oregon backpacking trips

10 of Oregons Best Backpacking Trips

• Crater Lake (Snowshoe in the winter?)
• Enchantments
• Willowas (eastern Oregon)
• Tillamook Head to Indian Beach
• Russel Lake
• Painted Canyon Loop
• Hidden Lake
• Mirror Lake

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Rogue River Hiking

Rogue river hiking .

An incredible Oregon adventure! The famous river trail along the Rogue River is considered to be one of the greatest North American hiking trails. Historical sites abound along the Rogue River trail and our trip visits them all. Each footstep is greeted with picturesque vistas of wildlife and nature. You visit glistening waterfalls, cross babbling brooks and gaze upon deep, rugged canyons. On this lodge-to-lodge hiking adventure, there are breathtaking views around every bend.

Imagine hiking through a wilderness with only a light daypack. Our rafts carry your gear leaving you unencumbered and free to discover some of America’s finest wilderness – the Wild Rogue Wilderness. After a rewarding day filled with the fragrance of pine, oak and madrone forests you arrive at a riverside lodge where a hot shower and a comfortable bed await. After settling into your room, we serve scrumptious hors d’oeuvres followed by a delicious dinner. Then there’s time to remember the highlights of the day and share a few tall tales under the stars.

We offer our Rogue River hiking trips in the late spring and early fall (our fall trips are camping vs. lodge-to-lodge). These are times of the year when the air may be a bit chilly for rafting but are ideal for hiking. Spring trips enjoy the abundant wildflowers blooming throughout the canyon. Side creeks run full and waterfalls dance over moss-covered rocks. The forest is alive with the joy of spring’s awakening. Spring or fall, our pace is casual and allows plenty of time to pause and relish the verdant beauty that is everywhere. Along the way, our knowledgeable guides tell you about the history, flora, and fauna of the canyon and forest.

Each day we walk between five and 15 miles on a trail that roughly parallels the river. During the 40-mile hike total elevation drop is just over 200 feet, so the overall hike is very slightly downhill. This hike is suitable for anyone in reasonable shape that can hike 10-15 miles per day.

Because our rafts carry your overnight gear and other trip supplies, you carry only water, an extra layer of clothing and perhaps your camera and binoculars. If you get tired and want a change of pace our raft isn’t far and you can hop aboard to be carried down the river. Each day our raft arrives at the evening’s lodge a bit ahead of the group so your gear is ready to be carried to your private room for the night.

See our Rogue River rafting trip for details about our lodge-to-lodge raft adventure.

Honoring Native People and Lands: Recognizing the significance of our travels through Indigenous territory, we would like to recognize the communities whose lands we visit. It is our hope, in doing so, to honor their legacies, their lives, and their descendants. To learn more about territory acknowledgement and specific information about the Native communities of this region, please visit our Territory Acknowledgement   page.

Images & Videos

Arrive in Merlin OR, Orientation Meeting

Travel to Merlin, Oregon and meet your Team Leader at Morrison's Lodge at 5:45pm PST for a one-hour orientation meeting to answer last-minute questions. You'll also receive your waterproof gear bags. Dinner is on your own.

ACCOMMODATION : Morrison's Lodge (Not Included in trip cost)

MEALS INCLUDED : None

Graves Creek, Black Bar Lodge

On the first day of this Oregon Adventure, our lead guide meets hikers at 8:15 a.m. the morning of the hike at Morrison's Lodge. Once everyone is greeted and, given directions on where to park their vehicles, the lead guide gives a short description of the hike. Hikers then step into a Lodge van and are transported to the hiking starting point: Graves Creek. On the first day, we hike about 9.6 miles to Black Bar Lodge. We stop for a riverside buffet lunch along the way, often near the Tyee Rapids campsite. One of the highlights of this Rogue River hiking trip is the many historic sites along the way. Our guides are natural storytellers and will make your trip more rewarding with their stories about these sites. In the spring there are also dozens of wildflowers in bloom in the Rogue River canyon and viewing them is fascinating.

After lunch, we continue along the intermediate Rogue River trail to Black Bar Lodge. As you hike, one of our guides provides raft support for the hiking group and upon arrival at Black Bar, will row over and get the group and transport them to the other side of the river. Hikers arrive at Black Bar Lodge late afternoon and the lodge staff assigns double-occupancy cabins. There’s time to freshen up before the evening’s hors d’oeuvres are served. We focus on locally-sourced foods, Oregon wines and beers as well as other beverages. Dinner is generally around 7 pm. Since the lodge is run by a generator, lights go out at 10 pm and back on the next morning at 7 am This makes for great star gazing and a peaceful, quiet sleep.

ACCOMMODATION : Black Bar Lodge

MEALS INCLUDED : L, D

Battle Bar, Marial Lodge

Oregon adventurers wake up and the Black Bar Lodge serves a country breakfast around 8:00 a.m. After that, there’s time to pack up before walking back to the river and crossing over to the trail. Today’s hike covers a little less than 15 miles on an intermediate trail. Again, some of the fun on the Rogue River trail is the many historic sites along the way and beautiful vistas of the river. After working up a good appetite, we serve the hikers a bountiful riverside lunch, usually at a place known as Battle Bar. Refreshed and re-energized, we continue hiking downriver to Marial Lodge, arriving late afternoon. Again, cabins are assigned, there’s time for a shower or other relaxing and then hors d’oeuvres are served. Dinner is served around the classic round tables of Marial Lodge. After dinner, we offer a short hike to enjoy the soft summer light and spectacular views of the river canyon. Evening is a good time for wildlife viewing as well. The power generator is never turned off at this lodge so there is power available all night.

ACCOMMODATION : Marial Lodge

MEALS INCLUDED : B, L, D

Rogue River Ranch, Paradise Lodge

We gently wake you around 7:30 a.m. for breakfast. It’s a casual pace though as today’s hike is just under five miles. Our destination is the Rogue River’s own Paradise Lodge. Since this is such a short hiking day, anyone who wants will head back upriver to the Rogue River Ranch which is a museum and interpretive center. After the visit and imaging what pioneer life in the canyon must have been like, we head back downstream, stopping for lunch at Marial Lodge. Then we continue on to Paradise Lodge. Our Rogue River hikers arrive at Half Moon Bar Lodge by mid-afternoon so there’s plenty of time to enjoy the expansive lawn and maybe have a game of Frisbee or sit and watch the river go by. As the afternoon sun sets hors d’oeuvres are served along with the usual selection of beverages. Then it’s a nice dinner and time to sit on the deck and watch the stars and share stories of the day. Again, there is power all night long at this lodge.

ACCOMMODATION : Half Moon Bar Lodge

Flora Del, Foster Bar, Morrison's Lodge

We wake you a bit earlier today around 7:00 a.m., enjoy a leisurely breakfast and then get back on the Rogue River hiking trail. About 6.5 miles later we reach Flora Del and have lunch. The river canyon has widened here and on a hot day you might enjoy a dip in the river. After lunch, we climb aboard our rafts to be transported to the take-out point, Foster Bar. We try to arrive by early afternoon, around 1:30 or 2:00 pm and then load up into vans to return to Morrison's Lodge. The drive takes about two hours and is a winding and scenic road through the mountains. 

ROW Oregon, LLC, doing business as ROW Adventures is proud to be an Equal Opportunity recreation service provider.  ROW Oregon, LLC operates under special use permit from the Bureau of Land Management, Medford District along with the U.S. Forest Service in Siskiyou National Forest.   All our operations and facilities are operated on a non-discriminatory basis.

MEALS INCLUDED : B, L

Dates & Rates

Supplementary information.

Lodge Hikes: prices are based on double occupancy in the lodges.  Limited rooms are available for groups of 3 if all are willing to share the same room.  These will be available on a first-come, first-served served.  If an odd number of guests, there is a single supplement fee of  $600 for 4-day adventures.

Camp trip - ROW's camp trips provide a similar itinerary to our lodge trips. ROW provides all camping equipment and ROW's guides cook delicious meals along the way!  We are happy to provide a tent for solo travelers at no charge. 

Lodge to Lodge private trips available for 1-23 guests:  Pay for 19 spaces and get the 20th space free.  

TRIP INCLUDES:  

• Services of our talented adventure consultants and professional guides
• Hand-crafted itineraries
• All meals/beverages as indicated in the itinerary (including beer and wine) 
• Lodge or camping accommodations as noted in the itinerary 
• Clean drinking water available at all times
• All rafting/camping gear 
• Specialized equipment for activities such as helmets, paddles, personal flotation devices, etc.
• Private pre-tour orientation meeting
• Transportation to/from river meeting points

DOES NOT INCLUDE:  

• 6% Land and water access fee
• Airfare/transportation to beginning and ending points
• Shuttling your car from launch to take out point if driving 
• Gratuities for guides
• Travel protection plan
• Pre & post-trip hotel reservations
• Items of a personal nature

Highly recommend!

