Mount Defiance─ the Undisputed Granddaddy of the Gorge

Quick Facts: Location: Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 13.2 miles Elevation Gain: 5,130 feet Green Trails Map: Columbia River Gorge-West Map 428S Access: From Portland follow I-84 east to Exit 55 to the Starvation Creek Trailhead. Contact: Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area Recommended Guidebook: Day Hiking Columbia…

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Virginia Lake─Sweet bird watching spot on Sauvie Island

Quick Facts: Location: Sauvie Island (Portland, Oregon) Land Agency: Willamette River Greenway, Wapato Access (Oregon State Parks) Roundtrip: 2.4 miles Elevation Gain: 50 feet Notes: Dogs must be leashed. Access: From downtown Portland, follow US 30 (NW St Helens Road) west for just shy of 11 miles turning right onto the Suavie Island Bridge. Then…

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Warrior Rock Lighthouse─A scenic and historic hike on Oregon’s largest island

Quick Facts: Location: Sauvie Island (Portland, Oregon) Land Agency: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Roundtrip: 6.5 miles Elevation Gain: 10 feet Access: From downtown Portland, follow US 30 west for just shy of 11 miles turning right onto the Sauvie Island Bridge. Follow Sauvie Island Road passing Cracker Barrel Grocery in .3 mile (where…

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Eagle Creek — Classic Hike overflows with stunning waterfalls

Quick Facts: Location: Columbia River Gorge near Cascades Locks, Oregon Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 12 miles High Point: 1,100 feet Elevation gain: 1,600 feet Difficulty: moderate Green Trails Maps: Columbia Gorge West no. 428S Contact: Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area Notes: Northwest Forest Pass or Interagency Pass required; Dogs permitted (but not recommended) on leash; steep drop offs and exposure—keep children near.…

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Horse Creek Trail–Trot through towering coastal old-growth forest

Quick Facts: Location: Drift Creek Wilderness, Siuslaw National Forest Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 7.2 miles Map: Online from Forest Service Elevation gain: 1,400 feet Difficulty: moderate Contact: Central Coast Ranger District (Waldport), Siuslaw National Forest Notes: Drift Creek Wilderness is south of Newport. Do not confuse with popular Drift Creek Falls near Lincoln…

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Tomlike Mountain–There’s much to like about this Columbia River Gorge peak

Quick Facts: Location: Mark Hatfield Wilderness, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon Land Agency: Mount Hood National Forest Roundtrip: 6.0 miles Elevation gain: 1,300 feet Green Trails Map: Columbia River Gorge -West No 428S Contact: Mount Hood National Forest, Hood River Ranger Station Notes: Northwest Forest Pass or Inter-agency Pass Required Recommended Guidebook: Day Hiking Columbia River…

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Mount Pisgah–Hike to a promising land of spectacular wildflowers

Quick Facts: Location: Willamette Valley south of Eugene Land Agency: Lane County Parks Roundtrip: 3.0 miles Elevation gain:  1,050 feet Map: Park map available online Contact: Friends of Buford Park and Mount Pisgah Notes: $5.00 day use fee; dogs must be leashed Access: From Eugene follow Franklin Blvd (Exit 189 I-5 southbound or Exit 188B northbound…

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Trail of Ten Falls–Hike through a canyon of thundering cascades!

Quick Facts: Location: Silver Falls State Park near Silverton, Oregon Land Agency: Oregon State Parks Distance: 7.2 miles Elevation Gain: 600 feet Contact: Silver Falls State Park Notes: Dogs prohibited; $5.00 per vehicle entrance fee Access: From Salem, Oregon follow SR 22 east from I-5 for 5 miles to Exit 7. Then follow SR 214…

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Lookout Mountain — Look out to Mount Hood and beyond

Quick Facts:  Location: Badger Creek Wilderness Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 2.5 miles Elevation Gain: 550 feet Contact: Barlow Ranger District Mount Hood National Forest Notes: Northwest Trail Pass or interagency pass required Green Trails Map: Mount Hood Climbing / Timberline Trail no. 462SX Access: From Portland: Follow I-84 east to Exit 64 in Hood River.  Then…

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