Step away from the established overlook, walk into the sand and discover Oregon's seaside Sahara.
About the Hike: Visitors who simply photograph the view from the Oregon Dunes Overlook are missing the best scenery in this seafront Sahara. It's just over a mile from the overlook's picnic area to a remote, windswept beach. Even better is a 4.8-mile loop hike to beautiful Tahkenitch Creek, through dunes and tree islands.
Amble through parks and historic streets in Oregon's largest city
About the Hike: Wedged between the Willamette River and a wall of steep, forested parks, Portland's downtown is compact enough to explore on a two-hour walking tour.
Allow extra time to stop at museums and shops and if you tire along the way, simply catch a streetcar, train or bus - they're all free.
Difficulty: An easy, 2.3-mile round-trip walk, with 100 feet of elevation gain.
Season: Open all year.
High on the side of Mt. Hood.
About the Hike: Like white lace, 120-foot Ramona Falls drapes across a stair-stepped cliff of columnar basalt. The very popular trail to the shady grotto of this Mount Hood cascade starts out in a mossy alder forest beside the Sandy River's bouldery outwash plain. A loop trail to the falls follows a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail.
Difficulty: The difficult 7.1-mile loop to the falls gains 1000 feet of elevation.
Drive the highest road in Oregon to viewpoints of mile-high cliffs and canyons in the desert.
About the Hike: Three short paths lead to viewpoints of Kiger Gorge, the East Rim, and Steens Summit. A longer trail descends to Wildhorse Lake, in a treeless bowl of wildflowers.
Difficulty: Altogether, the three viewpoint trails are an easy, 1-mile hike with 250 feet of elevation gain. The trip to Wildhorse Lake is a moderate 2.4-mile hike with 1100 feet of elevation loss.
Explore a creek with a dozen small waterfalls, following a trail on catwalks bolted to the cliffs
About the Hike: Just a few miles inland from Florence, the waterfalls of this dramatic Coast Range gorge are accessed by an easy trail. Visit in April or May to see woodland wildflowers, including big white trilliusm and a rare breed of pink fawn lilies.
Difficulty: The easy, 2.2-mile round-trip trail to Sweet Creek Falls gains just 350 feet of elevation.
Season: Open all year.
The Old Salmon River Trail provides an easy hike through old-growth forest
About the Hike: A few miles upstream from the Wildwood Recreation Area, this quiet riverside path traverses an old-growth forest with 10-foot-thick red cedars and leads to small sandy beaches with deep green pools suitable for a chilly summer swim. Because a paved road parallels the route, it's easy to arrange a car shuttle so you can hike the 2.6-mile trail one way.
"I behold the grandest and most pleasing prospect which my eyes ever surveyed."
- Capt. William Clark
About the Hike: The farthest point reached by the Lewis and Clark expedition was not at the mouth of the Columbia River, but rather 20 miles south at Tillamook Head, where they went hiking in search of whale blubber.
Sample the 37.6-mile Timberline Trail that circles Mt. Hood, starting with a short section from the mountain's historic 1937 lodge.
About the Hike: From Mt. Hood's Timberline Lodge, three particularly tempting goals await hikers. Short trail climb to the Silcox Hut and visit the Zigzag Canyon overlook. Plan a longer day hike or a backpack for the trek to Paradise Park's spectacular wildflower meadows.
A walk on the famous Wildwood Trail through Washington Park is a reminder of what's so wonderful about Portland. What other city would have a forest path from a zoo to a mansion with a mountain view?
About the Hike: Portland's Wildwood Trail is more than 30 miles long, but this relatively short loop gives you a good sample of its charms. The hike starts and ends conveniently at the Washington Park MAX light rail station between the Oregon Zoo and the World Forestry Center.