Tom and Mariah were exceptional guides! My mom and I hiked 18 of the 40 miles, spotted a plethora of flowers, landscape and animals. We would meet up with our guides at lunch and enjoy the rest of the day on the food was spectacular and the lodges progressively got more chic each night. We are planning on coming back next summer. I highly recommend.

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12 incredible backpacking trips around Oregon

• Updated: Apr. 01, 2018, 6:15 a.m. |
• Published: Apr. 01, 2018, 3:15 a.m.
• Jamie Hale | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Terry Richard/The Oregonian

Backpacking is a time-honored Pacific Northwest tradition, strapping a few days’ worth of supplies to our backs, and setting off to explore and camp out in the remote wilderness.

In Oregon, there is a vast wealth of backpacking opportunity, taking hikers high into the mountains, out into the arid desert and along the stunning coastline. These 12 trips (in no particular order) are mostly two to five-day excursions, but if you’re really prepared for a long haul, you can be out on the trail for weeks or even months at a time.

If you're new to backpacking, or if it's been a while, it would be wise to get well supplied – but not overburdened – with the basics. Any local outdoor store can help advise you and get the gear that you need. It's also important to leave no trace , and practice good outdoor ethics and etiquette. Safety is a big deal, too, so be sure to call the nearby U.S. Forest Service ranger station or local BLM office before you leave.

Backpacking requires a little more preparation and precaution than day hiking or car camping, but the extra efforts are well rewarded with a night under the stars in the thick of Oregon wilderness. Few experiences are as humbling, and as good for the soul, as rambling about our wild natural places.

1. Timberline Trail

Distance: 38.3 miles Difficulty: Difficult Season: Summer Permit: Wilderness permit required between May 15 and Oct. 15, free at trailheads

One of Oregon's most iconic trails, the Timberline Trail circumnavigates Mount Hood along a beautiful loop hike nearly 40 miles long. A debris flow washed out a portion of the trail in 2006, but in 2016 it was finally reconnected. Expect to have company in the summer, which is the best and safest time to make the popular trek. Most hikers begin and end at Timberline Lodge, where the route follows the Pacific Crest Trail.

2. Pacific Crest Trail

Distance: 460 miles Difficulty: Difficult Season: Summer Permit: Varies

The beautiful and beloved Pacific Crest Trail runs 460 miles through Oregon, and while plenty of thru-hikers tackle the challenge of completing the whole thing, it's easy enough to pop in and out for shorter excursions. Several backpacking trips on this list run along parts of the PCT, but there are lots of others, like the 26.6-mile out-and-back trek from Santiam Pass to Rockpile Lake , and the many lovely miles of trails throughout the Sky Lakes Wilderness in southern Oregon.

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

3. Rogue River Trail

Distance: 40.6 miles Difficulty: Moderate Season: Spring, summer, fall Permit: None

The beautiful trek through the wild and scenic Rogue River canyon is a perfect backpacking trip for beginners, with enough challenge to keep things interesting for more advanced hikers. There are primitive campsites and developed campgrounds along the trail, as well as several lodges, which allow for a more luxurious lodge-to-lodge experience. Beware of bears, ticks and snakes as you hike, and hire a shuttle service instead of leaving your car at the heavily-prowled Grave Creek trailhead.

Courtesy of Jeremy Fox/ONDA

4. Owyhee Canyonlands

Distance: Varies Difficulty: Difficult Season: Spring, summer, fall Permit: None

One of the most rugged places in Oregon, the Owyhee Canyonlands is also a place of stark desert beauty. Adventure can be found rambling through the remote river canyons, past spectacular rock formations and ancient volcanic fields – but this is no easy trip. Roads to the trailheads are far from any town, and most require high-clearance vehicles. Once you're there, you may need to navigate by topographical map, and water can be scarce. You'll need to take every precaution if you venture into the Owyhee, but the reward will be well worth it.

Jamie Francis/The Oregonian

5. Three Sisters Loop

Distance: 48.1 miles Difficulty: Difficult Season: Summer, early fall Permit: Free wilderness permit at trailhead

Hiking around one mountain is nice, but how about three? The Three Sisters Loop offers just that – a stunning 48-mile hike around North, Middle and South Sisters, past turquoise alpine lakes and sweeping vistas in Oregon's central Cascades. The Lava Camp Lake Trailhead is a good place to start, though the Green Lakes or Pole Creek Trailheads works as well, shaving off a few miles. There are plenty of places to camp, though water can be hard to find, especially on the west side of the mountains.

6. Eagle Cap Wilderness

Distance: Varies Difficulty: Moderate to difficult Season: Summer Permit: Free wilderness permit at trailhead

There are a whopping 535 miles of trail in the Eagle Cap Wilderness of the Wallowa Mountains, allowing for days on end of hiking, climbing and exploring. Snow typically blocks higher elevation trails until late June and early July, usually returning in early fall. There are 15 trailheads to choose from, but the most popular is the Wallowa Lake Trailhead just south of Joseph, which gives access to hikes up to Ice Lake , Cusick Mountain and several other destinations.

7. Snowshoe the Crater Lake rim

Distance: 33 miles Difficulty: Moderately difficult Season: Spring, winter Permit: Free backcountry permit at ranger station Oregon's only full-fledged national park is plenty busy in the summer, but go when there's still snow on the ground and you can practically have the place to yourself. Spring and winter hiking requires either snowshoes or skis , which will give you access to spectacular views of the deep, blue-hued lake set against white fields of snow. Start at Rim Village and be careful as you go – the snowy perches above Crater Lake have to fall apart some time.

8. Broken Top Loop

Distance: 20.3 miles Difficulty: Difficult Season: Summer, early fall Permit: Free wilderness permit at trailhead

One of the shorter backpacking trips in the Cascades, the Broken Top Loop circles the jagged peak nestled into the Broken Top Wilderness. You can start at the Tam McArthur Rim Trailhead at Three Creek Lake, and find camping at Golden Lake and on the southeastern flank of the mountain. Water is sparse, but available throughout. Fast hikers could do the trip in one day, but most people will want to take two or three.

9. Oregon Coast Trail

Distance: 382 miles Difficulty: Moderate Season: All Permit: None

The 382-mile Oregon Coast Trail is one of the most gorgeous thru-hikes in the Pacific Northwest, but it can also be traversed on several shorter backpacking trips. You can hike through forested headlands and along sandy beaches, but much of the trail will also guide you along the shoulder of Highway 101. Finding campgrounds can be tricky – especially in the busier summer months – as beach camping is restricted to areas outside state parks and most city limits.

10. Elkhorn Crest Trail

Distance: 23 miles Difficulty: Difficult Season: Summer, early fall Permit: None

Running along the spine of the Elkhorn Mountains, past granite spires and alpine lakes, the Elkhorn Crest Trail is a full 23 miles long (one way), though there are a few different ways to tackle it. You can start at the main trailhead found within the Anthony Lakes Recreation Area, or the southern Marble Pass terminus at the end of a rough, high-clearance road. Either way, Twin Lakes is a great place to stop for the night. Note that water is very scarce in the Elkhorns, and any water you do find is likely unsafe to drink without treatment.

11. Steens Mountain

Distance: Varies Difficulty: Difficult Season: Summer, early fall Permit: None

The big, fault-block mountain in southeast Oregon is a great place for a drive or a day hike, but backpackers can enjoy an off-trail trek through the many gorges of Steens Mountain , too. You can do a roughly 7-mile loop centered around Wildhorse Lake, or try a longer 26-mile trip through Big Indian and Little Blitzen Canyons. Either way, bear in mind that few established trails run through the Steens Mountain Wilderness, requiring off-trail navigation through a rugged and dry desert landscape, and occasional scrambling up rocky canyon walls.

12. Strawberry Mountain Wilderness Loop

Distance: 21 miles Difficulty: Difficult Season: Summer, early fall Permit: None

The lovely and ecologically diverse Strawberry Mountain Wilderness is a great destination in eastern Oregon. Found just southeast of John Day, the area is best explored on a multi-day loop hike. Start out at the Strawberry Basin Trailhead and make your way south past Strawberry Lake, to the top of Strawberry Mountain, and by High and Slide Lakes before circling back. The hike is about 21 miles with the mountain summit, and 17 without.

Ian Malkasian/The Oregonian

BONUS: Jefferson Park

Normally, any list of beautiful backpacking trips in Oregon would have to include a trek through Jefferson Park – the sprawling wilderness area around Mount Jefferson. But after the Whitewater fire burned 11,500 acres in the park in 2017, the area is temporarily closed to the public. Once it's open, prepare to fight for one of the overnight permits – a small price to pay (literally, they're $6 to $9) to visit one of the most popular wilderness areas in the state.

