror Lake Trail, which leads to its namesake lake.
A spur trail loops around this peaceful lake, offering occasionally views—and reflections—of Mt. Hood. You can also clearly see the sheer cliffs of Tom, Dick and Harry Mountain towering above and beyond the lake. There’s a small and basic campground, too, only accessible via the trail.
Beyond Mirror Lake, the trail enters the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness (could a name be more reflective of the Pacific Northwest?).
After a while, you’ll reach the main ridge of Tom, Dick and Harry Mountain, which is an ancient two-mile-long volcanic mountain. Once at the top, you get to enjoy some of the greatest views of Mt. Hood anywhere.
Once you’ve soaked up these majestic views, follow the trail back down the same way you came.
The trail to Tom, Dick and Harry Mountain is open year-round, but you will need microspikes or crampons for a safe and successful hike in winter.
- Distance: 9 miles (out and back)
- Duration: 3-4 hours
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Trailhead: Mirror Lake Trailhead (at Mt. Hood Ski Bowl on Highway 26)
- More information
4. McNeil Point Trail
Another sensational day hike at Mt. Hood, the McNeil Point Trail runs to the historic McNeil Point Shelter high up on the mountain.
On the way, it winds its way across wildflower-carpeted meadows, through pristine forests and along ridges. This is arguably the most scenic Mt. Hood hike.
It’s a pretty challenging hike, though, a roundtrip that’s over 10 miles and takes 4 to 5 hours. Starting from the Top Spur Trailhead, you’ll follow both the Pacific Crest Trail and Timberline Trail.
The combination of trails may seem confusing at first, but it’s pretty straightforward and clear once you take a look at a map. (See a detailed hike description here.)
Once you’re above the tree line, you’ll find yourself in a veritable alpine wonderland. All kinds of colorful flowers bloom in meadows, while marmots scurry across the slopes.
The summit of Mt. Hood towers to the southeast—this is essentially as close as you can get to it on a day hike—as the Bull Run Watershed extends to the west. There are panoramic views in all directions.
Additionally, even though this is one of the most popular long day hikes in Mt. Hood National Forest, it’s also among the best places to see wildlife.
Thanks to the area’s remote location on the northwest flank of Mt. Hood, various wild animals enjoy a life free from traffic noise and vehicular or urban disturbances.
Besides the aforementioned marmots, this is also the only place at Mt. Hood where I’ve ever seen black bears. So, keep your eyes out and know what to do when encountering a black bear on the trail.
Although the McNeil Point Trail is open throughout the year, the roads leading to the trailhead are subject to seasonal closures. The best time to hike this epic trail is late-summer to early-fall.
- Distance: 10.4 miles (out and back)
- Duration: 4-5 hours
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Trailhead: Top Spur Trailhead (on Logging Road 1828, reached via Highway 26, Lolo Pass Road and Road 1825)
- More information
5. Old Salmon River Trail
A completely different trail from the other Mt. Hood trails highlighted here, the Old Salmon River Trail offers hikers a unique immersion in a Pacific Northwest rain forest.
The trail is situated near the town of Zigzag and at the southwest base of Mt. Hood. It parallels the wild and scenic Salmon River for about 2 miles, providing occasional access to the river.
Pretty much flat the entire way, the trail runs underneath and past towering moss-covered trees so typical of this region. The color green is literally everywhere here, from the moss draped over branches to collections of ferns to the water of the river itself.
Although the Old Salmon River Trail does also follow the road the whole way, the sound of the river drowns out all traffic noises.
Except for other hikers you might encounter, it’ll feel as if you’re deep in a pristine temperate rain forest, far removed from society.
This gorgeous trail is open all year long. However, occasionally heavy snowfall might require you to wear microspikes in winter. Even—perhaps especially—if there’s some snow, this is a beautiful trail, one of the best winter hikes in Mount Hood National Forest.
- Distance: 4 miles (out and back)
- Duration: 2 hours
- Difficulty: Easy
- Trailhead: Old Samon River Trailheads (there are four trailheads along the Salmon River Road, which is off of Highway 26 in Zigzag; the first one is about 2.6 miles down the road)
- More information
6. Trillium Lake Loop Trail
One of the easiest yet most scenic trails at Mt. Hood is the Trillium Lake Loop Trail. As its name suggests, the trail runs around the perimeter of Trillium Lake, a man-made lake to the south of Mt. Hood.
Pretty much level for its entire length, the Trillium Lake Loop Trail runs through a picnic area, past a boat ramp and through the Trillium Lake Campground. Hikers can enjoy fantastic views of Mt. Hood, particularly along the south and east shores of the lake.
The trail starts and ends at the Trillium Lake Dam and consists of gravel and boardwalks.
It’s one of the greatest kid-friendly and pet-friendly trails in Mt. Hood National Forest, a wonderful place to watch the sunset over Mt. Hood.
- Distance: 1.9 miles (loop)
- Duration: 1 hour
- Difficulty: Easy
- Trailhead: Trillium Lake Dam (about 2.5 miles down Trillium Lake Loop Road, just east of Government Camp)
- More information
7. Elk Meadows Trail
The Elk Meadows Trail is an absolute gem of a hike on the less-visited east side of Mt. Hood. In late-July, it’s easily one of the best wildflower hikes in Mt. Hood National Forest.
This is a great hike all summer, though, taking hikers through a beautiful moss-draped forest, past patches of huckleberries and across two mountain streams.
The destination of this hike is Elk Meadows itself, a simply stunning area of grasses and flowers in the Mt. Hood Wilderness. The mountain itself rises above the meadows to the west, providing a breathtaking backdrop.
Elk Meadows is about 0.5 miles in diameter, dotted with stands of trees and crossed by small streams. It’s as scenic a landscape as you’ll find anywhere at Mt. Hood.
A perimeter trail loops around the meadows, but doesn’t really offer unobstructed view. About halfway around the meadows, however, there’s a spur trail leading into the meadows and to a shelter.
This is a popular backpacking destination—campsites are scattered all around, while tree stumps provide a place to sit and take in the magnificent scenery.
Spend some time enjoying the view, but please resist the temptation to walk across the meadows. There are several “social trails”, but remember that those trails aren’t official and illegal. Stay around the Elk Meadows perimeter to protect the flowers and other vulnerable vegetation.
You can make this a much longer Mt. Hood day hike by continuing to Gnarl Ridge and/or looping back via the Timberline Trail and Newton Creek Trail. Alternatively, this hike can also be combined with the popular Umbrella and Sahalie Falls hike, which starts at the same trailhead.
- Distance: 5.8 miles (out and back, lollipop)
- Duration: 3 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Trailhead: Elk Meadows and Sahalie Falls Trailhead (off OR-35 North, about 10 miles east of Government Camp)
- More information
More Great Day Hikes in Mt. Hood National Forest
In addition to the awesome Mount Hood day hikes above, there are many, many more. If you’re looking for more hiking opportunities in the area, these are some great options:
- Umbrella and Sahalie Falls Loop
- Lookout Mountain
- Ramona Falls Trail
- Timothy Lake to Little Crater Lake
- Cooper Spur Trail
Carlos
Thursday 2nd of November 2023
Hello! Excuse my question: is it possible to visit Mt Hood at the end of next April 2024? I mean driving on roads and walking on trails. I will appreciate your information!
Bram Reusen
Monday 20th of November 2023
Yes absolutely! By late-April the roads will be clear, but all high-elevation trails will still have a thick layer of snow. I'd recommend choosing some lower-elevation trails that time of year, but visiting Mt. Hood is definitely possible!