Photo courtesy of Recreation.gov

NORTHWEST TRAVEL GUIDES

Rent a fire lookout tower : Fire lookout towers are Oregon's most spectacular rentals, but they're also the hardest to book. Portland's most beautiful places : Rose gardens, river walks, mountain views and more – these are the most beautiful places in Portland. 20 reasons to love Ashland : The cultural capital of southern Oregon has much more to offer than Shakespeare.

--Jamie Hale | [email protected] | @HaleJamesB

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Top 8 Backpacking Trips in Oregon

From sprawling Pacific beaches with their infamous haystack rocks, verdant forests, picturesque mountains, and high desert, Oregon offers a diverse array of terrain. Love having a water source nearby on your hikes? You won't have to worry about a shortage there either with 100,000+ miles of rivers, over 200 waterfalls, and some of the deepest lakes in the country. The Beaver State is full of natural beauty, no matter what your favorite type of landscape is.

Looking for some of the best backpacking trails in Oregon? From challenging, multi-day trips to short overnight ones, check out the hikes below to start planning your next backcountry adventure!

Featured photo:  Crater Lake National Park ( photo by ucumari )

Oregon Coast Trail - Section 1

If you're looking for one of the best cross-sections of what Oregon has to offer, you can't go wrong on Section 1 of the Oregon Coast Trail. From sandy beaches to dense evergreen forests, this path takes you to a lot of natural and man-made features in the area too. These include the infamous Cannon Beach and its towering haystack rocks, the Peter Iredale shipwreck remains, Hug Point Falls, and the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse.

This section of the OCT is 42 miles long, making for a fun 3-4 trip. It's not terribly taxing, though the beach walks can be tiring. Another thing to plan well for is your overnight stays. There aren't many places right on the trail. But, there are quite a few recreation areas with campgrounds nearby.

For all of the details you need to plan your trip, head over to our full write-up .

Source: Flickr

Lightning Trail - PCT Loop

Located in the popular Crater Lake National Park, this loop is a good option if you're short on time. At nearly 23 miles in length, the trail starts on the shore near Wizard Island. This offers you excellent views of the well-known island from the start. You can't beat the beautiful deep blue waters of Crater Lake either as you traverse its shoreline.

This section of the PCT takes you past several peaks along the way. These include Hillman Peak and The Watchman. You'll also get some nice shade from the towering evergreens along the way and a good workout with 2,600ft of elevation gain. If you enjoy taking your four-legged friend on hikes, it's worth noting that this trail is not dog-friendly.

Three Sisters Loop

Looking to backpack one of the most iconic trails in Oregon? Then set your sights on the Three Sisters Loop. This 43-mile trail lets you see three of the five high points in the state. You'll also find towering old-growth forests, waterfalls, glaciers, interesting rock formations, lots of alpine lakes and streams, and beautiful wildflower meadows.

Rated as moderate to challenging, most of the ascents on the loop are surprisingly gradual. It's best not to plan your trip until at least July. The snow likes to linger, as you can imagine. If you have some extra time, there are plenty of side trails to explore. For more details to start planning your trip, check out our full blog post .

Hurricane Creek Trail

For a short two-day excursion, head to the Eagle Cap Wilderness. Located in the northwest corner of the state, the Hurricane Creek Trail is 20 miles out and back. A couple of highlights include vistas of Sacajawea and Matterhorn Peak. For up-close scenery, you'll come across a small, rocky waterfall and stunning wildflowers in season. You'll also find some original cabins from early settlers along the trail.

Prepare to get wet on several creek crossings. It's also worth noting this is a popular trail with day hikers. But, the sprawling views of the surrounding mountains and open fields are worth it.

Rogue River Trail

Oregon is a beautiful state, which can make it hard to find secluded trails. That's one of the best things about the Rogue River Trail. Even though it's a designated National Rec Trail, it's less well-known and used than similar areas in the Pacific Northwest.

Located in the southern part of the state, this 40-mile point-to-point route has a lot to offer. Old-growth forests, waterfalls, and wildflower meadows are just some of the sights you'll see. The Rogue River is a popular rafting destination. You'll likely see some paddlers on the water or at the many campsites along the way. Speaking of which, there are a lot of established campsites on this trail. This makes it a good option if you're ready to do a longer trail, but don't want to put much thought or planning into where to bed down for the night.

Head over to our full post on the Rogue River Trail for more details.

Source: Bureau of Land Management

Sky Lakes Loop

Looking for a bit more solitude or an overnight trip? Head to the Sky Lakes Loop in the southeast corner of Oregon. This trail is a moderate 14.5 miles with 1,600ft of elevation gain. You'll find tons of lakes along the way, including Deer Lake, Heavenly Twin Lakes, and views of Trapper Lakes from the PCT portion of the trail. The tranquil views of the craggy peaks, pines, and sky in the reflecting waters can't be beat. Feel free to take a dip in one of the larger lakes during the hot months of summer.

Lots of campsites await you along the way. This loop is one of the less-traveled routes in the area, so you're sure to enjoy some peace and quiet. Make sure you have a good map with you as some of the junctions can be confusing.

Timberline Trail

For another challenging, iconic backpacking trail in the Beaver State, head out on the 41.5-mile Timberline Trail. The centerpiece of this loop is the majestic view of Mount Hood. But, you'll also get to see Mount St.Helens and Mount Rainier. If that's not enough natural beauty to take in, the trail also features numerous waterfalls. Ramona Falls is a favorite of many hikers.

If you're looking for a scenic challenge, this is a good option with its steep ascents and tricky river crossings. You'll definitely be working for those views! Be sure to check out our full write-up for all of the details.

Painted Canyon Loop

If you're looking for something different scenery-wise, head out to the Honeycombs Wilderness Study Area. Located in the far western part of the state, the Painted Canyon Loop is a mere 9 miles. While that might not seem that exciting, you can take your time to explore the area. Plus, it's a great option if you'll be arriving late after work on a Friday. Highlights include honeycombed battlements, towering red rock walls, several dry waterfalls, and rock columns.

This area is extremely remote, so you'll definitely find seclusion. But, don't let the short distance fool you. It's rated as difficult because navigation can be tricky in this desert terrain. This is especially true with intersecting animal paths. There's also the danger of flash flooding from rainstorms to consider too. Summer temps can soar dangerously high, so plan accordingly. This trail is best for advanced hikers with excellent wayfinding skills. That said, it's worth the adventure!

Oregon has a variety of terrain that will please any backpacker. Have you done any of the trails on our list? Which one is your favorite? We'd love to hear about your experience in the comments section below!

If you're looking for more hike ideas, read our “ Best West Coast Mountain Backpacking Trips ” round-up post. Also, the following Hike of the Week articles cover other great trails in the region.

Hike of the Week: Spider Gap-Buck Creek Pass Loop Hike of the Week: Lost Coast Trail Hike of the Week: Toiyabe Crest Trail

For even more amazing backpacking trips, visit The Trailhead, our interactive hike map . It contains a curated list of dozens of hikes, each with a detailed write-up.

Finally, check out our comprehensive list of backpacking articles that cover just about everything there is to know about backpacking. If you're just starting out, our Backpacking 101 section covers all the basics. If you already have a few trips under your belt, you can find more advanced topics covered in our Expert Articles .

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Weekend getaways, week-long adventures, gritty expeditions, best backpacking in oregon, from backpacking the oregon coast to overnight trips, the pacific northwest offers an unbeatable landscape. pack your bag for an overnight backpacking adventure and trek through the alpine meadows, magnificent mountain peaks, wild beaches, or colorful canyonlands that call oregon home. no matter what you’re looking for, we’ve got you covered. explore our trails for short backpacking trips through oregon or a gritty expedition., *our information may not always be current and should be used for trip planning / selection purposes only. always call ahead for the most current information before setting out on your trip., weekend getaways.

Black Canyon Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 18

Group Size Limit: N/A

Best For: 1-2 nights

Permit/Reservation: Not required 

Cottonwood Canyon State Park

Number of Miles of Trail: 15

Group Size Limit: 10

Best For: 1 night

Mill Creek Wilderness

Badger Creek Wilderness 

Number of Miles of Trail: 55

Group Size Limit: 12

Best For: 1-7 nights

Diamond Peak Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 52

Best For: 1-7 nights 

Permit/Reservation: Required 

Bull of the Woods Wilderness 

Number of Miles of Trail: 75

Best For: 1-10 nights 

Permit/Reservation: Required May 15-Oct. 15

Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

Number of Miles of Trail: 370

Best For: 1-13 nights (hard limit)

Deschutes National Forest

Number of Miles of Trail: 98*

Eagle Cap Wilderness 

Number of Miles of Trail: 530

Fremont-Winema National Forest

Group Size Limit: 6

Hells Canyon Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 360

Group Size Limit: 8

Kalmiopsis Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 160+

Malheur National Forest

Number of Miles of Trail: 240+

Best For: 1-29 nights (hard limit)

Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 200

Mt. Hood National Forest

Number of Miles of Trail: 1,000

Mount Hood Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 100+

Permit/Reservation: Required May 15-Oct. 15 

Mount Jefferson Wilderness 

Number of Miles of Trail: 163

Best For: 1-22 nights 

Permit/Reservation: Required

Mount Thielsen Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 78

Best For: 1-10 nights

North Fork John Day Wilderness

Ochoco National Forest & Crooked River National Grassland

Best For: 1-13 nights 

Permit/Reservation: Not required

*Estimate 

Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest 

Permit/Reservation: Not required *Estimate

Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness 

Number of Miles of Trail: 100

Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 70

Best For: 1-9 nights 

Siskiyou Wilderness

Group Size Limit: 25

Sky Lakes Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 65+

Best For: 1-8 nights

Strawberry Mountain Wilderness 

Number of Miles of Trail: 125 

Best For: 1-17 nights

Three Sisters Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 260

Best For: 1-36 nights 

Umatilla National Forest 

Number of Miles of Trail: 715

Umpqua National Forest 

Waldo Lake Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 84

Best For: 1-11 nights 

Permit/Reservation: Required  

Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Number of Miles of Trail: 2,700

Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness 

Number of Miles of Trail: 200+

Willamette National Forest

Number of Miles of Trail: 1,700

Looking for more overnight backpacking adventures near Oregon? See our  Washington , Idaho , Nevada , and California state pages for more close trips!

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The Oregon Coast Trail: The Best, Biggest Beach Walk of Your Life

From dense, moss-draped rainforest to misty, cliff-guarded beaches, the oregon coast trail is 425 miles of pure pacific beauty with a complicated story behind it..

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In profile, the tip of Cape Falcon looks like a long, crooked finger dipping into the Pacific. From the coastal rainforest 200 feet above, it slopes down to sea level, hemlock and spruce giving way first to ferns and gnarled salal, then to sheer, banded sandstone cliffs that drop straight into the roiling surf. 

Perched on a nearby lookout, I peered down at the waves below and instinctively tightened my grip on my 3-year-old son Rhys’s jacket. We were less than two hours into a 13-mile hike through the Oswald West State Park section of the Oregon Coast Trail, and for the sixth or seventh time we had stopped to take in the view. But how could we just walk on by this?

This is the hiker’s dilemma on the Oregon Coast Trail: There are 425 miles to cover, and so many sights to stop and see along the way that, if you’re not careful, you might never get to the finish line. At its best, the OCT is like a hiking Greatest Hits album, a series of soaring clifftop vistas, towering forests, and wild Pacific beaches stitched end to end. A day or a weekend on it is a sampler of everything captivating about the Pacific Northwest. An end-to-end thru-hike ? As long as you can handle some pavement-pounding—the trail still has its gaps—it’s the kind of adventure you won’t be able to replicate anywhere else.

The sun still hadn’t risen when my wife dropped us at a pullout off of US 101 to begin our hike south. It was slow going at first: Under the rainforest’s canopy, the October morning gloom condensed into inky blackness. A hundred feet from the trailhead I snagged my foot on a tangle of roots and nearly went down, catching myself on my trekking poles before I pitched onto my face. As the first hints of daylight began to filter through the foliage and fog, we picked our way south and west, heading toward the sound of the sea.

Before it’s anything else, hiking the Oregon Coast Trail is a sonic experience. As you walk away from 101, the federal highway that traces the length of Oregon’s coast, the rumble of trucks and traffic recedes; approaching the coast, you hear the crash of waves breaking against rock before you smell the salt spray or see the water . In between, the rainforest blankets everything in a thick, heavy quiet, the pine needles and humus muting even your footfalls. Paradoxically, with outside sounds turned down, the natural noises of the forest only stand out more. Each bird call, creaking branch, and drip of water is audible against the silence. 

If you’re used to lesser woods, the sheer density of Oregon’s old-growth rainforest is shocking. Sitka spruces and Douglas firs interweave their canopies with beards of lichen hanging off their branches and turkey tail and reishi mushrooms jutting from their trunks like shelves. Ferns and skunk cabbage sprout between them in the wet duff. Moss coats everything from living trees and punky deadfall to signposts and the ground itself. By some estimates, this and other temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest are the most concentrated collection of plant life in the world, with a biomass several times higher than that of a tropical forest.

That these temperate rainforests are so dense is partially due to wildfires —specifically a lack of them. Unlike the drier forests of central Oregon or California, large-scale blazes are rare here, thanks in part to the more than 100 inches of rainfall that the wettest parts of Oregon’s coastal rainforests receive annually. (It bears mentioning that the rainforest can still burn during unusually dry summers, which many researchers expect will become more and more common as the Earth’s climate warms.) In recent years, that has made the OCT a fallback for Pacific Crest Trail hikers forced off-route by megafires, as many were in 2022 .

Even when it’s not raining, the moisture on the coast seems ambient, thickening the air and coalescing into dense fog banks. As we hiked, every bush and branch we pushed past sprinkled us with dew. Within an hour, my clothing was damp enough that it clung to my skin.

Despite the temptation to stop and snap photos every 100 yards, we made decent time. Rhys alternately rambled down the trail, pausing to pick up toddler-size walking sticks-slash-pirate-swords, and rode on my back in a soft carrier I had brought. By 10:30 a.m. we had reached our planned lunch spot at Short Sand Beach, a hike-in-only half-mile stretch of coast bounded at one end by a waterfall and the other by forest-topped sea cliffs. We ate ramen we cold-soaked in a Nalgene ; Rhys built a sand castle ornamented with driftwood and smooth cobblestones while I squished the damp sand between my toes and watched a half-dozen wetsuited surfers catch waist-high waves backdropped by a wall of sea fog. For somewhere just more than a half-mile from the nearest parking lot, the beach felt oddly remote, like we had found a place on the edge of everything.

If it weren’t for the way Oregon has preserved its beaches, it’s fair to say the OCT wouldn’t exist. Nearly 40 percent of the trail is beach walking, long rambles down public stretches of sand. The fact that those beaches are open to hikers at all largely comes down to two bold moves that the state government made a half-century apart. 

The first occurred in 1913, when, in response to private sales of beach property, Governor Oswald West and the state’s legislature declared the entire shoreline of Oregon a public highway. That same year, they established the Oregon State Highway Commission. Beginning in 1922, the Commission created Oregon’s first state park from donated land, founding what would soon become a string of recreation areas down the coast. Ten years later, it completed work on what is now US 101, the highway that traces the path of the OCT today.

But there was a catch to those protections: They only applied below the high tide line. In 1966, Bill Hay, the owner of the Surfsand Motel in Cannon Beach , took advantage of that loophole, using logs to fence in a section of beach for guest use only and posting “no trespassing” signs around it. In response, the state legislature introduced the Oregon Beach Bill, which declared all of the state’s beaches, from the vegetation to the water, public.

At first opposition to the measure was stiff; conservative legislators rebuked it as government infringement of property rights. But the bill had a powerful supporter in Tom McCall, the state’s Republican governor, and after he successfully rallied public opinion with a high-profile appearance in front of the Surfsand’s disputed plot of beach, the state’s legislature passed it near-unanimously in June 1967. As a result, Oregon’s entire coast is open to the public, with little of the ambiguity, carve-outs, or legal dodges that have locked up sandy shores in other parts of the country. If there’s a beach in Oregon, you can hike on it.

I think this is as it should be. Spend a few hours walking the OCT, and you’ll come to appreciate my point of view. The coast here is sculpted, with sea stacks and cauldrons and little pocket beaches carved into the rock by the distal edge of a sea that stretches clear to Japan. The idea that someone rich or fortunate enough could stamp “mine” on all that beauty and keep the rest of us out would be laughable if it weren’t so offensive.

With our break over, we got back to hiking. Before long, we had crossed 101 and started the steep ascent up Neahkahnie Mountain , the high point of the trail at just over 1,400 feet. We switchbacked through meadows blanketed in fog, Rhys riding in the soft carrier on my back while I gritted my teeth and plodded up. 

As we climbed back into the forest, the clouds thinned, and shafts of light began to glow through the mist and illuminate the understory. It was Hallelujah Chorus light, the kind of sunbeams you’d expect to see trained on a saint in some medieval painting. After spending hours trudging through the damp brush, the dry warmth was a welcome change. 

Near the crest of the mountain, the trees finally broke, and for the first time all day, we could see the clear, blue sky. Below us, the cloud layer stretched as far as we could see, covering everything to the horizon like a second ocean. I snapped another picture, and both of us spent a long moment taking it all in. Then, we started our descent toward Manzanita, back down into the drizzle and the fog.

Four days of tidepooling and whale-watching later, I was ready to stretch my legs again. After an early breakfast at our site in the Forest Service’s Tilicum Beach campground, my wife, Nat, settled in with a book while I threw snacks, water, and extra layers in a daypack and began following the shoreline south with Rhys.

It was just past low tide, cool and foggy again, and the damp sand made for easy going. We took it slowly, stopping to check out the flotsam the waves had carried in, like skate egg cases and driftwood. Rhys found and dragged a long strand of bull kelp after us, leaving a track in the sand. At one point, I spotted movement in the waves and turned to find a pair of sea lions swimming through the surf alongside us.

A staircase and a tunnel carved into the overgrown bushes brought us into Yachats, a town of about 1,000 people hugging the edge of a river mouth. The trail passed through neat residential neighborhoods and a small downtown on marked sidewalks and dirt paths. Maybe it was because we were hiking on a drizzly weekday morning, but it seemed nearly deserted, apart from a few seaside dog walkers and a lone fisherman casting into the surf.

Just past town, where the trail began to climb into the forest once again, we came across an amphitheater cut into the trees. Rows of benches clustered around a small, flat clearing; on the far side of the clearing, a wooden suspension bridge over a now-dry creek led further into the mountains. At the center, draped in beads and stone necklaces, sat a stylized concrete statue of a woman, her face turned to the sky. Her name was Amanda De-Cuys, this 3.7-mile stretch of the OCT—dubbed Amanda’s Trail—was her namesake. As a nearby historical sign informed us, her story was emblematic of one of the darkest chapters in Oregon’s history.

In 1855, the United States government established the Coast Reservation, a 1.1-million-acre parcel spanning one-third of the current state of Oregon’s shoreline. A number of central and southern Oregon tribes, including the Coos, Alsea, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw, signed a treaty with the U.S. agreeing to live on the reservation and allow settlement of their homelands in exchange for food, clothing, and other benefits.

If you have the barest grasp of American history, then you can guess what happened next. The U.S. government never ratified the treaty and never provided the supplies or aid it had promised, but took the tribes’ land anyway. Over the next two decades, the U.S. split and shrank the reservation again and again, giving away the best farmland to settlers. In 1860, soldiers forcibly marched tribal members to the Alsea Subagency in what’s now Yachats. Unable to hunt or farm the poor land, half of the subagency’s Native residents would die over the following 17 years , falling victim to hunger, disease, or the brutality of the soldiers sent to keep them in line.

Against that backdrop in 1864, a small U.S. army detachment traveled up the Coos River, just down the coast from Yachats, to round up members of the Coos tribe who had refused to move to the subagency. At a ranch owned by a settler named De-Cuys, the soldiers captured three people, including De-Cuys’s common-law wife, Amanda. In his diary, one of the soldiers, Corporal Royal Bensell, described her as “old and blind”. (De-Cuys, it’s worth noting, could have saved Amanda from captivity by marrying her; he refused.) 

“After getting in the boat I was surprised to hear one of the [women ask] me, ‘Nika tika nanage nika tenas Julia [Let me see my little Julia],’” Bensell wrote. “I complied with this parental demand and was shocked to see this little girl throw her arms about old Amanda De-Cuys’s neck and cry, ‘Clihime Ma Ma [dear mama].’”

Being separated from her daughter was only the beginning of Amanda’s troubles. Over the next nine days, Bensell and his comrades marched her and nearly four dozen other Native captives up the coast. Amanda, unable to see, often lagged behind. At one point she tore her bare feet so badly on the rock, Bensell wrote, that she left “blood sufficient to track her by.” There’s no record of Amanda after she reached Yachats; we can only guess as to what the rest of her life, short or long, was like.

Separated from her child and marched at gunpoint to a place she didn’t know—Amanda De-Cuys’s story seems unimaginable in its cruelty. But unimaginable is a poor word to describe something that didn’t just happen, but happened again and again. Today, the Siletz Reservation, which succeeded the Coast Reservation, covers just 0.3 percent of the land it originally did. The violence that Amanda and her contemporaries suffered wasn’t just real, it was foundational: Those land grabs were the basis of the U.S. state of Oregon and everything built there since, from the highways to the national forests to the little towns that stud the coast. After a while at Amanda’s statue, we continued on across the bridge. Rhys sang to himself as he looked down at the dry creek bed below; I followed silently, distracted by my thoughts.

The trail kept climbing, through Jurassic ferns and trees hundreds of years old. Compared to Neahkahnie, it was easy going: the route ascended gradually, tracing ridges and hillsides. The rooty, rough conditions we had encountered earlier were gone, replaced now by even, cruiser treadpath matted with pine needles. With only a few miles left to go and hours of daylight left, Rhys and I stopped for every promising distraction, looking at dew-covered orb weavers’ webs and watching fat banana slugs mosey across the forest floor. 

We passed and stopped to greet a few fellow hikers, an older couple out for a dayhike and an OCT thru-hiker with a closed-cell foam mat strapped to the outside of his frameless pack. It was only afterward that I realized why those encounters felt so strange: Until then, we had been hiking almost completely by ourselves. Over the course of two days on the OCT, we had encountered fewer than a half-dozen other hikers, mostly clustered around trailheads and road access. 

I understand why the Oregon Coast Trail is the dark horse of long trails. It doesn’t have the wildness of the Pacific Crest Trail or the community of the Appalachian Trail . There’s little backcountry camping, and the trail rarely strays more than a few miles from a paved highway as the crow flies. While the roadwalks are getting shorter, they’re still substantial.

But listen: The OCT has something no other long trail has. It sits on one of the most beautiful coasts in the world, and a hike down it is a chance to get to know every spectacular inch—the tidepools, the ancient forests, the whales sounding offshore, and the people who call it home. It’s the kind of environment that seems to be begging you to go slower, just to soak it all in.

After another hour and a half, we reached the West Shelter, a small three-walled stone shack set up on the top of a sea cliff. When the weather’s clear, it’s the best spot to see Cape Perpetua, a high, wooded headland projecting into the ocean. No such luck: The fog was so thick it was almost corporeal. Rhys and I ate the last of our trail snacks and gazed out into what looked like a wall of swirling cotton.

Still, I didn’t sweat it. On the Oregon Coast Trail, the best view of your life is always just around the corner.

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Table of contents

8 Iconic Pacific Northwest Backpacking Trips

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The Pacific Northwest is an adventure junkie’s paradise. It’s a breathtakingly diverse playground of craggy granite peaks, high alpine lakes, meadows socked with wildflowers, a rugged windswept coastline, and more shades of green than your eyeballs can handle.

With so many stunning trails to choose from, it can sometimes be tough to settle on the next one. That’s why we put together this list of our personal favorite Pacific Northwest backpacking trips. These are some of the most iconic and spectacular trails the PNW has to offer, so dust off your pack and add one of these gems to your summer adventure list.

Wonderland Trail

• Length : 93 miles
• Days needed : 8-13 days (most people take around 10 days)
• Location : Mount Rainier National Park, WA
• Best time to hike : Late July to mid-September
• Difficulty : Strenuous

The Wonderland trail circumnavigates massive and spectacular Mount Rainier over the course of 93 miles. It’s a very challenging hike, with over 23,000 feet of elevation change, but the rewards are plentiful. With breathtaking glacier views, wildflower meadows, pristine lakes, and miles of lush rainforests, the ever-changing landscape of the Wonderland Trail will not disappoint.

Permits for this very popular hike can be secured in advance through a yearly lottery system, though the park does save some permits for walk-in travelers.

Wonderland Maps & Guides

• CleverHiker Wonderland Trail Backpacking Guide – Our quick guide to assist you in planning your trip around Rainier.
• FarOut Wonderland Trail Guide – This popular app has user-generated comments on water sources, campsites, and important landmarks.
• Wilderness Trip Planning Map – This basic map from the National Park Service will give you a general idea of campsite locations and the distances between them.
• Green Trails Map 269S – Mount Rainier Wonderland – This is a fantastic map for hiking the Wonderland Trail. It’s a detailed topographical map that’s ideal for use along the trail.
• Hiking the Wonderland Book – A complete guide to the Wonderland by a Washington native that’s hiked the trail seven times. An excellent source of information.
• Plan & Go Wonderland Book – A comprehensive guide that contains everything you need to know for hiking the 93-mile Wonderland Trail.
• Backpacking Washington Book – This hike is covered in the Backpacking Washington book as well, just not in quite as much detail.

TIMBERLINE TRAIl

• Length : ~40 miles
• Days needed : 3-5 days (most people complete the loop in 4 days)
• Location : Mount Hood Area, OR
• Best time to hike : End of July to late September

The Timberline Trail around Mt. Hood is one of Oregon’s most iconic and scenic trails. This 40-mile loop is a fantastic way to experience the immense size and beauty of Mt. Hood. On the Timberline you’ll encounter lush old-growth forests, pristine alpine waterfalls, wildflower-filled meadows, towering craggy glaciers, rough volcanic landscapes, and some of the finest cascade views around. The hiking certainly won’t be easy, with plenty of ups and downs along the way, but in the end, the rewards are well worth it.

Timberline Maps & Guides

• CleverHiker Timberline Trail Backpacking Guide – Our complete guide to hiking the Timberline Trail.
• FarOut Timberline Trail Guide – A smartphone app with all the user-generated info you need for navigating the Timberline Trail.
• Green Trails Map 462SX – Mt Hood Climbing Map – This is an excellent, detailed map for the Timberline Trail.

Backpacking Oregon – This hike is covered in depth in the Backpacking Oregon book.

ENCHANTMENT LAKES

• Length : 19 miles from Stuart Lakes Trailhead to Snow Lakes Trailhead
• Days needed : 3-4 days to explore the entire area
• Location : Leavenworth, WA
• Best time to hike : Permit timeframe is May 15th – October 31st

Washington’s Enchantment Lakes are a truly magical sight to see. They reside in an area where immense granite peaks, majestic mountain goats, and crystal clear alpine lakes are hidden around every corner. Be ready for big climbs and jagged peaks along well-maintained trails. For the ambitious hiker, there are some incredible side trips, such as the can’t-miss climb to the top of Little Annapurna for jaw-dropping panoramic views. This area won’t be too crowded because of the strict permitting process, but securing overnight permits during peak season will require good luck. This hike should be on every backpackers bucket list.

Enchantments Maps & Guides

• CleverHiker Enchantment Lakes Backpacking Guide – Our complete guide to backpacking the Enchantment Lakes.
• Green Trails Enchantments Map 209s – This is an excellent, detailed map for the Enchantment Lakes area.
• Backpacking Washington – This hike is covered in depth in the Backpacking Washington book.

WALLOWA RIVER LOOP

• Length : 36 miles
• Days needed : 4-5 days
• Location : Wallawa-Whitman National Forest – Eagle Cap Wilderness, OR
• Best time to hike : Late July to September
• Difficulty : Moderate to difficult

The Wallowa Mountain Range is one of the finest areas to backpack in Oregon. This loop will take you through the stunning (and popular) Lakes Basin Area and over some breathtaking mountain passes. Over the course of this loop you’ll encounter crystal clear lakes and streams, wildflower-socked meadows, and granite peaks that will make you wonder if you’re still in Oregon. There are also worthy side trips to the summit of Eagle Cap and Matterhorn that will further solidify your appreciation for the Wallowas. Although this trail sees its fair share of hikers, it’s still well worth the trip.

Wallowa Maps & Guides

• CleverHiker Wallowa River Loop Backpacking Guide – Our complete guide to backpacking the Wallowa River Loop. There are two main topo maps for this area – the Imus Geographics and U.S. Forest Service maps .
• Hiking Oregon’s Eagle Cap Wilderness – A practical and thorough book about Eagle Cap trails that’s complete with maps, descriptions, elevation profiles, and photos.

HIGH DIVIDE – SEVEN LAKES BASIN LOOP

• Length : 19 mile loop
• Days needed : 2-4 days
• Location : Olympic National Park, WA
• Best time to hike : Mid-July to September
• Difficulty : Moderate
• Note : Bear canisters  are required for this hike.

Olympic National Park has some of the most stunningly diverse backpacking trails in the Pacific Northwest and the High Divide Trail is one of it’s most scenic. Though this trek is incredibly beautiful, it’s definitely not a secret. This trail winds its way through old growth forests as you climb into dramatic high alpine scenery. Once you reach the lakes basin, you will be spoiled with pristine pools, gorgeous meadows, and stunning views of Mt. Olympus.

Permits are limited for overnight camping between May 1st and September 30th, but there are also some permits given on a first-come, first-served basis. And if you really want to go all out, you can end your trek with a visit to the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort to rest those weary bones.

High Divide Maps & Guides

• Best Hike High Divide Loop Guide – A great blog post with detailed information on everything you need to know before hitting the trail.
• Green Trails Map 133S – This is an excellent, detailed map for the the Seven Lakes Basin.

National Geographic Map – This is a detailed map of the entire Olympic National Park.If you want an all-encompassing map and don’t mind carrying the extra bulk, this is a good resource.

Hiking Olympic National Park – This is a great resource that covers 66 of the best trails the ONP has to offer, ranging from day hikes to multi-day backpacking trips.

Three Sisters Loop

• Length : ~50 miles, depending on trailhead
• Days needed : 3-6 days
• Location : Three Sisters Wilderness, OR
• Best time to hike : Late July to October

This 50-mile loop circles the North, Middle, and South Sister volcanoes, providing a fantastic array of diverse terrain. Take this amazing journey and wander through rugged volcanic landscapes complete with expansive pumice fields, pristine melt lakes, quiet old-growth forests, newly recovering burn areas, peaceful wildflower meadows, and glossy obsidian streams. This is truly an Oregon adventure not to be missed.

Three Sisters Maps & Guides

CleverHiker Three Sisters Loop Backpacking Guide – Our complete guide to hiking the Three Sisters Loop.

Green Trails Maps 622 SX – This is an excellent, detailed maps for the Three Sisters Loop.

GOAT ROCKS – GOAT LAKE LOOP

• Length : 13.5 miles (additional miles along the PCT will add time but is well worth it.)
• Days needed : 2-3 days
• Location : Goat Rocks Wilderness, OR
• Best time to hike : July to October

With panoramic views of St. Helens, Rainier and Adams, the Goat Lake Loop is an ideal backpacking trip for those with limited time. Traverse through wildflower meadows and rocky ridges as you ascend to beautiful and frigid Goat Lake. There are a few epic campsites on the ridge near Goat Lake, but you may have to get there early to snag one. If you have more time, set up a basecamp near Snowgrass Flats and hike north along the Pacific Crest Trail. That’s where you’ll find some of the most jaw-dropping scenery in the area: mountain vistas in all directions with a knife ridge hike and, if you’re lucky, mountain goats.

Goat Rocks Maps & Guides

• Oregon Hikers – Goat Lake Loop – This is a great play-by-play description of the Goat Lake Loop with information on mileage, a map, and trip reports.
• Green Trails Map 303S – A detailed backpacking map of the Goat Rocks Area.

Olympic Coast Trail

• Length : Varies (73 miles of possible trails)
• Days needed : Varies
• Location : Olympic National Park Coastal Area, WA
• Best time to hike : Year round, weather permitting. Winter storms can elevate tides and make beach walking hazardous, so closely monitor weather reports before your hike.
• Note : Bear canisters are required for this hike. Also, carry a tide chart and know how to read it when camping along the coast.

Many people visiting the Olympic National Park choose to hike into the Hoh Rain Forest or climb into the glaciated peaks surrounding Mt. Olympus. While both of those trips are awe-inspiring in their own right, don’t discount the unique experience of backpacking along the Olympic Coast. You will see wild desolate beaches, endless sea stacks, and daunting headlands with the chance to spot starfish and sea anemones in tide pools along the way. These 73 miles of rugged, undeveloped coastline are uniquely challenging, but very rewarding. Hike from one deserted beach to the next through a series of overland trails, many of which employ ropes and ladders to help you climb the eroded embankments.

Camping is permitted along the coast, except between the Quillayute River and Ellen Creek. The area between Shi Shi Beach and Ozette is the most stunning, however if you venture farther away you’ll find more solitude. Along the coast there are some forested campsites and you can also camp on the beach, just make absolutely certain you’re well above the high tide line.

National Park Service: Olympic Coast Routes – Our favorite source of information on various coastal routes and trails.

Backpacking Washington – Hikes along the Olympic National Park coastal regions are covered in depth in the Backpacking Washington book as well.

Green Trails Maps 98S , 130S , and 163S – Once you decide which portion of the coastal route you are going to tackle, pick the corresponding map and you should be good to go.

PNW Backpacking Considerations

Leave no trace.

No matter where your next adventure takes you, please follow wilderness regulations and help keep our wild spaces pristine for years to come. Leave no trace y’all.

DIFFICULTY RATING

Difficulty depends on your experience, physical fitness, pack weight, trail conditions, and weather. It’s nearly impossible for us to make individual difficulty recommendations without knowing you, so please think about those considerations when planning your hike.

PACKING LIGHT

We love lightweight backpacking because it makes hiking more enjoyable. And in the PNW, keeping your pack light makes a huge difference on climbs and descents. Our gear guides are dedicated to recommending exceptional lightweight equipment to help minimize pack weight and maximize comfort.

Many of the trails on this list are iconic and therefore popular. Hiking during the week or outside of peak season will reduce the number of travelers you see on the trail. Having said that, the wilderness is far from Portland or Seattle, so you’ll have plenty of time to yourself as well.

The trails listed in this guide are generally well-maintained and well-marked. That said, you should always carry a topographical map and compass in the wilderness and know how to use them. If you need a navigation refresher, check out our video tutorials, Navigation #1 – Staying Found, and Navigation #2 – Map, Compass, & GPS.

July and August are generally great for wildflowers in the Pacific Northwest, but that’s also the time when mosquitoes will be the worst. Use a combination of permethrin on your clothing and a small amount of 30% DEET for full protection.

Black bears are common in the Pacific Northwest, so proper food storage is very important. You’re less likely to see bears on popular trails, but there will still be small critters trying to get into your food supply, and they’ll happily chew through your expensive gear to get after it. Make sure to carry a food storage container or know how to hang a bear bag properly. Bear canisters and Ursacks are the most effective and easiest storage methods. Remember: proper food storage is for the safety of you and the bears.

It’s no secret that it rains a lot in the PNW. That’s the main reason it’s so green and lush, but continuous rain can also be a major bummer on backcountry trips. Hypothermia is a very real danger when hiking in the rain, so learning how to stay safe, dry, and happy in the rain is a key PNW skill. Pay close attention to the weather forecast before your trip and always be prepared for wet weather. And if you need some fresh gear, check out our guides on rain jackets and rain pants .

BACKPACKING BOOKS

The Backpacking Oregon and Backpacking Washington books are two of our favorite resources for Pacific Northwest trip planning. They feature detailed information on the iconic trails in this article as well as some lesser known yet equally worthy hikes. If you find yourself in the PNW backcountry often, find a space on your bookshelf for both.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this list of our favorite Pacific Northwest backpacking trips. We absolutely love exploring the PNW and we hope these treks help you do the same. Please remember to hike responsibly and help preserve our beautiful wild spaces for generations to come.

Why trust us?

We understand how tough it is to find trustworthy gear advice, and that’s one of the main reasons we built CleverHiker. We live for outdoor adventure, and we take these guides very seriously.

• Our recommendations are completely independent and based on hands-on experience.
• We test outdoor gear for a living – we’ve logged over 20,000 trail miles and 1,000 nights in the wilderness.
• Our team has thru-hiked some of the most iconic long trails, including the Continental Divide Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail, Colorado Trail, Long Trail, Oregon Coast Trail, Arizona Trail, Pinhoti Trail, Superior Hiking Trail, as well as extensive peak bagging, and international treks.
• We field test every product we recommend, which is sadly not the norm.
• We travel to industry trade shows to stay up-to-date on product innovations.
• We continuously update our guides throughout the year and when new products launch.
• We treat recommendations to our readers as if they were for our family and friends.
• We’re lifelong learners and we’re always open to feedback. If you think we’ve missed a worthy product or got something wrong, we’d love to know about it.

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10 great Western Oregon backpacking trips for younger kids

The most rewarding experience with children in the outdoors, for me, has always been backpacking.

Car camping is great, day-hikes are wonderful, and fishing trips are fantastic. But none of those capture the immersive quality of getting away from the road and carrying camp upon your shoulders the way backpacking does.

This seems especially true with younger kids. 

But picking the perfect spot for a first, second or third backpacking trip is not easy. You want a hike that's a few miles into the wilderness, but not so tough that it stops being fun. You want good campsites, ideally near a mountain lake, but not hoards of mosquitoes. And ideally, it'll have some extra things to do once you reach camp, whether it's swimming or fishing or day-hiking. 

It can feel like a lot. 

Here are 10 picks for good backpacking destinations for those younger in age (or looking for an easier experience). 

Two people helped out with this list: Bonnie Henderson, my co-author on " Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon ," and author of the upcoming book "Hiking the Oregon Coast Trail."  And Franziska Weinheimer, owner and operator of the outdoors website Hike Oregon . 

Lower Twin Lake (Mount Hood area)

This mountain lake near Mount Hood checks just about every box for a good backpacking option with younger kids. It’s 4.2 miles round-trip with 660 feet of climb to a lake with plenty of campsites and a trail around the lakeshore. There’s also an easy option for a longer trek to Upper Twin Lake.

“It’s just about perfect as a backpacking destination with young kids,” wrote author Bonnie Henderson. “No surprise that it tends to be crowded on summer weekends. Aim for a weekday, or go early in the season (rhododendrons in bloom) or in early fall (bring warm sleeping bags).”

From Frog Lake Trailhead, go a few steps before turning right to join the Pacific Crest Trail, which you follow for 1.4 miles before picking up the Twin Lakes Trail. The trail tops out in another 0.1 mile and begins a descent. At the next junction, at 2 miles, go right to drop down to the lake. Follow the trail around the lake to find a campsite. Near the access trail the lake shore is muddy; go to the far side of the lake to wade in on a gravelly beach.

Pamelia Lake (Mount Jefferson Wilderness)

A generation of children from the Salem area took their first backpacking trip to this beautiful lake below Mount Jefferson. That includes my 4-year-old, who took her second backpacking trip here last weekend.

The hike is a good length at 4.4 miles one-way. It’s an adventure but not difficult, with a gradual climb of 800 feet to the lake. It’s also a scenic hike through mossy old-growth forest along tumbling Pamelia Creek to a lake with a number of designated campsites and a view of Mount Jefferson from a southern shoreline that’s fun to explore in the fall when the lake level is low.

Fishing is decent on the east side of the lake, and there’s more challenging hike options to Grizzly Peak or Hunt’s Cove, a perfect spot for when the little legs start to grow and want more of a challenge.

From May 28 to Sept. 24, you need an overnight permit purchased on Recreation.gov to enter the trailhead. Pamelia Lake Trailhead is located 16 miles west of Detroit off Highway 22 and Pamelia Lake Road.

Bobby Lake (Waldo Lake area)

The mosquitoes are rough in June and July, so target this pretty lake near Waldo Lake during late August or September, according to Weinheimer.

A mostly level hike of 5 miles round-trip brings you to one of the best lakes in the state for swimming, says Weinheimer.

“It should be classified as one of the best swimmable lakes in Oregon because of the easiness getting in and out of the pristine blue-green colored water,” Weinheimer wrote on Hike Oregon.

The Bobby Lake is right alongside Forest Service Road NF-5897 (the main road to Waldo Lake), a total of 5.5 miles from the turnoff with Highway 58.  

After 2 miles of forested hiking on Bobby Lake Trail, you will cross the Pacific Crest Trail and continue straight a quarter mile to the lakeshore.

“When you see the lake you will also see some large flat tent areas where you can camp,” Weinheimer said. “If you want to enjoy a swim in the lake and a little more secluded camping, continue another quarter mile around the lake to the right until you see another campsite and a large rock that drops right into the lake. Where the rock enters the water, it creates a sandy bottom, making it a very pleasant entry point and a wonderfully warm shallow place for small kids to play.”

For full details, see this page .

Blue Canyon Basin (Sky Lakes Wilderness)

The somewhat less-visited Sky Lakes Wilderness of Southern Oregon offers many charms unseen by people from the Willamette Valley. Among this land of lakes, the best for kids is easily Blue Canyon Basin located just outside the small town of Prospect and Butte Falls, northeast of Medford.

It’s a short and fairly level hike to Blue Lake — 4 miles roundtrip — the most scenic alpine lake here. If you can’t find a site here, fear not, just head down the trail to Horseshoe or Pear lakes, which both have sites. And if you want a longer trek, continue to Island Lake.  

As with many other Southern Cascade areas, visit in late August or September to avoid horrendous mosquitoes.

Rogue River Trail (southern Oregon)

A river more famous for whitewater rafting also makes for glorious backpacking along the 40-mile Rogue River Trail. But fear not, you don’t have to hike that far — simply begin at the trailhead outside Grants Pass and hike as far as the little legs will go to a plethora of great campsites.

The one thing to be careful about is that the trail does have significant exposure — so keep the little ones close and on the trail. But the trail is beautiful from its beginning at Grave Creek Boat Ramp and Trailhead northwest of Grants Pass.

Short out-and-back camping options include Whiskey Creek (3.3 miles one-way), Big Slide (3.8) and Russian Creek (5.7) — although there’s plenty more just down the trail. See this map for all the details you’ll need: https://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/rogue/files/rogue-trail-map.pdf

5 more options

Threemile Lake (Oregon Dunes): Go backpacking on the Oregon Coast by beginning at the Threemile Lake North Trail and exploring the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. A 6-mile loop begins here that can be turned into a backpacking trip, with the best sites on the beaches of the lake itself.

“The trail provides vistas of freshwater lakes, wet areas within the forest and ocean waves,” says Siuslaw National Forest’s website. “The trail wanders through a spruce forest with substantial tree size, stops at the serene Threemile Lake and ends at the ocean beach.”

You can combine Threemile Lake Trails and Tahkenitch Dunes Trail #1353 into an extended single loop trail of 6.5 miles.

Erma Bell Lakes (Three Sisters): Multiple swimmable lakes with campsites access on an easy forested trail is what you’ll find at this cluster of lakes in the Three Sisters Wilderness. Access to the lakes was closed by the Middle Fork Complex this summer, but the area didn’t burn and should reopen next summer.

The trip is 4.5 miles round-trip and mostly flat. It begins at Skookum Creek Campground and passes a waterfall, travels through old-growth forest and reaches three pretty mountain lakes. There are campsites at Lower Erma Bell Lake, 1.7 miles from the trailhead, and Middle Erma Bell Lake, which has the easiest place to access the lake and my favorite sites. Just beyond, you can visit Upper Erma Bell, Williams and Otter lakes.

Blue and Happy lakes (Diamond Peak Wilderness) : Often overlooked in the Diamond Peak Wilderness southeast of Eugene, Blue and Happy lakes are well named. The swimmable lakes and easy-ish hikes offer a lot for families, although once again, it's best in late summer or early fall to avoid mosquitoes. Coming in early July would not be as happy an experience at Happy Lake. 

The hike to Blue Lake is just 2 miles round-trip, while an addition to Happy Lake is 6.8. 

"These lakes on the west side of Diamond Peak frequently get overlooked, even though they are easy to get to and offer excellent camping and swimming opportunities," 

For full details, including directions, see this page.  

Islet Beach (Waldo Lake): From Islet Campground at Waldo Lake, follow the Shoreline Trail from the boat ramp to a collection of white sandy beaches bathed in sunshine and the azure water of Oregon's clearest lake. There's at least one campground near Islet Beach, the largest of the white crescent beaches on Waldo Lake's east side. 

Marion Lake (Jefferson Wilderness): Another tried and true favorite in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness, Marion Lake has a lot of the same qualities as Pamelia Lake, except that it's about one mile farther and showcases views of Three Fingered Jack instead of Jefferson. It's 6 miles round-trip, although it can feel like longer since it's such a big lake and there's a lot to explore nearby. There are plenty of campsites, and good side trips include hiking to Marion Falls or climbing Marion Mountain. This one requires an overnight permit from From May 28 to Sept. 24 as well.   

Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 13 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. To support his work, subscribe to the Statesman Journal. Urness can be reached at [email protected] or (503) 399-6801. Find him on Twitter at @ZachsORoutdoors .

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Beginner Backpacking Trips in Oregon & Washington

These backpacking trips are suitable for beginners, with short distances to campsites and minimal elevation gain. locations range from low elevation forests, to the olympic coastline in washington, to the central oregon cascades., duckabush river trail.

The Duckabush River Trail is located on the Hood Canal side of the Olympic Peninsula and makes for a great early season backpacking trip with multiple camp areas in low elevation forest next to the scenic river.

• distance & elevation gain to campsite:  2-5 miles, 400-1,750 ft. gain
• difficulty: easy to moderate
• best months: April to June, depending on snow levels
• permits: self-issued at wilderness checkpoint up to 5 Mile Camp, beyond here required in advance from Olympic National Park
• more info:   Duckabush River backpacking trip

Lower Lewis River Trail

The Lower Lewis River is a good early season option when there’s still snow at higher elevations. Highlights include old-growth forest, uncrowded trails, and of course, the Lewis River.

• distance & elevation gain to Bolt Camp:  2.4 miles, 175 ft. gain
• difficulty: easy
• day hike options:  continue on the Lewis River Trail for an additional 6-7 miles (one-way)
• best months:  April – June
• permits: none
• more info:   Lower Lewis River Trail backpacking trip

Salmon River Canyon

Hike next to the Salmon River through a mossy forest and setup camp at one of the many campsites in the first several miles, or continue past several canyon viewpoints to Goat Creek Camp. Woodland wildflowers are a highlight in the spring.

• distance & elevation gain to Goat Creek camp: 5.5 miles, 1,200 ft. gain (there are many shorter/easier options for camping here)
• day hike options: continue on the Salmon River Trail or hike up to Kinzel Lake or Devils Peak lookout
• best months: May-June, September-October
• permits: self-issued at wilderness checkpoint
• more info: Salmon River Canyon backpacking trip

Indian Heaven Wilderness: Bear Lake

Late autumn is the best time to visit Indian Heaven Wilderness. The mosquitoes the area is famous for are gone, and thousands of huckleberry-laden shrubs literally cover the entire area in stunning shades of red, yellow and orange. One of the easiest access points is via the East Crater Trail, providing access to Junction Lake (shown above), Bear Lake, and many other lakes in the area.

• distance & elevation gain to Bear Lake: 4.2 miles, 800 ft. gain
• day hike options: Lakes Basin loop; Lemei Rock
• best months: September – October
• more info: Bear Lake backpacking trip

Packwood Lake

Packwood Lake is at low elevation in Goat Rocks Wilderness, so it’s a good early season backpack when the snow levels are above 3,500 ft. Due to the easy access, the lakeside campsites can be heavily crowded, especially in the summer, so go early in the season if you can.

• distance & elevation gain to campsite: 4-6 miles, 400-700 ft. gain
• day hike options: continue on the Packwood Lake Trail to the end of the lake
• best months: May – June (due to crowds in the summer months)
• more info: Packwood Lake backpacking trip

North Fork Skokomish River Trail

Located in the Olympic National Park, the North Fork Skokomish River Trail is a great low elevation trip for the spring when water levels are running high in the cascading river and the lush forest is filled with many shades of green.

• distance & elevation gain to campsite: 4 miles, 800 ft. gain
• day hike options: continue on the North Fork Skokomish Trail; Flapjack Lakes
• best months: May – June
• permits: required in advance from Olympic National Park
• more info: North Fork Skokomish River backpacking trip

Tenas Lakes

Located in the Mount Washington Wilderness in Central Oregon, Tenas Lakes are a group of subalpine lakes with rocky shorelines and blue-green water. Mosquitoes can be a problem until mid-August, so plan accordingly.

• distance & elevation gain to campsite: 2.5 miles, 600 ft. gain
• day hike options: Scott Mountain
• best months: August – September (avoid July due to mosquitoes)
• permits: required in advance (Central Cascades)
• more info:   Tenas Lakes backpacking trip

Upper Falls Creek

The Upper Falls Creek area has several campsites next to the creek above the super scenic (and extremely popular) Falls Creek Falls waterfall, and makes a great base for exploring less traveled trails in the area.

• distance & elevation gain to campsite: 3.6 miles, 1,100 ft. gain
• difficulty: moderate
• day hike options: Upper Falls Creek trail
• more info:   Upper Falls Creek backpacking trip

Badger Creek

Located southeast of Mount Hood, Badger Creek Wilderness is in a transition zone on the east side of the Cascade crest with a forest of mixed conifers including Ponderosa pine, western red cedar, and western hemlock. This is a good early season backpacking destination due to the lower elevation and drier conditions.

• distance & elevation gain to campsite: 3.8 miles, 575 ft. gain
• day hike options: continue on Badger Creek Trail as snow levels allow in the spring
• more info: Badger Creek backpacking trip

Tillamook Head

The Oregon Coast offers very few opportunities for backpacking. The hiker’s camp on Tillamook Head, while intended for people thru-hiking the Oregon Coast Trail,  has a designated camp area with wood shelters as well as space for tents. The trail is often very muddy, especially during the rainy season, and there’s no water source near the camp.

• distance & elevation gain to campsite: 4 miles, 1,200 ft. gain
• day hike options: Clatsop Trail to Indian Beach
• best months: anytime, although trails are muddier in the winter and spring
• more info: Tillamook Head backpacking trip

Ozette Triangle

Washington’s Olympic Coast is truly wild, with access limited to hikers and backpackers for long stretches of coast line. This trip to South Sand Point includes a day hike to see ancient native petroglyphs at Wedding Rocks.

• distance & elevation gain to campsite:  4.5 miles, 175 ft. gain
• day hike options:  Wedding Rocks petroglyphs
• best months: spring (for better water access for filtering)
• more info:   South Sand Point backpacking trip

Trapper Creek

The low elevation forested canyons of Trapper Creek Wilderness provide an easy getaway for relaxing backpacking trips. This area was impacted by the 2020 Big Hollow Wildfire, so be sure to check conditions before heading out.

• distance & elevation gain to campsite: 3 miles, 900 ft. gain
• day hike options: continue on the Trapper Creek Trail
• best months: May – June
• more info:   Trapper Creek backpacking trip

Hoh River Rainforest

The Hoh Rainforest is one of the wettest places in the United States. The rainforest here is lush with mosses and lichens and plenty of water – and the trail is fairly flat and next to the river with several designated camp areas along the way.

• distance & elevation gain to Five Mile Island Camp:  5.1 miles, 400 ft. gain
• day hike options:  continue on the Hoh River Trail to the Olympus Guard Station
• best months:  May to June
• more info:   Hoh River Trail backpacking trip

McKenzie River Trail

The McKenzie River Trail is popular with mountain bikers, but it’s also a good location for a backpacking trip. The southern section of the trail parallels the river (and the highway) as it travels through old-growth forest.

• distance & elevation gain to campsite:  7.5 miles, 450 ft. gain
• day hike options:  continue north on the McKenzie River Trail
• best months:  April – June
• more info:   McKenzie River Trail backpacking trip

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